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This should be the true Singaporean national dish

Singapore is known to be a melting pot of different cultures, races, people and of course, cuisines from all over the world. You can probably find food from most places here in Singapore, but we also have some dishes that we like to think of as our national dish - okay, google says there isn't an officially declared national dish, but Chicken Rice is one of those that's often mentioned. Yes, we all love Chicken Rice, but it isn't really unique to Singapore.... Nasi Lem

Why cross-border road trips are now easier with Singtel Dash

As your all-in-one mobile e-wallet, having Dash on hand makes topping up your TNG eWallet more secure and seamless - with competitive rates to boot too! Within the short span of a few years, road trips up into Malaysia have taken on a more tech-centric guise. We're talking, of course, about the rise and the omnipresence of the all-powerful Touch 'n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet). With most merchants in Malaysia now accepting cashless payments via the TNG eWallet, you could effectively g

donutdontu

donutdontu

eDrivo Car Insurance: Tailored insurance for electric cars

Income Insurance's eDrivo Car Insurance provides coverage that's tailored to the unique characteristics of electric cars. As Singapore shifts towards sustainable forms of transportation, electric vehicles (EVs) are continually growing in popularity with more and more drivers switching from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to fully electric. EVs contribute positively not only to individual users but also to the environment, and society. Apart from a smoother and quieter ride, they

jeresinex

jeresinex

Toxicity comes in many forms

When you hear the words 'toxic person', what images come to mind? Most of us imagine the stereotypical toxic person: He or she gets on everyone's nerves with their negativity, short temper and biting comments. This person micromanages subordinates, interferes with other projects, endlessly toots their own horn, and gaslights others. However, there is another form of toxicity that is infinitely more harmful. Covert ops If you haven't guessed it, the worst toxicity is the insid

jeresinex

jeresinex

Action-Thriller meets Science Fiction: War of the Worlds (2005)

First things first, lets talk about a film that merges pulsating action with a touch of science fiction: War of the Worlds (2005). Starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning, this Steven Spielberg-directed spectacle (adapted from H. G. Wells’ classic novel) sees aliens returning to Earth and rising out of the ground in machines buried thousands of years ago. One thing to note is that the realism of the alien machines and their menacing presence set the tone for an intense cinematic journey. Des

chrissyc

chrissyc

Manchester United's "promising" transfer window should be taken with a pinch of salt

Having followed this club for more than 20 years, I'm well aware that a promising transfer window does not directly equate to an improved season. Forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as Diego Leon, the young Paraguayan wing-back, have been Manchester United's signings for the 2025 summer transfer window so far. On paper, this team should have no problem challenging for silverware. On the pitch, the current crop of players finished 15th last season. While both Cunha and Mbeumo ha

chrissyc

chrissyc

We are creatures of the air-con

I've often wondered: How much work would get done today if offices were not air-conditioned? What if the only air-con we could enjoy was only in shopping malls and supermarkets? Images of stuffy offices fill my mind. Despite the availability of fans to circulate air, the oppressive heat and humidity will lower our productivity. Many of my colleagues and I experienced this in our previous office, where the ancient air-conditioning system would have a monthly breakdown. For two days, the

jeresinex

jeresinex

Challenging myself to a week without coffee or sweetened drinks

Sometimes, the key to spicing up your life can take a very simple and mundane form. Or in the case of a challenge I embarked on in early-July, a bland and literally tasteless one. Feeling sometime in mid-June that I had been swept up too mindlessly by the push-and-pull of the everyday, and seeing that I *had* to reclaim some sense of agency with the way I lived, I eventually decided: I would allow myself only water as a drink. I'm pretty sure Yakun and Toast Box lost a fair bit o

donutdontu

donutdontu

Doing the thing, minus the thing

You might have seen this viral clip on social media:  m2-res_480p.mp4 This might be one of the greatest, funniest things I've seen in quite a long while.  Put simply, its horse-racing, minus the horses.  And look, of course it's all a bit of fun (clearly a stunt to gain social media attention, but it also raised money for charity). I think it might be best described as 'doing the thing, minus the thing'. And we've seen plenty of gimmicky conceits (I for one am quite a sucker

bobthemob

bobthemob

Singapore’s ultimate NDP song?

