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FarEastFlora.com Pte Ltd 565 Thomson Road Singapore 298184 tel 6251 2323 fax 6355 0620 url www.FarEastFlora.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A tribute to mother, for her purest of love FarEastFlora.com®

Singapore, 11 April 2008 —If ever there is a flower that is synonymous with the meaning of Mother's Day, it must be the delightful carnation. Carnations, with its special significance, take centre-stage in the 2008 Mother’s Day collection by leading flowers and gifts provider FarEastFlora.com

2008 Mother’s Day collection includes refreshing new floral designs

®. “The unassuming carnation has long been associated with Mother’s Day. Consumers will find carnations being used in innovative ways in our collection this year,” said Ryan Chioh, Managing Director of FarEastFlora.com®. Complementing 12 all-time bestsellers are 11 new creations from the team at FarEastFlora.com®

Carnations became associated with Mother's Day in 1908, when an advocate for the holiday, Anna Jarvis, sent 500 white carnations to her mother's West Virginia church in her honor. It was her late mother's favorite flower, and all the mothers at church that day were to receive one to celebrate their dedication to their role. She had successfully lobbied prominent businessmen and politicians to create a special day to honor mothers, resulting in a 1914 bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. History aside, the carnation flower itself exemplifies many of the wonderful qualities of mothers. Carnations are hardy and long-lasting, like a mother’s unwavering love for her family. Indeed, carnations enjoy a long vase life, lasting up to 10 days in cool conditions.

. In total, customers will be able to take their pick from a range of 23 flowers, plants and gift sets for Mother’s Day. The collection includes original floral creations such as a unique arrangement framed by willow fashioned into a heart-shape, a carnation topiary in a sugar pot and an arrangement in a beautiful white porcelain casserole. (See Appendix) “Carnations are found in most of our floral arrangements, given its special affiliation with Mother’s Day,” he added.


There is perhaps no other flower more appropriate to represent a mother’s feminine strength, with qualities of robustness and delicacy as epitomized in the carnation’s hardiness and exquisitely frilled petals.

Besides carnation floral gifts, consumers can also express their love on Mother’s Day with skin and body care products and food hampers. Containing products from the Natural Beauty by Origins range, Crabtree & Evelyn gourmet items and fortifying tonics, these gifts will please mothers to no end.

As Ryan puts it, “No gift is too much for our mothers, who have sacrificed so much for us through their tireless love. Mother’s Day presents are but a small way for us to express gratitude to the amazing woman at the heart of every family.” The FarEastFlora.com® Mother’s Day 2008 collection will be available from 7th April to 10th May 2008. Orders can be placed either online at www.FarEastFlora.com®

About FarEastFlora.com

or by telephone at 6251 2323. For more information on all product offerings, please visit www.FarEastFlora.com

®

FarEastFlora.com Pte Ltd

® was established in 1999, as an extension of Far East Flora Pte Ltd’s online business. As a pioneer in recognizing the Internet’s commercial potential, this mail order arm now offers over 1000 choices in flowers, gifts and hampers to more than 140 countries. FarEastFlora.com® prides itself in providing customized gifts to meet different customers’ needs. Other than an extensive range of flowers and gifts for all occasions, FarEastFlora.com® specializes in floral decoration for weddings, events, customized corporate gifting and more. For more information about all product offerings, visit www.FarEastFlora.com. FarEastFlora.com® is also the proud winner of ZDNet Asia's SMB of the Year 2006 and the Singapore Service Class Award. FarEastFlora.com is also the creator of Flower Memo®, a patent-pending innovation that displays color images on flowers, & Box of Blooms®

, which won the Singapore Packaging Star Award 2005 & AsiaStar Award 2005.

For all media enquiries, please contact: Sarah Yong Senior Manager FarEastFlora.com®

HP: (65) 8118 2086 Email:

Pte Ltd

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]�


FarEastFlora.com®

Product Code

2008 Mother’s Day collection Name Price Description Image

Flowers

MDN01 Close to my Heart

UP: $69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

SP:

$59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

Mothers never keep us waiting for their love, and neither should we. Express your love eloquently with this unique arrangement of pink roses, gerberas, eustomas and

maroon carnation sprays framed by an endearing heart-shaped

ivy frame. Even a lavender butterfly can’t resist but flit by to

smell the flowers. w 50cm h 30cm

(3 gerberas)

MDN02

Heart-felt Gratitude

UP: $59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

SP:

