30/11/2024

Common hygiene habits that are detrimental to health

In fact, some of them can be quite dangerous

If you shower on a regular basis and maintain good oral hygiene, you probably consider yourself as a clean and hygienic individual. However, it's possible that you're neglecting a few areas, an oversight that could have a noticeable impact on your overall long-term health. So, what are you missing? 

Click through the gallery and discover some common hygiene habits that are actually detrimental to health:
  • Using the phone while on toilet isn't advisable - While it may be tempting to use your mobile device in the bathroom and browse social media, keep in mind that cell phones can harbor numerous germs. These microbes can easily transfer to other surfaces, including your face.
  • Using Q-tips - Removing excessive earwax using a Q-tip may seem beneficial, but it often does more harm than good. The act of pushing earwax deeper into the ear canal can lead to complications, potentially resulting in lasting damage to the eardrum and canal. Caution is therefore advised when using them.
  • Wash your hair daily if necessary - Your scalp naturally produces oils that are necessary for maintaining healthy and shiny hair. Shampooing helps remove dirt and excess oil. However, excessive shampooing can result in dry and less vibrant hair.
  • Not washing hair at all - Neglecting hair hygiene has negative consequences. Along with a bad odor, it can result in bacterial accumulation and subsequent hair follicle obstruction, potentially causing infections. It is recommended you wash your hair every two to three days.
  • Not caring properly for eyelash extensions - Improper care of eyelash extensions can have negative effects. The glues involved can be toxic and cause various levels of harm to the eyes, potentially resulting in impaired vision or inflamed corneas.
  • Handwashing is important - It is crucial to wash hands regularly to maintain good health and reduce the transmission of illness. This is especially so after coming into contact with potentially unclean surfaces.
  • You're using my razor! - Sharing razors is highly discouraged due to the risk of spreading skin infections such as staph, as well as the potential transmission of serious viruses like hepatitis and HIV.
  • Insufficient dental care - It can be tempting to rush through your toothbrushing routine, especially in the mornings when you're still groggy. However, it's important to dedicate a solid two minutes to brushing your teeth, twice daily as per the recommended minimum requirement.
  • Wearing contact lenses while sleeping - Sleeping while wearing contact lenses may result in eye irritation. In more severe circumstances, it can cause corneal abrasion or infection. Be kind to your peepers and give them a break by removing contacts before going to bed.
  • Keeping your toothbrush near the toilet - Placing your toothbrush near the toilet poses a risk of cross-contamination due to an unseen cloud of tiny particles released during flushing, potentially compromising hygiene and cleanliness.
  • Dirty towels - A shower towel can harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast within days due to lingering moisture. To prevent this, it is recommended the towel be replaced every three to four days to maintain good hygiene and reduce the risk of contamination.
  • Cleaning vegetables - To avoid food poisoning, it's important to wash fruits and vegetables before consuming them, as the bacteria present can be harmful. Additionally, consuming pesticides on unwashed produce can increase the risk of serious health issues.
  • Warm showers - Hot showers can have adverse effects on the body, such as parching the skin and removing essential oils. The high temperature may also lead to a decrease in blood pressure by expanding outer blood vessels. It is therefore advisable to limit the duration of hot showers.
  • Using kitchen sponges for extended periods - Sponges have a strong attraction to germs, increasing the risk of infections such as salmonella. Regardless of the duration of sponge usage, it is advisable to replace it regularly to maintain good hygiene.
  • Leaving in tampons for too long - Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially life-threatening infection that can occur if tampons are not changed frequently enough, although it is very rare.
  • Too much moisturizer - Maintaining proper moisture balance is crucial for healthy skin. However, excessive moisturization can worsen dryness and cause clogged pores and blackheads. To ensure optimal results, moisturize your body every other day, allowing it to retain its natural oils.
  • Washing your bedding - It is important to regularly change your bedding to prevent the buildup of large amounts of particles, such as human skin cells. Aim for changing your sheets at least every two weeks.
  • Too much mouthwash - Mouthwash can actually be too harsh for some. Alcohol-based mouthwashes tend to dehydrate the mouth. It's better to instead use mouthwash sparingly throughout the week.
  • Walking without footwear - Flip-flops and water shoes serve a purpose. Therefore it is advisable to wear them when using public pools or showering at the gym. This is due to the fact that shower floors can accumulate sweat, hair, and urine, creating a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and mold—something you definitely don't want to encounter!
  • Nail care - Regularly trimming your nails is important to prevent the spread of infections caused by dirt and bacteria. It's worth noting that nail clippers can also harbor bacteria and fungal spores. To keep them clean, scrub them with rubbing alcohol.
  • Sleeping with makeup - Sleeping with your makeup on is a common skincare error. Failing to cleanse your face daily can result in clogged pores, causing blackheads and pimples. Moreover, leftover makeup can travel beneath your eyelids, causing irritated hair follicles along the lash line and even severe skin infections.
  • Rarely showering - Maintaining personal hygiene is vital, and a brief daily shower suffices. Overall, employing soap and water effectively safeguards against acne, rashes, and potentially critical infections.
  • Your TV remote - TV remotes are frequently neglected during cleaning, resulting in a buildup of germs and viruses. It is advisable to include them in your cleaning routine.
  • Regularly washing bras and underwear - It's useful to change your underwear daily to maintain good hygiene. In the case of bras, be mindful as they can accumulate oils and bacteria, leading to skin issues like acne and rashes.
  • Reuse unwashed water bottles - Refilling your disposable plastic water bottle frequently or refilling your reusable water bottle without proper cleaning is highly unsanitary. Neglecting to wash it allows bacteria to accumulate, potentially causing food poisoning.
  • Hands on your face - Resting your face on your hands is a common habit that may have unintended consequences. Consider the possibility that this action could introduce dirt to your face and potentially block your pores. Explore alternative sitting positions to avoid this.
  • Keeping your bath sponge intact - To prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast, ensure your washcloths and loofahs dry thoroughly after each use and replace them regularly.
  • Insufficient hygiene following toilet usage - Ensuring proper hygiene after using the restroom will maintain cleanliness of underwear and prevent unpleasant odors. Always wipe from front to back to deter bacteria.
  • Sharing your hairbrush - Sometimes it's wiser to prioritize oneself, even when it comes to personal items like hairbrushes. This is because sharing them can lead to the spread of lice and skin rashes, posing potential risks. It's safer and more advisable to refrain from sharing hairbrushes with others to maintain personal hygiene and avoid these issues.