As my JC classmates suddenly made plans this year to have an NDP watch-party (this is likely our first in the 12 years we’ve known each other), I found myself falling into a state of nostalgia again: This time, thinking about how NDP songs have evolved over the years. It’s not a stretch to say that each NDP song - from the inception of the idea of an NDP song back in 1984 - has woven itself somewhat into the fabric of our collective memories. Whether you were singing along loudly in primary

donutdontu

donutdontu

Tennis: Beautiful game that doesn't know how to count

Wimbledon just concluded yesterday (congrats Sinner!), and it's a reminder of how much I enjoy tennis as a sport. I used to play it some (wasn't particularly good), and still tangentially follow it nowadays (the Roland Garros final this year between Alcaraz and Sinner is an all-time classic).  There's something intrinsically mesmerising about the sport, I think even for spectators who have never picked up a racquet. At first glance, it may seem like just two people (or four, but doubles is

bobthemob

bobthemob

More aliens on Earth?

"Scientists Just Discovered a Creature That Breaks the Rules of Life". I mean, that's quite the headline.  Sukunaarchaeum mirabile is also quite the name to pronounce. But yes, that's the name of a recently discovered organism that apparently challenges the traditional scientific definition of 'life'.  There's a fair bit of scientific jargon to sieve through, but the quick summary is this: Cells are considered "alive" because of their ability to self-replicate and reproduce, whereas vi

bobthemob

bobthemob

Godzilla Minus One: Surprisingly emotional and poignant

When one thinks of Godzilla movies, one imagines an oversized amphibious dinosaur generating a terrifying heat ray from its mouth and fighting with other oversized monsters. Meh, nothing special, right? Wrong. Here’s why Godzilla Minus One should be an action movie you should definitely catch. In this version, the timeless clash between monster and man is once again set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-war Japan. But, unlike typical action films that dive headfirst into destruction a

chrissyc

chrissyc

Your next action film recommendation: Battle Los Angeles

I’ve always held a keen interest in the armies of the world, the wars that raged, and the weapons used. Therefore, I usually appreciate a movie (preferably an action film) if there’s an army element and lots and lots of bullets involved. Well, Battle Los Angeles (2011) doesn’t disappoint. With explosive battles and intense drama, you find yourself rooting for a group of resilient Marines tasked with defending Los Angeles from an alien invasion force. And yes, it’s on Netflix (for now), and

chrissyc

chrissyc

Big things are funny things

Being anywhere tangentially close to current affairs news right now is deeply depressing. In so many ways, the world seems like it's going to s*it.  In a bid to escape all that and cheer myself up a little, I've been recently amused and moderately infatuated with randomly huge things. Here are just a couple that make me chuckle:  Yup, the world's largest chair. I also find the name of the company, XXXLutz, incredibly funny and more than a little blue.  Otto the ot

bobthemob

bobthemob

In life, there is no pleasure without pain

Before anything else, let me assure you that this is not about BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism). Like many of my posts, this is an observation about life. More specifically, the duality of pain and pleasure that exists within it. Let's consider the analogy of light and dark: A room seems bright because the darkness subdued. Yet without the presence of darkness, how do we perceive the brightness of the light? Similarly, we cannot savour the sweetness of pleasure without the

jeresinex

jeresinex

Why I bought Fanta Orange and hand carried it back from Germany

- The curious case of the European Fanta - I paid 5 Euros for a small 500ml bottle of Fanta Orange and brought it on my carry-on bag, on a 13+hours flight to bring it back to Singapore. You might be wondering why; after all we can get Fanta Orange in Singapore - it's a Chinese New Year staple! BUT NO! European Fanta is DIFFERENT! From its colour, to its taste, the European Fanta is unique and better, and I would say it tastes closer to Origina (which is like the best fizzy orange drink

Inchcape Singapore's all-new motor insurance: 5 quick facts!