$49.90 (w/gst $53.39)

At the heart of every family is Mum. Her tireless care and

dedication that stems from the purest of love is given due recognition with this lovely arrangement of two-tone

shocking pink carnations in a heart-shaped box. You’ll leave her in no doubt about your love

for her too. w 26cm h 45cm (15 carnations)

MDN03 Ma, You’re My Sunshine

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

A mother’s love is like a beacon of light embracing you in good & bad times. Her loving care is a ray of sunshine during difficult times. Convey your deep appreciation for everything Mum has done & will inevitably do for you with this cheerful arrangement of brilliant sunflowers, orange roses, burnt-

gold gerberas and dainty yellow carnation sprays. w 45cm h 30cm

(3 sunflowers)


MDN04

Sweet Embrace

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

A mother holds her children's hands for a while, but their hearts,

forever. Tell her she holds an important place in your heart

with this glowing arrangement of sweetly-scented lilies, soft centerpink pink roses and

carnations. Like your sweet embrace, this gift will touch her

heart in a splendid way. w 50cm h 30cm (8 carnations)

MDN05 Bejewelled Thanks

UP: $49.90 (w/gst $53.39)

SP:

$39.90 (w/gst $42.69)

Emblems of Mother’s Day, pink carnations are wonderful

representations of Mum’s love—soft and feminine, yet strong and

firm. This distinctive fuchsia carnation topiary arrives in a

white porcelain sugar jar, which can be reused. She’ll be

rendered speechless with your sweet gesture.

w 12cm h 40cm (9 carnations)

MDN06 Mum’s Love: Always from

the Heart

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

You will never forget Mum’s cooking, for it is always prepared from the heart. Tell her how much

you appreciate the love and care she gives to the family with

this beautiful white porcelain casserole filled with delightful

orange gerberas, yam roses and pink carnation sprays. This

microwave-safe casserole can be reused to whip up more

nourishing dishes for the family! w 26cm h 12cm

(6 roses)


MDN07 Blooming Gratitude

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

Her children always come before herself. Take this opportunity

during Mother’s Day to demonstrate your appreciation of her selflessness with this gift. Containing two-tone orange

carnations, champagne roses and delicate yellow alstroemerias in a container with peach motifs, this arrangement will convey your

gratitude beautifully. w 50cm h 30cm (9 carnations)

MDN08 Nurturing Love

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

Pink is the color of nurturing and compassion. This pleasing

arrangement of pink gerberas, eustomas, shocking pink

carnations and beautifully textured fruticosa in our exclusive pink mosaic vase speaks of your appreciation for her unflagging

nurturing over the years. Mum will be delighted to receive such an

eloquent expression of your appreciation!


MDN09 Purple

Extravagance

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP:

$79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

On Mother’s Day, surprise Mum with this extravagant

arrangement of champagne roses, yellow carnation sprays

and eustomas in various shades of purple. A color associated with

royalty, this purple floral arrangement will make her feel like a queen on this special day!

w 35cm h 40cm (9 roses)


MDN10 Effusive Affections

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

When words can’t say how much you love your Mum, let this round bouquet articulate your profound attachment to her. The profusion of lovely maroon carnations and

pink eustomas makes this bouquet a clear symbol of your

effusive love for Mum! w 35cm h 45cm (6 carnations)

MDN11 Mom, I Love You

UP: $99.90 (w/gst $106.8

9)

SP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

For the sophisticated mother, this magnificent sheaf bouquet of

scented pink lilies, light pink roses and deep red carnations will

wow her this Mother’s Day. Your Mum will be the source of much envy when she receives this eye-

catching gift! w 45cm h 75cm

(3 lilies)

MDN12 Crimson Charm

UP: $49.90 (w/gst $53.39)

SP:

$39.90 (w/gst $42.69)

Serenade Mum with this mesmerizing round bouquet of

deep red carnations, safari sunset and song of india this Mother’s

Day. Representing your immense thankfulness to Mum, she’ll be

charmed by this thoughtful bouquet!



