In a nutshell, Love Cuts is about the journey of a woman and her family as she battles breast cancer. It stars Zoe Tay as Sissy, a talented seamstress, Hong Kong actor Kenny Ho as her restaurant manager husband and local young talents Regene Lim and Edwin Goh as their children. One day, while showering, Sissy discovers a lump in her breast, and thus the emotional rollercoaster begins.

A scene from "Love Cuts".

I have to say that as a first effort by the newly set up Clover Films, this movie is a commendable effort. The actors are convincing in their roles, even the wooden Christy Yow who does a fine job playing a wooden model who befriends Sissy, and Allan Wu, who can’t speak Mandarin to save his life but who redeems himself just by acting like the beefcake that he is. I particularly enjoyed Regene Lim’s portrayal of a child struggling to understand and cope with her mother’s illness, as well as Edwin Goh’s awkward teenager who learns some important growing-up lessons from his mother, surgically-attached Lomo camera and iPhone in hand.

There were a couple of weird moments in the movie (think zombies with IV poles), a couple of continuity issues and some rather bizarre digital work, but overall, the movie’s messages alone – that early detection saves lives and that you still have plenty to live for, even as you live with cancer – make it worth watching. To illustrate the power of the film medium – when he saw me in the bathroom this morning, K asked, “您要检查您的 ně né?” (“Hast thou checked thy tits today?”)

The softies among you will do well to take along a packet of tissue or two to the cinema. I didn’t cry, but plenty of people in the cinema sure did!

Love Cuts is showing exclusively at Golden Village cinemas.

If you are aged above 40, please check out BreastScreen Singapore for more information on mammography screening.

You'll also get to meet the person who owns the legs (and bike) in this photo. Heh.

Singapore will host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in August 2010. The organising committee, SYOGOC, is looking for Sports Specialist Volunteers for the cycling disciplines. Those interested in volunteering are invited to attend an introductory session on 9th January 2010 to understand the sport, expectations and roles and responsibilities, followed by workshops to cover the different disciplines. Be trained by professionals to graduate as a qualified Sport Specialist Volunteer!

Get up close and personal with the bikes, bikers and the fantastic people that make this sport go round and round…

When?
Saturday 9 January 2010

What time?
9am-1pm

Where?
S2010 Hall
(2nd floor SYOGOC, 1 Kay Siang Road)

What’s happening?
- Intro to cycling
- History of cycling in the Olympic Games
- 2010 Youth Olympic Games, cycling format
- Sport competition management team & structure
- Roles of technical officials/sports specialists
- Equipment of the disciplines – Road, Mountain Bike, Bicycle Moto-cross (BMX)
- Cycling video in the Olympic Games and other local and international events
- Meet our national cyclists
- National Commissaires (NTO) certificate presentation

Lunch and drinks will be provided.

On the few occasions we have thrown out old mattresses, they have always disappeared within minutes of us placing them downstairs near the garbage disposal, probably salvaged by someone in need of new bedding but without the means of buying it. I’ve always felt a little sorry for whoever picked up our mattresses, since used ones always come with soil, germs and bedbugs no matter how conscientious you are at keeping them clean.

Now Beds.sg, a local online retailer of mattresses and bedding products, has started a charity programme for Singapore’s poor and needy, so that they need no longer go around picking up old mattresses to sleep on. The Free Mattress for Singapore’s Less Privileged scheme will give away one free single, super single or queen-size mattress every week to a needy family. Considering the cost of a mattress, this is an extremely generous programme that needs your support to keep it going. Please help to spread the word, or nominate a family in need. The application process is online, but since not everyone owns or has access to a computer in Singapore, the number to call to find out more is 6482 1932.

A Maternal and Child Health nurse showing a mother how to bathe her newborn. Circa 1960s.

Do you still remember your first visit to the school dental nurse? Did you queue for nutritious food rations at community health clinics? Were you there when the Great Singapore Workout was launched?

The Health Promotion Board celebrates 50 years of health promotion with an online retrospective and exciting contest. Submit your old photos showing your experiences with public health and you could win flat screen TVs, iPods and more!

Simply scan your old photo or snap a picture of it using a webcam or camera and submit it online at 50strongyears.sg. Closing date is 27 July 2009.