All posts tagged: covid-19

Living with Endemic Covid-19 According to PM Lee

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Did you catch PM Lee’s fab and timely speech earlier today?  I personally liked PM Lee’s speech(writer) – it really addressed many of the prevailing concerns of the day. Read his full address here. While I peruse foreign news outlets for a more balanced view of the world, seriously, don’t be too sold on the sensational reportage from some of these overseas players – who at times, seem more interested in testing Singaporeans’ psychological defences, influencing the opinions of locals to their advantage/agenda or simply keeping a hold on their own citizens who are currently residing in Singapore. 🧐🤔🤭 The takeaways are perhaps: 1. If fully vaccinated, we can be less kiasi (afraid to die) liao lah. Endemic Covid means everyone will catch it at some point in time, but with mild or no symptoms if fully vaccinated. Also, please go take booster shots if invited to do so. 2. Healthcare Protocol is streamlined and as simple as 1-2-3 (🤣 thanks for the much needed simplification!) and C+ people with mild/no symptoms will by default …

WOW! The Arts Are Essentially Non-Essential?!

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WOW! Hear hear! The Arts Are Essentially Non-Essential?! Intellectually, I understand the survey simply brought to the fore, typical Singaporean culture and psyche. After all, we’ve come so far together (economically) because of a heady mix of ingredients – big doses of pragmatism, utilitarianism, legalism with a pinch of elitism. Nothing wrong there and I’m really not anti-establishment. I’ve travelled extensively for artistic work overseas and with each new city and culture I encounter, I’m ever more grateful to be born in Singapore. My observation is that in general, local Artists do lead a far more comfortable and stable life as compared to some of our counterparts overseas. Thank you very much. Emotionally however, it did hurt to have my calling and my profession (one I take great pride in), be labeled as ‘non-essential’. It is an uncomfortable proposition, however seemingly logical the non-essential label may be. Artist colleagues from across disciplines, were similarly and understandably outraged and/or upset. A pragmatist can hardly dispute Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a (rough) guide to the determination …