29/11/2024

Black Friday 2024

What and when is Black Friday?
Do You Know The History Behind Black Friday?

Black Friday is a name used for two unrelated occasions. It is now most popularly used in the US to refer to the day after Thanksgiving, which is often considered the first day of the holiday shopping season and is known for featuring discounts from retailers. Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is always the fourth Thursday in November. In 2023, Black Friday is November 24. In 2024, Black Friday is November 29. The name Black Friday is also used to refer to September 24, 1869, the date of a financial panic in the US sparked by gold speculators.

Where did the term Black Friday come from? While many people believe the term Black Friday finds its roots in the sense of black meaning “showing a profit; not showing any losses,” this isn’t actually the case. Historically, black has been associated with days of economic stress as opposed to days of booming commercial success. The first Black Friday occurred in 1869 after financier Jay Gould and railway businessman James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market, which ultimately resulted in financial panic and the collapse of the market. A little over 60 years later, on October 29, 1929, another stock market crash referred to as Black Tuesday marked the onset of the Great Depression.

The true origin of the post-Thanksgiving Black Friday lies in the sense of black meaning “marked by disaster or misfortune.” In the 1950s, factory managers first started referring to the Friday after Thanksgiving as Black Friday because so many of their workers decided to falsely call in sick, thus extending the holiday weekend. About 10 years later, Black Friday was used by Philadelphia traffic cops to describe the day after Thanksgiving because they had to work 12-hour shifts in terrible traffic. Visitors flocked to the city to start their holiday shopping and, sometimes this popular shopping day coincided with the annual Army–Navy football game. The term caught on among shoppers and merchants in Philadelphia, and from there it took off nationwide. The 1980s brought the mythology of Black Friday as we know it today. While the phrases in the black and in the red are used in the business world to describe profits and losses, this explanation for one of the busiest shopping days of the year only came about in the 1980s, about 20 years after the phrase Black Friday was in regular use.


When is Black Friday 2024?

Black Friday has a late start in 2024 – falling on November 29. Based on this date and past shopping trends.

Are you wondering what day Black Friday falls on this year? The major shopping holiday always takes place the day after Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Friday in November. This means the Biggest Shopping Day of the Year is on Friday, November 29 in 2024.

However, since "Black Friday" as a shopping event extends far beyond this specific Friday in November, it can be hard to keep tabs on when your favorite retailers are hosting sales and where to find the best deals. That's why we've created this guide to help you tackle all your Black Friday shopping in 2024 with ease.



