Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Leslie Cheung – 7 things you didn’t know about the Canto-pop icon, actor and LGBT pioneer

The youngest of 10 children from a modest family, he overcame early setbacks to become one of Hong Kong’s most-loved sons, only to succumb to depression 17 years ago

It has been 17 years since Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing passed away, tragically killing himself after suffering from depression. Although he was only 46 when he died, Cheung lived an incredible life – he was a Canto-pop icon, an award-winning actor recognised around the world and an 
LGBTQ+
 pioneer.
On the anniversary of his passing, April 1, it is fitting to pay tribute to this incredible Hongkonger. Whether you’re a diehard fan who knows every word to every song or someone who only recognises him from Wong Kar-wai’s Days of Being Wild, here are some facts you may not have known about “Gor Gor”.
He initially had no interest in show business
Cheung grew up in a large family, the youngest of 10 children. His father, Cheung Wut-hoi, was a tailor in Central of some renown, who had made suits for the likes of Marlon Brando, Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock. As a result, at university Cheung studied textile management. Cheung admitted all this in an interview with RTHK, saying, “Fate played a very important role. If you look at all the courses I was studying, they had nothing to do with show business. If I really had an interest in show business, I would have studied music when I was overseas, but that was not the case. In the end, there was no way of escaping my destiny to be in show business.”
His local idols were Cantonese opera actors
Cheung had many “overseas idols” that he confessed to admiring. The likes of Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand were among those he name-checked in his youth. Movies more than music were where he found his idols.
Closer to home, the performers he liked best were Cantonese opera actors, specifically Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin, since his nanny frequently took him to watch operas when he was growing up.
He began his musical career singing American Pie

In 1977, Cheung took the first steps of his professional career by entering the Asian Amateur Singing Contest held by Rediffusion Television (the future ATV). At the time he had been performing with a folk band called Onyx – “which stands for a unique and brilliant black stone” – and so he went with the familiar Don McLean song American Pie, even though he was aware that the typically seven to eight minute song would have to be truncated for television. Famously, Cheung did not win and had to be content with second place.
He was initially a flop as a singer

I remember well that my singing career at the early stage was like ‘a person running into a rock’, full of despair and obstacles.”Leslie Cheung
Despite the stardom he would go on to achieve, Cheung was not initially popular as a professional singer. He received criticisms that he was immature and had a “chicken-like voice”. At a pop folk music festival, which also featured The Wynners, a group led by Alan Tam, another Canto-pop star in the making, Cheung was booed offstage.
“The audience shouted at me, saying ‘Get off the stage!’,” Cheung later recalled. “It was the first time I performed in public after the singing contest. In those days when everything was full of uncertainty … I remember well that my singing career at the early stage was like ‘a person running into a rock’, full of despair and obstacles.”
It took eight years before Cheung felt popular enough to headline his own personal concert.
He was a generous philanthropist
Despite coming from a fairly middle-class background, Cheung was generous with his money when he finally hit it big. When an earthquake struck Taiwan in 1999 Cheung joined a charity fundraiser, and after trying some fried rice cooked by Chan Po-chu, he immediately donated HK$250,000 (US$32,250). Equally impressive is the fact that he donated all the profits from his platinum-selling album Salute to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Following his death Cheung’s family established the Leslie Cheung Memorial Scholarship at the institution to help encourage outstanding students as well as to help students from poor families.
In his early acting career he made sure to applaud his performances when in the cinema
According to Hong Kong writer and socialite Eunice Lam, Cheung used to applaud his own acting when he was getting started in movies. She recalled, “Every time when he saw himself appearing on the big screen, he would clap his hands happily. I asked him, ‘Why did you clap your hands every time when you saw yourself?’ He said naively, ‘If I do not clap first, who will? I have to lead them to do so.’ Really – when the audience heard the clapping sound coming from [the balcony], they followed suit.”
He directed only one film
Despite being the star actor in numerous films, Cheung only ever took the director’s reigns once. This was for a non-profit, anti-smoking film following the government’s decision to name him an anti-smoking ambassador. The film, From Ashes to Ashes, starred Cheung alongside fellow icons 
Anita Mui
 and Karen Mok. Nearly 40 minutes long, the film focuses on parents (Cheung and Mok) who are stressed by their work and smoke a lot to unwind. The unfortunately side effect is their child getting cancer from their second-hand smoke.



Memorial service for Hong Kong singer-actor Leslie Cheung cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak


KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 ― The annual memorial service for Hong Kong singer-actor Leslie Cheung on April 1 has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
In a statement issued via its Facebook, the late celebrity's fan club “That's Leslie” said a commemorative event would be held on social media instead.
While no other information was provided, it announced that details will be made known later.
The club also said that floral tribute at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and the Avenue of Stars had been cancelled due to security reasons.
It said they would not be responsible for any issues that arise from unauthorised floral tributes, gifts and cleanup at the places mentioned.
While fans collectively appeared to understand the reason behind the cancellation, many were left disappointed that they could not be present at the service.
Leslie, affectionately known as Gor Gor (Cantonese for older brother), had leapt to his death from the 24th floor of a hotel in Hong Kong on April 1, 2003 at age 46.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Bill Gates: “The Corona Virus… is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we seem to have forgotten and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.”