MDN13 Utmost Admiration

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

A union of shocking pink & red roses set amongst green

carnations symbolizes Mum’s grace, gentleness and strength. This splendid aqua bouquet says it all! It is the perfect declaration of your admiration for Mum on

this special day. w 35cm h 50cm (8 carnations)

MDN14 Majestic Affections

UP: $99.90 (w/gst $106.8

9

SP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

Shower Mum with plenty of love and kisses with this majestic

bouquet befitting a queen like her. Just like what the great

Abraham Lincoln used to say, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” She will feel oh-so-loved by such a pleasing sight of white Marco Polo lilies and pink eustomas.

w 45cm h 50cm (3 lilies)

MDN15 Country Blossoms

UP: $69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

SP:

$59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

This pretty basket of pink roses and carnations will bring a smile

to Mum! Evoking the tranquil beauty of countryside, this is a gift that never goes out of style. She’ll

also love the delicate scent of the pink roses! Bag measures

l 23cm w 15cm h 16cm (9 roses)


MDN16 Color Me Pretty

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

This bag of flowers is one gift that she will use again and again. As

Mum uses this hand-woven rattan shoulder bag to do her shopping,

you can be sure she will remember your thoughtfulness.

Comes with an enchanting arrangement of fuchsia roses, radiant orange gerberas and

tangerine carnation sprays. Bag measures

l 35cm w 10cm h 24cm (8 roses)

MDN17 Scarlet Beauty

UP: $59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

SP:

$49.90 (w/gst $53.39)

Mum will be enthralled with this splendid watering can,

individually hand-painted and blossoming with red roses, orange gerberas and purple carnations.

The watering can is ideal for watering her plants. A perfect gift

for Mums with green fingers! w 25cm h 32cm (8 carnations)

Skin and Body Care

MDN18 Pristine Glow

UP: $69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

SP:

$64.90 (w/gst $69.44)

She’ll appreciate this thoughtful gift of Origins Spot Remover® (10ml) containing redness-

reducing salicylic acid, oregano and clove extracts. Even during

the most humid of days, she’ll find her skin clear, fresh and matte as she uses Zero Oil® (18ml), with its

blend of winterbloom and Chinese camphor. Her dresser will

be instantly freshened up by these skin enhancers that come with radiant roses reminiscent of spring flowers emerging after a

long winter. w 25cm h 15cm (7 carnations)


MDN19 Overflowing Radiance

UP: $79.90 (w/gst $85.49)

SP:

$69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

Warm her heart with a gift of Origins facial masks that helps

maintain the radiant glow in her skin! Containing special seaweed

extracts, You’re Getting Warmer™ Purifying Clay Mask

(50ml) helps to refresh and protect while deep-cleansing clay clears pores of impurities. With Drink Up® Hydrating Mask

(50ml), she keeps her skin beautifully firm and supple.

Containing algae extracts & apricot kernel oil, it moisturizes & is truly a “fountain of youth” for her tired skin. Comes with a cheery arrangement of warm yellow Gerberas in a watering can.

l 35cm w 15cm h 30cm (5 gerberas)

Plants

MDN20 Garden of Love

UP: $69.90 (w/gst $74.79)

SP:

$59.90 (w/gst $64.09)

Kudos to the greatest woman of our lives for the person that we are today. Send your deepest

love with this eco-friendly gift of ficus pumila & a naturally heart-

shaped hoya plant with gleaming gold “I Love You”

Flower Memo inscribed on it. A mini greenhouse garden that

sustains itself, it’s an ingenious gift for your busy & homeproud Mum!

w 19cm h 17cm

*Due to the seasonality of plants, we may substitute a different

plant of equal or greater value.

MDN21 Amethyst Grace

UP: $99.90 (w/gst $106.8

9)

SP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

Show Mum that you care with this exquisite gift of orchids that will

flourish beautifully indoors. A vivid portrait of Mum’s strength and

sophistication, these fuchsia Phalaenopsis orchids rising from our hand-painted planter with gold-trimmed scalloped edges are flanked by the Peace Lily.

You’ll please her to no end with this gift.

l 32cm w 25cm h 75cm (2 phalaenopsis)


Great Foods

MDN22 Cottage Fancy

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP:

$84.90 (w/gst $90.84)

Watch Mum glow on this special day with these luxurious treats

from Crabtree & Evelyn! Tantalize her taste buds with melt-in-your-mouth All Butter Lemon Cookies

(200g), All Butter Hazelnut Cookies (200g), soothing Organic Camomile Tea (10 bags), sweet English Flower Honey (2 x 57g) & Strawberry Mini Preserves (57g). This irresistible wicker gift basket

comes with a dainty country floral embellishment.