Black Friday 2024 in Singapore: Definition and Best Deals
Black Friday has been increasingly popular in recent years. For instance, in just one day, Singaporean shoppers spent over SGD 100 million—an astounding 40% rise from the year before!

Black Friday has grown to be a major shopping event in Singapore, having started as a method to start the holiday shopping season in the United States. Retailers from all across the country participate by providing incredible deals that draw in both residents and visitors.

The phrase "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in the 1960s when police officers used it to characterise the day after Thanksgiving's heavy traffic of vehicles and pedestrians. Eventually, the phrase became synonymous with the beginning of the holiday shopping season among retailers. As a result of the spike in consumer spending, the day came to be associated with enormous discounts and deals, with many stores moving "into the black," or making money.

For the most part, Black Friday was a single day dedicated to in-store shopping. But the scope and duration of the event increased along with e-commerce. These days, a lot of shops offer online deals in addition to in-store experiences, beginning their promotions days or even weeks in advance. The event has become even more widespread as a result of the rise of social media and digital marketing.


Black Friday 2024: Date, origin, significance—all you need to know
Black Friday has evolved into a global phenomenon with it becoming synonymous with the post-Thanksgiving shopping rush

Black Friday 2024 Date and Significance: In the United States, Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is one of the year’s busiest shopping days.

It sets the tone for the holiday season and marks the official start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States, with retailers offering discounts on various products.

The sales continue until Monday (Cyber Monday) or for a week (Cyber Week), which accounts for almost one-fifth of annual sales in the retail industry.


Black Friday: How to spot a deal and not get ripped off

The Black Friday sales are already in full swing and it can be easy to get swept up in the shopping frenzy and end up out of pocket - instead of bagging a bargain.

The vast majority of Black Friday offers are cheaper or the same price at other times of the year, consumer group Which? has warned.

We've spoken to some experts who have shared tips on how to shop Black Friday without being ripped off.


Black Friday 2024: Stores launch early-bird deals for ‘Black November
BHG Bugis Junction is one of many major retailers in Singapore to launch early Black Friday deals

Black Friday, an eagerly anticipated annual retail event, is being celebrated early in Singapore, as well as around the world.

While Black Friday 2024 stretches from Nov 29 to Cyber Monday on Dec 1, online and physical stores are not waiting till the end of the month to roll out their big-ticket bargains, a hallmark of Black Friday shopping.

Changing consumer trends over the last few years indicate that sales previously set aside for a single day or the weekend after Thanksgiving Day in the United States have slowly expanded into the lead-up to the actual holiday, as well as a few days after. This allows consumers more elbow room to bag early-bird deals ahead of the Black Friday weekend crowds.

28/11/2024

Memories of Yesteryears

Heritage SG Memories

Once Upon A Time - Susu Chap Junjung

Grew up before the days when powdered and fresh milk were readily available in Old Malaya ... so 'susu pekat', i.e. condensed milk in tins (metal cans plated with tin, that came from the Kinta Valley 😉) were the only source of milk to most people ... and the "Milkmaid Brand" from Nestle dominated the market, then ... with a picture of the Milkmaid with a pail of milk in one hand and the other balanced on her head ... it's also 'sweetened' aka lot of sugar ... that caused a lot of problems to a lot of people, later in life ... especially when one enjoys spreading the condensed milk on bread and sprinkling Milo powder on it ... guilty of it and was warned by the Doctors to stop or suffer being a diabetic ... so now Atuk is resigned to having Tehsi Kosong (no sugar but just evaporated milk) while chatting away with friends at the Warong

Found some old pictures of Milkmaids which showed them carrying their pails of milk, balanced on a stick ... not unlike our Kayu Kandar ... and they are called 'yokes' ... wonder if they'll be new Nasi Kandar shops mushrooming with signboards, "Rice Yoke" ... just a joke, lahhh.

27/11/2024

Remembering Bruce Lee 2024


Bruce Lee Grave Site in Seattle
Buried next to Lee is his son Brandon, who was also an actor and martial artist. Brandon was killed at the age of 28 in a fluke accident on the set of The Crow

The Bruce Lee grave site is very simple. The headstone simply has a picture of Bruce Lee, his name in English and Chinese, the dates of his life, and it reads “Founder of Jeet Kune Do”. On the foot of the grave is an open black book. On the left side of the book is a yin and yang symbol with Chinese writing, and on the right it says “Your inspiration continues to guide us toward our personal liberation”.