Courtesy cars, 24/7 roadside assistance, and an NCD protector await those who insure with Inchcape DriveSure, ensuring your freedom of movement always.   Due diligence should always precede the purchase of any product that you’re seeking to hold on to for the long term. And no, we're not just talking about the cars that greet you in our glitzy local showrooms, but an essential (virtual) document that is necessary before you get behind the wheel: Car insurance. There are certa

Learning to listen isn't easy, but it's worth it

How many of us can claim to be good listeners? I've come to realise that listening is an art. Think of all the people you've ever spoken to who is a 'good listener'. Apart from your friends, these folks are most likely doctors, counsellors, customer service reps, and yes, even barbers and hairstylists. Listening with an open mind does not come naturally to everyone. I feel it requires a genuine desire to hear the other person's perspectives and opinions without judgment. Only then

jeresinex

jeresinex

Stressed out? Why not take up aquascaping?

Our recent little 'explore' of Pasir Ris really drove home the fact that the fish farm along Pasir Ris Farmway is no longer there. I know, I know, this is old news and all, but I just miss the old days when I’d travel across the island in search for new plants to stock my aquarium. The high days of Luohan and Arowana keeping may be long gone, but you’d be surprised just how vibrant the fish keeping scene is here in Singapore. And for those (like myself all those years back) who ca

How are we already in June?

During lunch with my mother a couple of weeks back over yong tau foo, I was asked about my opinion on the latest NDP song. And of course, as expected of any chronically insular millennial, my reaction was: “Huh? There’s a new NDP song?” But of course there is. And I say this not to disparage the wonderful songwriters and musicians that provide an anthem to remember the nation’s birthday by annually, but to knock into my own mind the harsh reality: We’re already in mid-June.  It fe

donutdontu

donutdontu

Journey to the West: First Steps in Southwestern China, Pt. 3

Note: This is the third instalment of a series covering my trip to southwestern China. Read Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 here. CHENGDU Day 7: We savoured one last morning view of the Chongqing skyline from our rooms before heading to Shapingba Railway Station for our ride to Chengdu. Because we had quite a bit of luggage, we split into pairs upon our arrival and took different taxis to our accommodation. When Mum and I got there, my brother was waiting alone. Apparently, upon reachi

Movile Cave: Aliens on Earth

Picture this: a subterranean hideaway so exclusive, it's been sealed off from the outside world for a cool 5.5 million years. Yep, the Movile Cave is a strange alien universe right here on Earth, tucked underneath the Romanian coast.  It may be just 20 metres below ground, but the Movile Cave is about as alien an environment as you will find anywhere on Earth. With no interference from the plebeian air that we breathe and light that we see, the cave instead is a concoction of sulphuric

bobthemob

bobthemob

Are forums outdated? I try to find out by asking AI

Is your boss asking you to explore and learn how to use AI to improve the quality and efficiency of your work? Yup, you aren't the only one in that boat.  Whilst exploring new AI tools, I figured: Why not use it to answer some burning questions that I have? This time, it was about whether forums are outdated. Yes, forums like this one that we are on. I remember how before social media became popular, and before apps like Carousell existed, forums were where I chatted with others t

Musings about the Pomodoro Method

In a hyper-connected mega-city, where time seems to tick at a relentlessly brisk pace and where distractions are aplenty, pondering the art of productivity and focus is inevitable. In fact, it’s almost become a necessity. No wonder so many listicles have been written to point us in the right directions. Different methods works for different folks, of course, and when I was in my final year of university, I was introduced to a method that I regularly return to still: The Pomodoro Method, a d
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