12cm w 20cm h 28cm (6 roses)

MDN23 Happiness & Vitality

UP: $144.9

0 (w/gst $155.0

4)

SP: $129.9

0 (w/gst $138.9

9)

Be in Mum’s good books forever with this caring gesture of

nourishing health and beauty supplements. Arriving with an

orange gerbera bouquet to wish her happiness and vitality, she’ll be secretly pleased with these thoughtful gifts of New Moon

Superior Bird’s Nest with Collagen (6 x 75g) and Yomeishu (700ml).

w 18cm h 25cm (6 gerberas)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Odyssey of Love: FarEastFlora.com®

Unveils Valentine’s Day ’08 Offerings

Selection includes perennial bestsellers and new creations lending a new eloquence to the expression of love Singapore, XX December 2007 – Love is not simply, love. It is not an eventuality a couple becomes swept into, but more accurately, a personal voyage unique to each couple. The 2008 Valentine’s Day collection by leading flowers and gifts provider FarEastFlora.com® speaks of the various stages in love’s journey, allowing consumers to express their loving sentiments more eloquently through floral gifts. Complementing 16 all-time bestsellers are 14 new creations from the team at FarEastFlora.com®. In total, customers will be able to take their pick from a range of 30 bouquets and floral arrangements specially created for Valentine’s Day 2008. The range for Valentine’s Day 2008 represents the culmination of product development centered on the theme of love as a special voyage. The metaphor of an unfolding narrative journey demonstrates the more nuanced reality of love, that of a unique combination of emotions experienced by people in various stages of love. This is a departure from clichéd representations and breathes new possibilities into the act of giving flowers during Valentine’s Day. “Mainstream ideas common in our cultural representations of love are often too narrow and stereotyped. They simply do not reflect the many shades of meaning and emotions people in love experience,” said Ryan Chioh, Managing Director of FarEastFlora.com®. “Popular culture narratives of love do not in any way reflect individual stories of love. We hope to inject subtlety into the expression of love and affection through our gifts,” he added. Indeed, love in reality is far more nuanced. It runs the gamut of intense physical ardor, pragmatic partnership, selfless abandonment, dizzying infatuation and secret longing, to name but a few. Words do no justice to the spectrum of emotional states love brings. Truly, love is a many-splendored thing, a journey of growing intensity and discovery of not only the one you love, but also of oneself.


A voyage of growth, falling in love and being in love ought not to be seen as an end destination, but an unfolding story, a beautiful play with its various acts. This is no mere metaphor used carelessly to describe love. American psychologist Robert Sternberg describes love as encompassing various dimensions of intimacy, commitment and passion in his famous theoretical model. (Please see Appendix) Depending on combination and intensities, different ‘types’ of love result, including liking and infatuation to fatuous, passionate, companionate and consummate love. Therefore, being in love signifies the beginning of a journey of discovering what love is. It is not a state that one ‘falls’ into, but rather a journey of various stages full of unexpected destinations unique to each couple. Depending on which part of love’s journey you are at, express it with flowers from an array of flowers in the 2008 FarEastFlora.com®

Valentine’s Day collection. A tradition from Victorian times when flowers had a vocabulary of their own, the giving of flowers were an eloquent and sophisticated expression of affections. Evoking the heady sweetness of puppy love, Loving Pair expresses the saccharine buzz new lovers experience as they enter a Romantic Paradise of their own. To those who are truly in love, the experience of Soaring Love is nothing less than A Gift from Above, igniting a Fiery Passion that cannot be complete with sensuous Love and Kisses. Tender Affection never leaves a couple in love, but eventually becomes an Intoxication impossible to resist, as a Circle of Love that is blissfully complete, culminates in an exquisite Timeless Love. Amidst the hustle of bustle of modern living, a loving relationship however committed, can still find its initial fervor dampened. To sustain a continued love journey, there is no harm in stoking the fires further, with a timely reminder of Rosy Jewels, a Sentimental Valentine or a simple Thank You, My Love to reaffirm one’s appreciation and care to the special companion in love’s journey. (Please see Appendix for floral gift items stated in italics)

Saying it with gifts and Flower MemoThe company’s trademarked Flower Memo

® ® will also make an appearance. The

bouquet, “Three Simple Words” (VN20) will have 12 roses with the words “I love you” on each bloom. Retailing at SGD$149.90, the bouquet is another perennial favorite that FarEastFlora.com included in its 2008 selection. The FarEastFlora.com® Valentine’s Day 2008 collection will be available from 1st January


to 14th February 2008. Orders can be placed either online at www.FarEastFlora.com®