Named one of the top 10 celebrity grave sites in the world, thousands of people visit every year. There are always flowers, coins, and other trinkets resting on the plot. It’s an emotional pilgrimage for some while others simply just want to see where the martial arts legend is buried. Whether you’re a fan of Bruce Lee or not, it’s a pretty neat experience to visit his grave site.

Have you ever visited the Bruce Lee grave site in Seattle? We’d love to hear from you about your experience. Please leave a comment below or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Don’t forget to also visit Seattle Bloggers for more places to check out in the Emerald City!


Bruce Lee: American-born actor
Bruce Lee was born on 27 Nov 1940 & passed away at the age of 32 on 20 Jul 1973

Bruce Lee, Chinese name Li Jun Fan, (born November 27, 1940, San Francisco, California, U.S.—died July 20, 1973, Hong Kong), American-born film actor who was renowned for his martial arts prowess and who helped popularize martial arts movies in the 1970s.

Lee was born in San Francisco, but he grew up in Hong Kong. He was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age, as his father was an opera singer and part-time actor. The younger Lee began appearing in films as a child and was frequently cast as a juvenile delinquent or street urchin. As a teenager, he took up with local gangs and began learning kung fu to better defend himself. At that time he also started dance lessons, which further refined his footwork and balance; in 1958 Lee won the Hong Kong cha-cha championship.

Lee’s parents were increasingly disturbed by his street fighting and run-ins with the police, and they sent him to live in the United States shortly after he turned 18. He lived with family friends in Seattle, where he finished high school and studied philosophy and drama at the University of Washington. While in Seattle he opened his first martial arts school, and in 1964 he relocated to Oakland, California, to found a second school. It was about that time that he developed his own technique—jeet kune do, a blend of ancient kung fu, fencing, boxing, and philosophy—which he began teaching instead of traditional martial arts. He drew the attention of a television producer after giving a kung fu demonstration at a Los Angeles-area karate tournament, and he was cast as the sidekick Kato in the television series The Green Hornet (1966–67).

Bruce Lee 李 小 龍
Born on 27 Nov 1940 & passed away at the age of 32 on 20 Jul 1973

Bruce Lee (Chinese: 李小龍; born Lee Jun-fan, 李振藩; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Chinese-American martial artist and actor whose career spanned Hong Kong and the United States. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often credited with paving the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Lee is considered by critics, media, and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century, who bridged the gap between East and West. He is credited with promoting Hong Kong action cinema and helping to change the way Chinese people were presented in American films.

Born in San Francisco and raised in British Hong Kong, Lee was introduced to the Hong Kong film industry as a child actor by his father. However, these were not martial arts films. His early martial arts experience included Wing Chun (trained under Yip Man), tai chi, boxing (winning a Hong Kong boxing tournament), and apparently frequent street fighting (neighbourhood and rooftop fights). In 1959, Lee moved to Seattle. In 1961, he enrolled in the University of Washington. It was during this time in the United States that he began considering making money by teaching martial arts, even though he aspired to have a career in acting. He opened his first martial arts school, operated out of home in Seattle. After later adding a second school in Oakland, California, he once drew significant attention at the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships of California by making demonstrations and speaking. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to teach, where his students included Chuck Norris, Sharon Tate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 1970s, his Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated the Hong Kong martial arts films to a new level of popularity and acclaim, sparking a surge of Western interest in Chinese martial arts. The direction and tone of his films dramatically influenced and changed martial arts and martial arts films worldwide.

He is noted for his roles in five feature-length Hong Kong martial arts films in the early 1970s: Lo Wei's The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972); Golden Harvest's The Way of the Dragon (1972), directed and written by Lee; and Golden Harvest and Warner Brothers' Enter the Dragon (1973) and The Game of Death (1978), both directed by Robert Clouse. Lee became an iconic figure known throughout the world, particularly among the Chinese, based upon his portrayal of Chinese nationalism in his films and among Asian Americans for defying Asian stereotypes. Having initially learnt Wing Chun, tai chi, boxing, and street fighting, he combined them with other influences from various sources into the spirit of his personal martial arts philosophy, which he dubbed Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist). Lee died in July 1973, aged 32. Since his death, Lee has continued to be a prominent influence on modern combat sports, including judo, karate, mixed martial arts, and boxing, as well as modern popular culture, including film, television, comics, animation, and video games. Time named Lee one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.

