Science, Superstition, and Soccer

Earlier this evening I was at the Science Center attending the launch of two new titles in its natural history guidebook series. Many of the familiar faces from the biodiversity scene were there, but an interesting experience was standing in a circle with scientists and science educators and listening in on the following conversation:

"...and when I was resident at Eusoffe Hall in NUS, some of the students said that they looked into the bus terminal and saw things. One guy was so spooked out by it that he moved out. Another told her mother, who hired an exorcist who did the whole ritual at the hall one day when I was away."

"Yeah what about Ulu Pandan camp? That's where they took the soldiers who were killed in combat during the emergency, right?"

"At least the Science Center doesn't have any of those things."

Given that the various numbers of True Singapore Ghost Stories have been consistently been bestselling (fiction!) titles in this country, shouldn't be too surprising that these stories are always circulating in some form.

*****

The other great Singaporean pursuit being soccer, I also heard about this great short film called Tak Giu (link to filmmaker's website with YouTube video), via Siva. The story is about three young guys and their quest to find an open field to play their game of football, without being harassed by the 'mata' (police) for trespassing. Neat social commentary too, and one should keep an eye out for its director/producer, Jacen Tan, who seems to be an up-and-coming talent.