About FarEastFlora.com

or by telephone at 6251 2323. For more information on all product offerings, please visit www.FarEastFlora.com

®

FarEastFlora.com Pte Ltd

® was established in 1999, as an extension of Far East Flora Pte Ltd’s online business. As a pioneer in recognizing the Internet’s commercial potential, this mail order arm now offers over 500 choices in flowers, gifts and hampers to more than 140 countries. FarEastFlora.com® prides itself in providing customized gifts to meet different customers’ needs. Other than an extensive range of flowers and gifts for all occasions, FarEastFlora.com® specializes in floral decoration for weddings, events, customized corporate gifting and more. For more information about all product offerings, visit www.FarEastFlora.com. FarEastFlora.com® is also the proud winner of ZDNet Asia's SMB of the Year 2006 and the Singapore Service Class Award. FarEastFlora.com is also the creator of Flower Memo®, a patent-pending innovation that displays color images on flowers, & Box of Blooms®

, which won the Singapore Packaging Star Award 2005 & AsiaStar Award 2005.

For all media enquiries, please contact: Sarah Yong Senior Manager FarEastFlora.com®

HP: (65) 8118 2086 Email:

Pte Ltd

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]�


Appendix Robert Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Robert Sternberg (born December 8, 1949) is a psychometrician and the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. He was formerly IBM Professor of Psychology and Education at Yale University and the President of the American Psychological Association. He is a member of the editorial boards of numerous journals, including American Psychologist. Sternberg has a BA from Yale University and a PhD from Stanford University.

Source: Wikipedia

Combinations of intimacy, passion, and commitment

Intimacy Passion Commitment

Nonlove

Liking or friendship x

Infatuation or limerence x

Empty love x

Romantic love x x

Companionate love x x

Fatuous love x x

Consummate love x x x


VN01: Romantic Paradise This prickly pair of loving

hedgehogs snuggles up, nose to nose in their little garden of red and pink roses. Their garden is a

little piece of heaven on earth! A gift of this cute pair conveys how

much you and your loved one mean to each other.

(roses x 5)

UP: $89.90 (w/gst $96.19)

SP: $79.90 (w/gst

$85.49) (Save $10/

11.1%)

VN02: Loving Pair Good things come in a pair, as the Chinese saying goes. This

puppy duo nestled in a bed of pink roses and pink button poms

embodies the perfect love shared between your special

one and you. (roses x 6)

UP: $99.90 (w/gst $106.89)

SP: $89.90 (w/gst

$96.19) (Save $10/

10%)

VN07: Soaring Love Send her heart aflutter with this

delicate arrangement of creamy roses trimmed with soft

asparagus fern and margaret poms. Perched atop a shapely vase of glass, this gift will tell her how she makes your heart soar.

(roses x 9)

UP: $119.90 (w/gst $128.29)

SP: $99.90 (w/gst

$106.89) (Save $20/

16.7%)

VN05: A Gift from Above The rose must be a gift; a gift

from Heaven to show us love. Tell her how precious the gift of her

love is with two bottles of Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Bath Gel (250ml) & Rosewater Hand & Body Lotion (250ml)

snuggled in an immaculate bed of shocking pink rose and pink

carnation sprays. (roses x 3)

UP: $129.90 (w/gst $138.99)

SP: $109.90 (w/gst

$117.59) (Save $20/

15.4%)


V09: Fiery Passion This bouquet of red roses,

carnations and hypericums speaks of the intense ardor you feel for her. It evokes the fruition of a fiery love from passionate courtship. The vivid colors will convey the deep love shared

between the two of you. (roses x 10)

UP: $109.90 (w/gst $117.59)

SP: $99.90 (w/gst

$106.89) (Save $10/

9.1%)

VN14: Love and Kisses Lay this bouquet of shocking pink

& white love next to her as she sweetly slumbers. Like the tender kisses you plant on her face, it will

fill her with the warm rush of affection that only one person

can evoke – you. (roses x 12)

UP: $114.90 (w/gst $122.94)

SP: $99.90 (w/gst

$106.89) (Save $15/

13.1%)

VN23: Intoxication Intoxicate your sweetheart with this heady floral concoction of

pink roses, laced with pink alstroemeria, Your display of

affection will leave her high on the spirit of love.