Fans flock to Hong Kong to mark 50th anniversary of Bruce Lee's death
Bruce Lee, born in San Francisco 1940 but raised in Hong Kong, passed away at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973

Fans from Hong Kong and around the world gathered at the feet of a Bruce Lee statue on Thursday 20 July 2023 to pay tribute to the late kung fu legend on the 50th anniversary of his untimely death.

Standing in front of the life-size bronze statue with Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour behind them, a stream of fans snapped pictures, bowed and laid down flowers. Others performed moves from Lee's own brand of kung fu: "Jeet Kune Do" and threw "nunchucks" - a chained double truncheon weapon that was popularised by Lee in several films. Those who traveled to Hong Kong for the anniversary included people from mainland China, Asia and Europe.

"I have loved Bruce Lee since I was very young," said Bruce Shin from South Korea who sported a brush cut and large framed sunglasses, imitating Lee. "His body and figure was so mysterious. I wanted to be like him and did weight training for 50 years," Shin added while making high pitched yelps and unleashing rapid-fire punches. Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong, passed away at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973 from a brain swelling, just days before the release of his global blockbuster movie 'Enter the Dragon'.


Bruce Lee fans gather in Hong Kong to commemorate 50 year anniversary of martial arts legend's death
Fans gather in front of the statue of martial arts icon Bruce Lee to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death in Hong Kong, on July 20, 2023.  (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32. The 50th anniversary of Lee's death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.

A government-run museum organized a camp for students to learn about Lee's legacy by introducing them to Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style that Lee invented and practiced. The museum also screened his films. Many of Lee's supporters said his philosophy inspired them since they were young, even though many only learned about him and his works after his death.

related:


Fifty years on, Bruce Lee's legacy squares up to modern life in Hong Kong
Bruce Lee developed his own martial arts form, "Jeet Kune Do"

Fifty years after the death of Bruce Lee, who galvanised the imaginations of generations of young people worldwide with feats of kung fu immortalised on screen, it sometimes seems as if his legacy of the martial art he practiced is fading in Hong Kong.

Born in San Francisco but brought up in the Asian financial hub which would make him famous, Lee died of brain edema aged 32 on July 20, 1973, just six days before the release of "Enter the Dragon", his most popular film.

Lee's contributions to martial arts, film, and philosophy have inspired legions of fans across the world, but the legacy that endured for half a century is sometimes seen as a relic of the past in the former British colony.


50 years after his death, Bruce Lee remains a star, a role model, an enigma
Hong Kong has embraced Bruce Lee as a native son. Pictured is a statue of the martial arts star and actor near the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in the city. Photo: Shutterstock

The legacy of martial arts legend Bruce Lee has endured at the 50th anniversary of his death in part because there are so many Bruce Lees.

Since his 1973 death under mysterious circumstances at age 32, Hong Kong has embraced Lee as a native son, China as an anti-Japanese nationalist, Asian-Americans as a role model, blacks and Latinos as a fighter of white oppression, the developing world as a foil against colonialism.

“Think about how many people try to own Bruce Lee and how many narratives there are,” said Paul Bowman, cultural studies professor at Cardiff University and lead editor of Martial Arts Studies, an academic journal. “He functions as a kind of fantasy object or muse for people in different contexts.”



Fans of martial arts legend Bruce Lee fondly remember his life philosophy 50 years after his death

Fans of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who broke negative stereotypes around Asian men in films, gathered in Hong Kong this week to commemorate their idol’s death half a century ago, remembering his legacy and his life philosophy on persistence.

Lee, who was born in San Francisco but raised in the Asian financial hub, was famous for his martial arts talent and his fight against racist portrayals of Asians on big and small screens in the 1960s and 70s. He died at the height of his fame due to an allergic reaction to painkillers when he was 32. The 50th anniversary of Lee's death on Thursday drew fans to exhibitions in Hong Kong on his life and career. They also laid flowers at his statue at the Avenue of Stars, a tourist attraction modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the Kowloon shore of Victoria Harbor.

A government-run museum organized a camp for students to learn about Lee's legacy by introducing them to Jeet Kune Do, the martial arts style that Lee invented and practiced. The museum also screened his films. Many of Lee's supporters said his philosophy inspired them since they were young, even though many only learned about him and his works after his death.


Bruce Lee at 80: the martial arts legend and his legacy jeet kune do, the unique way of fighting he developed
Bruce Lee in a scene from The Way of the Dragon (1972). The martial arts legend would have turned 80 years old on Friday 27 Nov 2020. Photo: Criterion Collection

The best-known legacy of Bruce Lee, who would have turned 80 this Friday is of course his movies. But the martial arts legend also developed a unique way of fighting called jeet kune do, a Cantonese term which translates as something like “the way of the stopping fist” or more poetically, “the way of the intercepting fist.”