But multi-billionaire Gates, 64 – who donated £85 million to combat the virus last month – believes that despite the chaos, there is ‘a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens’.
In an open letter, entitled ‘What is the Corona/ Covid-19 Virus Really Teaching us?’, he wrote:

‘A SPIRITUAL PURPOSE’

“I’m a strong believer that there is a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens, whether that is what we perceive as being good or being bad.
“As I meditate upon this, I want to share with you what I feel the Corona/ Covid-19 virus is really doing to us.

1) It is reminding us that we are all equal, regardless of our culture, religion, occupation, financial situation or how famous we are. This disease treats us all equally, perhaps we should too.

If you don’t believe me, just ask Tom Hanks.
2) It is reminding us that we are all connected and something that affects one person has an effect on another.
It is reminding us that the false borders that we have put up have little value as this virus does not need a passport.

It is reminding us, by oppressing us for a short time, of those in this world whose whole life is spent in oppression.

3) It is reminding us of how precious our health is and how we have moved to neglect it through eating nutrient poor manufactured food and drinking water that is contaminated with chemicals upon chemicals.
If we don’t look after our health, we will, of course, get sick.
4) It is reminding us of the shortness of life and of what is most important for us to do, which is to help each other, especially those who are old or sick.
Our purpose is not to buy toilet roll.
5) It is reminding us of how materialistic our society has become and how, when in times of difficulty, we remember that it’s the essentials that we need (food, water, medicine) as opposed to the luxuries that we sometimes unnecessarily give value to.

6) It is reminding us of how important our family and home life is and how much we have neglected this.

It is forcing us back into our houses so we can rebuild them into our home and to strengthen our family unit.

‘OUR TRUE WORK’

7) It is reminding us that our true work is not our job, that is what we do, not what we were created to do.
Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each other and to be of benefit to one another.
8) It is reminding us to keep our egos in check.
It is reminding us that no matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, a virus can bring our world to a standstill.
9) It is reminding us that the power of freewill is in our hands.
We can choose to cooperate and help each other, to share, to give, to help and to support each other or we can choose to be selfish, to hoard, to look after only our self.
Indeed, it is difficulties that bring out our true colours.
10) It is reminding us that we can be patient, or we can panic.
We can either understand that this type of situation has happened many times before in history and will pass, or we can panic and see it as the end of the world and, consequently, cause ourselves more harm than good.

11) It is reminding us that this can either be an end or a new beginning.

This can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from our mistakes, or it can be the start of a cycle which will continue until we finally learn the lesson we are meant to.
12) It is reminding us that this Earth is sick.
It is reminding us that we need to look at the rate of deforestation just as urgently as we look at the speed at which toilet rolls are disappearing off of shelves. We are sick because our home is sick.
13) It is reminding us that after every difficulty, there is always ease.
Life is cyclical, and this is just a phase in this great cycle. We do not need to panic; this too shall pass.

14) Whereas many see the Corona/ Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, I prefer to see it as a *great corrector*

It is sent to remind us of the important lessons that we seem to have forgotten and it is up to us if we will learn them or not.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading

  • Follow the guidance outlined above.
  • Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
  • If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

Total 790 Case COVID-19 Di Malaysia (18 Mac 2020)

Ringkasan Kes COVID-19 Di Malaysia (Sehingga 18 Mac 2020, 5:00 petang)

Kes disahkan positif790
Kes disahkan negatif6857
Pending (masih menunggu keputusan makmal)3297
JUMLAH10944
 
Pulih60
Unit Rawatan Rapi15
Kematian2

China COVID-19 study: blood type O are more resistant, type A are more susceptible to infection

From the blood group patterns of more than 2,000 patients studied, the researchers discovered that blood type A patients showed a higher rate of infection and they tended to develop more severe symptoms

A new medical study on the coronavirus in China found that blood type A patients were more susceptible to the infection and tended to develop more severe symptoms, while patients with blood type O seemed more resistant to the disease.
Medical researchers from across China conducted a preliminary study on different blood groups and resistance to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Blood group patterns of over 2,000 patients infected with the virus in Wuhan and Shenzhen were studied and compared with that of local, healthy population.
First reported on by the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the study was led by Wang Xinghuan with the Centre for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and involved scientists and doctors from Beijing, Wuhan, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

The study found that patients from the O blood group had a “significantly lower risk” for COVID-19 and that those with blood type A may be more vulnerable and might need “particularly strengthened personal protection” against the infection.

From the blood group patterns of more than 2,000 patients studied, the researchers discovered that blood type A patients showed a higher rate of infection and they tended to develop more severe symptoms.

“Sars-CoV-2-infected patients with blood group A might need to receive more vigilant surveillance and aggressive treatment,”  wrote Mr Wang.

The study also found patients with blood type O were more resistant to the disease.

“Blood group O had a significantly lower risk for the infectious disease compared with non-O blood groups,” the researchers wrote in a paper published on Medrxiv.org on March 11.

The blood types of the 206 patients who died from COVID-19 in Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, were studied. Of the fatalities, 85 had type A blood and 52 had type O. The type A deaths were 63 per cent more than the type O deaths. The study’s authors found that the pattern was present across various age and gender groups.
Blood types are determined by an “antigen”, which is a material on the surface of red blood cells that can trigger an immune response. The main blood groups were discovered by Austrian biologist Karl Landsteiner in 1901—type A, B, AB and O. The medical breakthrough made blood transfusions safer as patients’ blood types could be matched properly.

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