(roses x 15)

UP: $124.90 (w/gst $133.64)

SP: $109.90 (w/gst

$117.59) (Save $15/

12%)

VN24: Circle of Love Love is strong yet delicate. Let

this circle of lovely red roses represent the completeness of

your bond with her, and serve as a symbol of your delicate shared love – one that grows with every

passing moment. (roses x 15)

UP: $119.90 (w/gst $128.29)

SP: $104.90 (w/gst

$112.24) (Save $15/

12.5%)


VN22: Timeless Love Like the eternal beauty of roses,

your love for her is timeless. Express this sentiment with our lush arrangement of crimson roses, ringed with a generous

sprinkling of baby’s breath. Why say more when this gesture of love tells a thousand words?

(roses x 20)

UP: $139.90 (w/gst $149.69)

SP: $119.90 (w/gst

$128.29) (Save $20/

14.3%)

VN21: Sentimental Valentine Dedicate this elegant round

bouquet of crimson red & centrepink roses to her this

Valentine’s Day, & she’ll know how much you really appreciate

her. There’s no better time to show her that you’re truly

thankful to have her. (roses x 40)

UP: $219.90 (w/gst $235.29)

SP: $169.90 (w/gst

$181.79) (Save $50/

22.7%)

VN30: Rosy Jewels Court her with this exquisite jewel box. Resembling colorful gems,

an assortment of roses sit in cozy clusters within our exclusive wooden box trimmed with decadent lilac faux fur. Go

ahead; show her how dazzlingly precious she is to you.

(roses x 24)

UP: $129.90 (w/gst $138.99)

SP: $109.90 (w/gst

$117.59) (Save $20/

15.4%)

VN18: Thank You, My Love “Love is patience, kindness,

selflessness & care all rolled into one. From you, I know perfect

love truly exists. Here, I give you mine in return – a bouquet of pristine white lilies & creamy roses. Thank you, my love!”

(lilies x 5, roses x 6)

UP: $129.90 (w/gst $138.99)

SP: $99.90 (w/gst

$106.89) (Save $30/

23.1%)

The Campus Observer

Alcohol: The Legal DrugCommentary By Steven Lim 29 August 2006

We may be familiar with scenes of youths getting drunk at clubs, but can they be said to be alcoholic?

Although not a widespread problem, alcohol consumption amongst youths in Singapore is an emerging problem. In “Youth.SG”, a study by Ho Kong Chong and Jeffrey Yip, alcohol consumption was identified as one of several “risk behaviours” that young people, being “at an age of experimentation,” would be likely to engage in to the detriment of their health.

Although the study’s data reveals that alcohol consumption is of comparatively lesser risk than smoking, it is worth taking a closer look, to understand the “psycho-social intricacies” behind alcohol consumption and its effects.

The lure of alcohol

Definitions and Labels ”I drink every evening after work to wind down. Some people think I am alcoholic, but that’s really nothing compared to what some of my other friends drink,” said Doreen Chia, a 24-year-old advertising executive.

“I have a friend who can finish half a bottle of vodka at a go when he gets stressed. He is probably more of an alcoholic than me, but he produces brilliant stuff at work,” she added.

What does it really mean then, to be alcoholic? Alcoholism is a useless term when it comes to understanding the behaviour of alcohol consumption amongst youths.

http://www.campusobserver.org/2006/August/29/alcohol/alcohol.htm (1 of 3)4/19/2007 2:10:08 PM

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The Campus Observer

The label is overly clinical, carrying the notion of an ailment or a disease. It imposes a blanket conception on a behaviour which is certainly much more complex and nuanced than it seems.

There is a difference between alcohol drinking as an illness or addiction to be ‘treated’ and alcohol dependency. How does one draw the line between the two? A dictionary definition of ‘alcoholism’ carries the connotation of ‘disease’ and “impaired day-to-day functioning”.

But there are people—including famous American writers Ernest Hemingway and J.D. Salinger—who were notorious for drinking copious amounts and did not suffer any notable side effects. And what about people who deliberately go clubbing on an empty stomach, get inebriated after gulping several shots of vodka once the ‘Midnight Madness’ one-for-one drink promotion starts, and then proceed to behave in a drunken manner?

As a clubber, I know these people are invariably labelled ‘alcoholic’.

Yet upon closer observation, the people who drink much greater amounts at the club are not always so demonstrative and obviously ‘alcoholic’.

The labels ‘alcoholism’, ‘alcohol abuse’ and ‘alcohol addiction’ carry too much arbitrariness. They may sound reasonable at first glance, but do not have any explanatory value.