There are many distinct styles of fighting in kung fu – hung gar, wing chun, and tai chi to name a few of the more famous ones. But the best starting point for understanding jeet kune do is realising that Lee never wanted it to be a style.

Lee’s intention was quite the opposite, in fact. He developed jeet kune do because he thought that the idea of a rigid fighting style was too limiting.


What killed Bruce Lee? 4 leading theories medical and martial arts experts proposed after his shock death 50 years ago on 20 Jul 1973
Bruce Lee on the set of “The Big Boss”. Lee died two years after the movie’s 1971 release, and in the years since, competing theories have been posited as to what exactly killed the martial arts star. Photo: Yau Leung

Bruce Lee’s unexpected death on July 20, 1973 sent shock waves across the world.
Today, fans continue to mourn and pay emotional tributes to the martial arts legend, but people still don’t really know why he died.

At the time, doctors cited a fluid build-up in Lee’s brain as the official cause of death, but they did not give a clear explanation as to why the excess accumulation of fluid occurred.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of Lee’s death, we recall some of the theories put forward to explain his death:
  • Cannabis use - When Lee died in 1973, he was just 32 years old. At the time, doctors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong attributed his death to cerebral oedema – brain swelling. The condition, which is life-threatening, is the body’s way of reacting to trauma, a stroke or infection.
  • Hypersensitivity to aspirin or meprobamate - Shortly before Lee died, he was in actress Betty Ting Pei’s home on Beacon Hill Road, in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and complained of a bad headache.
  • Heatstroke - In his biography Bruce Lee: A Life, author Matthew Polly posited another theory – heatstroke – for why Lee died.
  • Drinking too much water - In December 2022, a study published in the Clinical Kidney Journal claimed that the real cause of Lee’s death could have been hyponatraemia, which occurs when there is a low concentration of sodium in the blood.


Bruce Lee's Death: Details of His Sudden Passing 50 Years Ago
Bruce Lee died at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973

In July 1973, Bruce Lee was working on a number of new projects, most notably the movie Game of Death. He’d been married to Linda Emery Lee for nine years, and they had two children together: 8-year-old Brandon and 4-year-old Shannon.

But on July 20, 1973, Lee went to take a nap after complaining of a headache and never woke up. An ambulance was called after he was found unconscious, but Lee was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Lee's sudden death at 32 years old was due to cerebral edema or swelling of the brain — though several theories have emerged over the years regarding the edema's cause. In the '70s, experts claimed the brain swelling was caused by a hypersensitivity to prescribed medication, while more recent studies suggest the edema could have been due to heat stroke or from drinking an excessive amount of water. His funeral was held in Hong Kong, where he died, though he’s buried in Seattle alongside his son, who died two decades later.

On the 50th anniversary of Lee's death, Shannon wrote a tribute addressed to her late father and brother in PEOPLE. "You both lived so vibrantly, so boldly, so viscerally, so truly, and it is that life that you embodied and shared so beautifully that has given me the courage and the desire to not just live but grow and blossom through the loss of you," she wrote. "Your energy is eternal, and it still communicates. It still hits. It still loves. And I love you—your big laughter, your big smiles." Here’s a look at what happened when Bruce Lee died and the legacy he left behind:
  • How did Bruce Lee die?
  • When did Bruce Lee die?
  • Where did Bruce Lee die?
  • How old was Bruce Lee when he died?
  • How did the public react to Bruce Lee’s death?
  • What legacy did Bruce Lee leave behind?


Bruce Lee's Daughter Shannon Pens Emotional Essay on 50th Anniversary of Death: 'I Love You'
Bruce Lee (died in Jul 1973) with wife Linda Emery & kids Shannon & Brandon (died in Mar 1993)

For Shannon Lee, 2023 is a year of incredibly emotional anniversaries. Fifty years ago, action movie juggernaut Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32. Starring in films like Fist of Fury and The Big Boss, Lee became the face of martial-arts cinema, ultimately defining the genre.

Bruce had two kids, Brandon and Shannon, with his wife Linda Emery before his untimely death. Brandon followed his father into the industry, working on cult classics like Showdown in Little Tokyo. Twenty years after Bruce's death, Brandon was killed on the set of The Crow in March 1993 after being shot by a costar with what they believed to be a blank but was actually a real bullet. Now, 50 and 30 years after the respective deaths of her father and brother, Shannon remains deeply affected by loving and losing them both so early.

