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Geography is what most people understand to be the study of where countries are. That's why not knowing where a country is on a map will result in your friends saying, "Never study geography ah?" Of course, geography is deeper and more complex than just finding countries and cities on a map. It also involves studying a country's features such as mountains, lakes and rivers, and most importantly, peoples. We won't dive into all this. Instead, we'll get into how Singapore's geography determines its climate and how this in turn influences our lifestyle. Photo: Maarten Duineveld, Unsplash Swedish observation Singapore sits just above the equator, so you might say that our two most abundant resources are the sun and its heat. Anyway, during a work trip to Sweden some years ago, a fellow journalist and I noticed many locals doing a variety of outdoor sports. From cycling to running to tennis, it seemed like everyone had an active lifestyle. "It must be the weather. The climate is so cool that even I want to pick up a tennis racquet!" he remarked. As we drove along, I remembered my geography classes in school. How citizens of a country live - this is very much influenced by its climate. Obviously, Sweden is way up in the northern hemisphere and gets plenty of snow in the winter, which explains why it's a cold country. Indeed, it was cold for the first week of October, which was when the trip took place. I recall temperatures only reaching 12 degrees during the day, dropping to around 4 degrees Celsius at night. Walking, running and cycling would certainly feel shiok in this weather. The weather lately feels desert-like. Photo: Giorgio Parravicini, Unsplash Meanwhile, in the sweltering tropics... It's only going to get hotter in Singapore. Numerous temperature and UV warnings have been issued, and the wet and cool weather we enjoyed for a prolonged period last year has long departed. We can only hope it will visit again. Life doesn't stop just because it's hot. However, it also makes exercising outdoors - and being active in general - unappealing. Combined with high humidity, it's not uncommon to hear people complain that they're already sweating after walking to the bus stop below their block. If you're from a temperate country and have never been to the tropics, you probably think I'm exaggerating. Well, come to our corner of the world and feel for yourself. So, hot weather prevents us from exercising? Of course not. Many of us are quite outdoorsy and don't even mind getting tanned (but please apply sunscreen to mitigate skin damage). But the heat tends to make us lazy. Cooler weather makes commuting more comfortable, like these folks in Tokyo. Photo: Redd F, Unsplash Nobody wants to sweat while walking 10 minutes from the office to the hawker centre. So, we'll either drive there or get a private-hire ride. Nobody enjoys sweaty commutes requiring one to walk while transferring from air-conditioned buses and trains. Yes, yes, I know. First World problems. I think this 'problem' though, is one factor that prevents us from becoming fitter. Those of us who've holidayed in Tokyo during spring or fall know that you can easily clock 20,000 steps a day when you're there, probably without breaking a sweat. It must be why everyone there looks so slim. Cooler climes make it more comfortable to do such things. Tampines MRT station is less than 2km from my house, but if I started walking to it at 9am, I hope shower facilities appear in the office by the time I arrive. With cooler weather, more people would walk and cycle as well, since the impact to one's hygiene will be minimal. If commuting becomes pleasant, we might even drive less, thereby lowering emissions and our vehicle's running costs. Photo: Peijia Lee, Unsplash Will it really improve health? The optimistic answer to this is yes, cooler weather will make us more active and therefore, fitter. According to this HealthHub article, the crude prevalence of obesity among residents aged 18-74 years old is 10.5%. This is based on a 2019/2020 National Population Health Survey. But it's too simplistic to conclude that cooler weather will change lifestyle and health trends. Does everyone become healthier/fitter during the cooler and wetter periods? Based on casual observations and conversations, we actually end up eating and drinking more when the weather is cool. Mala hotpot, already a firm favourite, becomes even more irresistible then. Whisky seems 'less heaty' as well. In general, we tend to get hungrier and thirstier the colder we feel. It's all in the mind We can't change our geography, so we can only surmise that if we had a more temperate climate, we'd be more active. I don't think we need single-digit temperatures, but if our weather ranged between 15-20 degrees Celsius on average and humidity also averaged 60% instead of over 90%, a lot would change. Training in hot weather can help improve your cardiovascular fitness. Photo: Karsten Winegeart, Unsplash But would it make us fitter? That might be wishful thinking. Beyond lifestyle and dining habits, mindsets are the most difficult to change. Someone who only insists on high-cholesterol, high-sodium and sugar-heavy foods for every meal is unlikely to change their mind, no matter the weather, or impact to his or her health. I mention food because nutrition makes up a big part of the fitness equation. While exercising regularly (even with poor dietary habits) is better than not exercising at all, we all know that the key to better health is diet + exercise. That's never been a secret. To me, that means healthier choices from Mondays to Fridays, but indulging a bit on weekends. Being more willing to sweat it out will help as well. Instead of taking cover from the heat, I've learned (or convinced myself) to use it to improve my fitness. Hot weather is here to stay. It's our geography and we must do what humans do best: Adapt and thrive. - Jeremy

On FOX channel. I think its a damn nice series. The zombies look too realistic and this series beats other zombie genres hands down.