Alcohol Abuse versus Alcohol Dependence

The US-based National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism makes a distinction between alcohol abusers and alcohol-dependent individuals.

According to the NIAAA, an abuser is an individual who runs substantial risk of medical, psychological, social and legal problems from single bouts of drinking or “the effects of persistent high-risk alcohol use.” Meanwhile, the alcohol-dependent individual is characterized as one who runs the same risks but also experiences “physical and psychological dependence on alcohol that results in impaired ability to control drinking behaviour.”

This impairment in control represents the critical distinction between abuse and dependence. Anecdotal evidence reveals that Singaporean youths are particularly susceptible to alcohol abuse, a precursor to the more serious alcohol dependency.

This form of abuse manifests itself in the all-too-familiar, gung-ho exhortations of repeated “tahs!” at clubs, pubs, army messes, wedding dinners and barbecue gatherings, to name but a few.

“Tah!” is Singlish for drinking in one gulp.

Abuse may also involve binge-drinking, which invariably means consuming large amounts of alcohol continuously within a short period of time.

To get a better picture of excessive alcohol consumption that goes beyond mere bingeing and abuse, I chatted with a mutual friend, Jason, who drinks almost daily, from his collection of duty-free liquors.

“My favourite used to be vodka…now I do gin because it gets me there faster,” he said.

The alcohol content of vodka is 40 percent while gin has 45 percent.

When asked why he started drinking so much, Jason said, “After my girlfriend dumped me, I just drink and drink lor.”

However, his body language revealed something more beneath the veneer of nonchalance. It


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was clear that he was still troubled by the abrupt end of this particular relationship.

It may be said that Jason’s drinking behaviour is that of dependence. Others may feel that it is merely a temporary phase – a matter of abuse that will fade away with time.

It is clear that diagnosis and labelling of drinking behaviour as ‘mild abuse’, ‘chronic abuse’ or even ‘alcohol dependency’ is an imprecise exercise, verging on guesswork and personal judgements.

But for sure, if Jason’s drinking behaviour continues in the long run, he may very well become dependent on alcohol, and his daily functioning and activities could become impossible without a swig of alcohol to keep going.

Copyright © The Campus Observer 2006


The Campus Observer

Coriander for the uninitiated By Steven Lim 6 October 2006

Coriander is one herb that tends to evoke polemical reactions. Either you love it, or you hate it.

Once, during dinner at a hawker centre, my friend ordered oyster omelette, and asked the stallholder to leave out the coriander sprigs.

I was surprised, to say the least. I love this herb, with its piquant aroma that does not overpower and serves as the perfect companion to numerous local dishes.

My pal had might as well ordered the omelette without the oysters. The coriander was the perfect companion to the rich and briny flavours of the oysters and egg but for my friend, the dish was good without “the garnish,” which he said tasted bitter. Is coriander nothing more than a bitter-tasting garnish?

Its very history belies this. Originating in the Mediterranean, coriander has been said to be one of the oldest spices used by mankind. Believed to have been cultivated for over 5,000 years, coriander fruits have been found in Egyptian tombs.

Sanskrit texts and the Bible make references to it as well. In biblical times, the Hebrews used coriander as the bitter herb in the Passover meal. A line in the Old Testament’s Exodus also likens “manna” to the whiteness of coriander seed - “And the house of Israel called the name there of Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white”. It was the Romans that helped spread this wonderful plant. Julius Caeser’s soldiers carried coriander seeds with them, as a meat preserver and flavouring.

Meanwhile, Medieval Europeans used the spice to “mask” rotten flavours in presumably less-than-fresh meats. You may wonder now if I am getting confused. Is coriander an herb or a spice?

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It is both. Coriander as a spice refers to its dried seeds, which are crushed and imparts dishes such as satay with an aromatic citrus-like flavour. While also used in Latin America, the Caribbean, India and China, it is probably in Southeast Asia that this plant is most appreciated.

In many of the rempahs of the Malay Archipelago, coriander seed forms an integral part of the spice mixture, traditionally pounded into a paste with a mortar and pestle.

The leaves are served as an accompaniment to many Indo-Chinese dishes, while the roots are much loved by the Thais.

Ugly as it may seem, the root is used to spectacular effect in Thai cuisine. Once cleaned thoroughly, the root is used in green curry pastes, soups, marinades, stir-fries and dips. It is amazing how the root of the same plant can impart such a different taste and aroma from the leaves and seeds. A whiff of it transports you immediately to Thailand, to its street-side stalls hawking barbecued chicken (gai yang), green curry and steaming hot rice noodle soups served with fresh coriander and spring onion sprigs.