Just 4 years old when her dad died from a cerebral edema, Shannon is now an actress, producer and board chairwoman for the Bruce Lee Foundation. She's also an executive producer of Warrior, a Cinemax series based on the writings of her father that debuted in 2019.


25/11/2024

I love China’s dancing Grannies


Life has never been so good for retirees in China. They have time, money and no shortage of people to socialize with and on the topic of socializing, the number one activity is almost certainly dancing. There is a big problem of course - these ‘dancing grannies’ are driving young people crazy.

24/11/2024

Here’s why it’s better to eat a kiwi fruit with its skin

This way you get the most vitamins

This fruit, with its green pulp and a hairy, brown skin is not only very tasty, but also very healthy. For example, kiwi fruits are real vitamin bombs, they are chock full of vitamin C and contain potassium. However, do you want to take full advantage of the health benefits by consuming kiwi fruit? Then eat the skin as well.

But how do you eat that skin?

We all know that it is better not to peel an apple. The skin of an apple contains the most vitamins. However, it’s hard to believe that it’s better not to peel a kiwi fruit. But, like an apple, the skin is the healthiest part of the kiwi fruit. Yes, that hairy layer around the green flesh is very good for you. But, how are you going to transform that skin into a culinary masterpiece? How are you going to make that skin even edible?


23/11/2024

The Importance of Sleep

Just how much should you be sleeping every day?
Should you get a good night's sleep?

Just how much should you be sleeping every day? How to  get a good night's sleep?
If you think that sleep is just a period of inactivity, think again. Our nightly shut-eye allows our brains to consolidate our learning and memory so we can perform tasks better the next day. When we have enough sleep, we are less likely to overeat and crave junk, and we make wiser food choices.

If you've ever been sleep-deprived, you would have noticed your inability to concentrate, slow responses, impulsive decision-making1 and even felt easily annoyed[3]. Not to forget those dark eye circles that refuse to budge.

Perhaps sleeping in on the weekends could make you feel better, but what's lost is lost. Two days of better rest cannot compensate for a week's worth of impaired performance.

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22/11/2024

What erasers are made for

For those who make mistakes & those who are willing to correct their mistakes

20/11/2024

What is the origin of pi?

What Does “Pi” Mean, And Where Does It Come From?

Pi is the Latin name of the sixteenth Greek letter, π. (Mathematic notation borrows from a multitude of alphabets and typefaces.) The first recorded use of π as a mathematical symbol comes from the Welsh mathematician William Jones in a 1706 work called Synopsis Palmariorum Matheseos, in which he abbreviated the Greek περιϕέρεια, (meaning “circumference,” or “periphery”) to its first letter: π.

What does pi mean in mathematics? The mathematical pi is defined as “the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.” It’s also known as Archimedes’ Constant, after the ancient Greek mathematician of the same name, who, in addition to coming up with an algorithm for calculating pi, also invented an early type of irrigation pump called the Archimedian screw. Very medieval-sounding, but we digress.

What makes pi so magical is that it doesn’t matter how big or small the circle may be: the pi ratio remains the same. Pi is what’s known as an irrational number, which means, in part, that “it can never terminate or repeat when written out in decimal form.” As far as we can tell, it goes on forever, which is a bit mind-boggling. Computers have calculated pi to decimal places in the trillions. It is also a transcendental number, a concept that exceeds the scope of this post but is interesting in and of itself.

19/11/2024

International Men’s Day 2024

Men Leading By Example

On November 19 International Men’s Day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities.

International Men’s Day encourages men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man. Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must become the change we seek.”  It is only when we all, both men and women, lead by example that we will create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to prosper.

International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere of goodwill to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.

International Men’s Day is annually held on November 19 to improve gender relations and promote unity

World Toilet Day 2024

What’s UN World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Organization was founded on 19 November 2001 and the inaugural World Toilet Summit was held on the same day, the first global summit of its kind. We recognised the need for an international day to draw global attention to the sanitation crisis – and so we established World Toilet Day. NGOs, the private sector, civil society organisations and the international community joined in to mark the global day.

In 2013, a joint initiative between the Government of Singapore and World Toilet Organization led to Singapore’s first UN resolution, entitled “Sanitation for All”, calling for collective action to address the global sanitation crisis through the commemoration of World Toilet Day. The resolution was co-sponsored and adopted by 122 countries at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. On July 24, 2013, World Toilet Day on 19 November became an official UN day.

