Killer Litter

Originally asked on 06/04/2008:

Hey Librarian,

I would like to have some newspaper articles (Singapore) on killer litter, animal abuse, robberies / theft, vandalism - all happening @ HDB corridors / void decks.

I need these as additional resources for my P3 pupils who will be writing a situational composition exercise on Thursday (10 April), so I need them asap.

Thanxxx yah..

Thank you for your enquiry.

There are quite a few articles on vandalism, animal abuse, killer litter and etc at HDB corridors / void decks. Below are two of them. For more examples, you may like to access the Factiva database listed under "eResources" -> "eDatabases" -> "News" at the National Library Board website (http://www.nlb.gov.sg). In order to access the Factiva database, you must be a digital library member and you can sign up for it by selecting "Register your account" at the NLB homepage.

[1]

Singapore
Battling the killer litter menace
Jessica Cheam
739 words
5 December 2006
Straits Times
English
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Shortly after the town councils pledged to intensify efforts against killer litter last week, The Straits Times joined senior property officer Stella Wong on her rounds as she identified dangerously placed objects and issued stern warnings

IT WAS an accident waiting to happen.

A long bamboo pole, tied to a corridor railing with a flimsy piece of string, hung precariously from the fourth floor of Block 276, Bukit Panjang Road.

'Potential killer litter! So dangerous,' exclaimed Madam Stella Wong, on her daily inspection as a senior property officer for Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council.

In plainclothes and trainers, Madam Wong, 37, marched up the stairs to the door of the HDB resident: 'Auntie, can you take down the pole outside, please? If that falls, someone walking below will surely get hurt.'

'So sorry,' said the elderly resident, shocked at the visit from The Straits Times team who accompanied Madam Wong last Thursday. 'This is only our first time. My husband put it out just for a day to dry clothes. We thought there was no harm.' .......


[2]

KITTY KICK AND CLICK SPARKS OUTRAGE
Teh Jen Lee
1355 words
25 September 2006
The New Paper
English
Copyright 2006, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Man lures cat, then kicks it while friend catches act on handphone video

THE scene opens with a man in dark glasses walking along an HDB void deck, his feline victim trailing innocently a few steps behind him.The man turns and beckons to the black-and-white cat, then bends down to stroke it.

All this while, the person filming the act on a handphone camera gives out directions much as a director of a real film would.

He is heard saying 'slowly, slowly' to the man in the video. Then, he says what sounds like 'get ready', and then 'okay'.

The horror unfolds in a matter of seconds.

The man in the video gives the cat a vicious kick as if it is a football. Both men burst out laughing as the cat flies into the air and lands a few metres away. .......



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Hainan and Hokkien people

Originally asked on 06/04/2008:

can you tell me what holidays do hainan and hokkien people clebrate?
what special customs do hainan and hokkien people follow?

what foods do hokkien and hainan people eat?
can you send the reply to me by today
thank you very much!!!

Thank you for your enquiry.

Below is some information on Hainanese and Hokkien holidays or customs. Do note that they are not specific to people in Singapore. People from different dialect groups in Singapore are more likely to commemorate major Chinese customs such as Lunar New Year, Qing Ming and Mid-Autumn than they are the customs below which are practiced by native communities.

Here are some Hainan holidays/customs:
- Junpo festival : a festival for Han people to worship Madam Xian, a politician and national heroine who devoted her life to the development of local agriculture and economy
- Sanyuesan festival (also known as Coconut festival) : This takes place on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of the year. Traditionally a festival meant for young Li & Miao men and women to sing, dance and celebrate life and love. An annual event at which the island province's coconut-associated cultural heritage and ethnic habits and customs are displayed
(source: http://www.sunnysanya.com/hainan_island/Hainan_Island_Culture_Festival.asp & http://www.chinareview.com/culture/festivals/hainan-coconut-festival/index.html)

The worship of Tian Gong or the Heavenly God by making offerings to the supreme deity on the ninth day of the first month in the lunar calendar is an example of a typical Hokkien custom.

Typical Hainanese food includes:
- Hainanese chicken rice (an assemblage of "white" (ginger and garlic) poached chicken and rice steamed in stock and chicken fat, served with cucumber, broth and dipping sauces)
- Hainanese western food
- Mutton soup
(sources:
- http://www.hainan-world.com/dir/hainanfood.html
- http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2003/yax-313.htm
- http://kuali.com/flavours/review.asp?file=flavours/2003/3/3haina&sec=flavours )

Typical Hokkien food includes:
- Hong Bak (braised pork in black soy sauce)
- Bak Ku Teh (stewed pork in herbal broth)
- Popiah (crepe roll filled with shredded vegetables)
- Hokkien mee (yellow egg noodles, typically served with prawns)
- Gnor Hiang (meat & shrimp roll)
(sources:
- http://kuali.com/flavours/review.asp?file=recfeature/2003/9/19hokki&sec=recfeature
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkien_noodles
- http://food.rumspace.com/2007/07/08/beng-thin-hoon-kee-hokkien-restaurant/ )

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We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.