However, to the uninitiated, the coriander can be one very misunderstood herb.

I learnt this at a recent gathering where I had cooked gai yang, a dish consisting of chicken pieces marinated in a combination of pungent fish sauce, garlic and coriander root.

During the gathering, a fellow journalist came up to me and, in an attempt to identify the herb in the dish, asked if I had used Chinese Angelica root (dang gui).

Needless to say, I was, again, shocked. However, on hindsight, the mystery surrounding the coriander plant is understandable.

After all, while many of the much-loved dishes of Southeast Asia would lose its character without this little plant, coriander has never been the lead actor in a dish. Rather, it complements, along with the other actors of garlic, chillies, ginger, spring onions, to name but a few.

Now, what’s there not to love about coriander?

_________________________________________________________

Recipe for Steven’s variation of Thai-style grilled chicken

Ingredients: 500 grams chicken thighs 6 Coriander plants 6 garlic cloves 2cm of ginger 1 chilli padi 6 limes Thai fish sauce Sugar 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil Lemongrass (optional) Finely chop 5 coriander roots, along with the stem base, for every 500grams of chicken. You can use more if you


http://www.campusobserver.org/2006/August/15/rempah/rempah.html

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wish.

Then finely chop 6 cloves of garlic, 2cm of ginger and 1 chilli. Combine with approximately 5 tablespoons of Thai fish sauce, adjusting the amount to taste. Also, add sugar according to taste.

Add oil to the marinade as a lubricant during the grilling process. Next, add the juice of 6 limes to the marinade. Adjust the amount according to taste. At this point, I personally like to add a stalk of roughly chopped lemongrass to the marinade, but this optional.

Baste chicken in the marinade and leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Grill the marinated chicken at 250 degrees Celsius in a convection oven or over an open charcoal grill.

Cook evenly on all sides and then baste the chicken pieces with the leftover marinade liquid. Serve with sweet Thai chilli sauce and fresh sprigs of coriander.



The Campus Observer

NUSSU elects first female president

By Steven Lim 12 September 2006

The NUS Students’ Union has elected its first female president.

Tay E Teng, fourth-year Business School undergraduate, was elected as President of the NUSSU 28th executive committee.

The sole nominee for the position of President during a council meeting held on Sep. 8, she received an overall vote of confidence.

Tay will succeed Danny Quek, the outgoing 27th president, with running mate Donald Koh, a third-year Industrial Design undergraduate.

Like Tay, Koh was the sole nominee for the position of Vice-President.

Endorsing Tay’s capability, Quek said, “She is able and has the heart. The gender should not matter.”

“I had wanted her to be President. She has established very good contacts with the administration,” said Tan Ee Yong, the outgoing Honorary Financial Secretary.

Agreeing, Lionel Wong, the incoming Honorary General Secretary, said, “I think she has a wealth of experience to bring with her. It doesn’t matter at all if she is male or female.”

Tay is the outgoing vice-president and was a previous council representative of Business Club. She was also one of the founding members of “Hooked!”, an online magazine.

During the 30-minute presentation, she articulated her vision for the new committee and stressed the need to not lose sight of the union’s vision.

“The overarching principle of the Union is to serve students and uphold their welfare. Ultimately, the aim is towards a united and relevant union which truly represents student interests,” she said.

As part of her plans to serve students better, she aims to raise awareness and establish a stronger union presence amongst students.

“To better engage students, I hope to get more feedback from students, through dialogue sessions, focus groups or surveys. We will brand ourselves better,” she added.

Her desire to improve NUSSU’s branding stems in part from a perceived lack of recognition from the student body.

“The outgoing committee had done a lot, such as the

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restoration of the mid-term break. But a lot of students take it for granted. They don’t know the difficulties involved,” Tay said.

The mid-semester break was reduced from 7 to 5 days in 2004.

In addition, she intends for the new committee to improve on its external branding by leveraging on existing projects such as Funkamania. Other new initiatives include the Tok Kok Campaign and Cuisine Fiesta.

While acknowledging the novelty of her position as the first female NUSSU President, she does not feel that her gender should not be an issue at all.

“Gender does not make a difference. It’s all about your willingness to serve. I hope to make a difference,” she said.


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