Each year UN World Toilet Day calls on the global community to do more to address the sanitation crisis. The theme for 2016 is “Toilets and Jobs.” World Toilet Day is THE day for action. It is the day to raise awareness about all the people who do not have access to a toilet, and the urgent need to end the sanitation crisis. And it is the day to stand up (or sit down or squat if you prefer) to do something about it.


Singapore's first UN resolution adopted; now, every Nov 19 is World Toilet Day

The United Nations (UN) has agreed to mark World Toilet Day on Nov 19, thanks to a Singapore initiative.

Singapore had tabled the resolution, Sanitation for All, to raise awareness of the global challenge of sanitation and toilets.

It is the first time Singapore, since it became a UN member 48 years ago, had put a resolution before the UN's General Assembly of 193 members. The resolution was supported by 120 countries, said the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in a joint statement on Wednesday.


World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day (WTD) is an official United Nations international observance day on 19 November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Worldwide, 4.2 billion people live without "safely managed sanitation" and around 673 million people practice open defecation.  Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims to "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". In particular, target 6.2 is to "End open defecation and provide access to sanitation and hygiene". When the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 was published, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, "Today, Sustainable Development Goal 6 is badly off track" and it "is hindering progress on the 2030 Agenda, the realization of human rights and the achievement of peace and security around the world".

World Toilet Day exists to inform, engage and inspire people to take action toward achieving this goal. The UN General Assembly declared World Toilet Day an official UN day in 2013, after Singapore had tabled the resolution (its first resolution before the UN's General Assembly of 193 member states). Prior to that, World Toilet Day had been established unofficially by the World Toilet Organization (a Singapore-based NGO) in 2001. UN-Water is the official convener of World Toilet Day. UN-Water maintains the official World Toilet Day website and chooses a special theme for each year. In 2020 the theme was "Sustainable sanitation and climate change". In 2019 the theme was 'Leaving no one behind', which is the central theme of the Sustainable Development Goals. Themes in previous years include nature-based solutions, wastewater, toilets and jobs, and toilets and nutrition. World Toilet Day is marked by communications campaigns and other activities. Events are planned by UN entities, international organizations, local civil society organizations and volunteers to raise awareness and inspire action.

Toilets are important because access to a safe functioning toilet has a positive impact on public health, human dignity, and personal safety, especially for females. Sanitation systems that do not safely treat excreta (feces) allow the spread of disease.Serious soil-transmitted diseases and waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery and schistosomiasis can result.

18/11/2024

We Live In Very Interesting & Funny Times

1. We live in times where we see many humans, but not humanity.

2. We live in times where the rich has more rooms than children and the poor has more children than rooms.

3. We live in times where smart phones bring you closer to those who are far, but distance you from those who are closer.

4. We live in times where we open Facebook, more than Holy Book.

5. We live in times where a single mother can look after 10 children, but 10 children can't look after a single mother.

6. We live in times where the rich walk miles to digest food, while the poor walk miles to search for food.

7. We live in times where women are paid to be naked, while others have no clothes to cover their nakedness.

8. We live in times where our contact lists are huge, but our relationships are poor.

9. We live in times where our possessions are more, but our appreciation is less.

10. We live in times where we know how to earn a good living, but somehow forget how to live good.

11. We live in times where many know the price of everything, but not the value of anything.

Indeed, we live in a strange world. ❤

17/11/2024

Closure of Overseas Emporium after 50 years

'It's a pity': Regulars lament closure
Overseas Emporium closed it shutters for good on 17 Nov 2024

For over half a century, Overseas Emporium stood as an iconic landmark at Chinatown's People's Park Complex where it was beloved by many regulars for its array of affordable goods, ranging from little trinkets and daily necessities to winterwear and more.

However, shoppers will now have to find a different place to shop as the historic store put up its shutters for good on Sunday (Nov 17) — but not before holding a massive clearance sale. According to Shin Min Daily News, a reporter saw lively crowds at the store on its last day, with plenty of people browsing the discounted goods. Speaking to the Chinese newspaper, many customers expressed their dejection at the store's closure. A regular customer Guo, who's in his 70s, said: "Overseas Emporium has a long history. I often come here to patronise it. I feel sad that it is closing."

Overseas Emporium opened more than 50 years ago in 1971 and was one of the largest Chinese departmental stores in Singapore in the 1970s, according to the store's website. The store took up 20,000 sq ft of shopping space across two floors of People's Park Complex.