Now our gahmen is expanding the coverage to "distracted walking", although is only advisory for the time being. "The updated Highway Code, which took effect on Dec 1, comes after two Land Transport Authority (LTA) initiatives that encourage pedestrians to pay attention on the road." 'Distracted walking': Should it be made illegal? https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/distracted-walking-should-it-be-made-illegal-12131390

so ytd someone took a video of two maids walking their dogs but actually were just chilling under the shade and chatting. he began berating the two supposedly maids for not "doing their job" because their "boss" asked them to walk their dogs but they were sitting there chit chatting. accused them of walking the dogs for 2 mins and sitting down for 1 hour. video poster also say the dogs very poor thing and suffering cos they were not being walked.. well to me the dogs look healthy and happy to be there. having one dog and one helper myself i would have no issues with my helper bringing my dog for a walk with another fellow helper from the neighbourhood. they may be here to work but they still need sometime to socialise? my daughter used to walk my dog before our helper came and she would go down at a certain timing every night to meet one helper from the same block as us who also walked her employer's dog. harmless chit chatting i dont see whats wrong. if he was really concerned i guess he could have talked to them politely instead of taking a video and threatening them. maids/helpers are also humans. what about you guys? do you guys allow your helper some time off each evening to socialise with their friends, for instance walking the dogs. if you saw them downstairs walking your dog with another fellow helper, would you be ok with it? this country needs to chill! https://www.facebook.com/jason.ong.9822/videos/10155688631883215/

http://www.elitereaders.com/chinese-girl-got-stuck-in-a-storm-drain-while-texting-and-walking/ See la, the danger of texting while walking. Never see what's ahead and leg stuck in the drain cover gap.

Just found it wondering into woodsville tunnel, stopped the car to pick it up and just sent to SPCA. Has a red collar with bell, looks very well taken care of so I'm sure it is lost, owner must be very worried. Can't see boy or gal, coat too thick. But very tame and quiet in the car. Please spread via social media, I'm not savvy that way, thanks.

Guess where this happened? China? Nope. Malaysia? Nope.

wonder is the price of $148/$108/$78/$48 worth it or not?.. anyone going?..... im thinking of getting the $108 type since no point to go there and sit too far behind.... .. but for 3 person, it cost more than $300 already.... quite steep actually.... anyone watch it overseas before?.... http://www.sistic.com.sg/portal/dt?dt.isPo...entCode=wwd1210 http://www.dinosaurlive.com.sg/dinosaurs-synopsis.htm

Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at

I think most of you, like me, will think there are two guys inside there.....

Working ou the kinks to post a link.. watch this space..

today along clementi ave 2, a whole family was walking on the middle of the road, think after marketing. Mother i guess walking on the right side of the road when the center divider is just next to her. Grandma, walking right in the middle along with their young children.. So i just horn and slowed down just to let them cross. In any case, am i in the wrong to horn them? How come tp dont take action against jaywalkers?

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story Sep 22, 2008 3,821 jaywalkers caught 3,821 caught in first six months, up from 2,070 in same period last year By Ang Yiying Jaywalking seems prevalent here, despite it being a crime that can end with offenders being sent to jail. The Straits Times spotted 160 or so people jaywalking during a 21/2-hour period yesterday. The police are also catching more of them. In the first half of the year, 3,821 people were caught jaywalking, up from 2,070 in the same period last year. One favourite jaywalking spot is a stretch of Orchard Road separating a construction site near Somerset MRT station from Orchard Emerald opposite. Despite there being two sets of traffic lights in close proximity, some 15 people crossed the road between the lights during a 30-minute period. In the space of an hour, at least 80 people jaywalked across Grange Road, between Orchard Building and Orchard Cineleisure. Most of them were teenagers or looked to be in their 20s. Some stood on the divider while cars went by. Mr Jimmy Chan, a 22-year-old operator, said it was 'not so convenient' to walk to the traffic light. Marketing executive Joseph Suriya, 28, also cited convenience, adding that he stayed safe by gauging the traffic. At Bideford Road between Paragon and Masjid Al-Falah mosque, up to 50 people cut across the road in half an hour. A woman who wanted to be known only as Madam Lim was jaywalking with her husband, who was holding on to their daughter. The housewife, 35, said her family would have to make a detour if they were to cross at the traffic light. Those who were spotted jaywalking said they knew it was an offence, but added that they had never been caught for it. Jaywalkers can be fined $20 on the spot. If charged and convicted in court, they may be fined up to $1,000 and face a jail term of up to three months. A student, who wanted to be known only as Shaun, had been given a warning several years ago, but it did not deter him. The 19-year-old said: 'You have to be smart and watch out for cars.' Retiree S.L. Ong, 59, has been fined before, but still jaywalks if traffic is light. 'Sometimes, it's a little silly to wait for the green man, especially if there are no cars on the road.' So, can anything stop people from jaywalking? Said Mr Suriya: 'I don't think any monetary penalty will deter people. They don't think they will be caught.' [email protected] Yesh! $20 a pc easy marnee.. so expect more traffic warden to b gg ard to improve sales for LTA soon.

Hi all, 1. It seems that we all have our own definition of a "walking distance". 2. So when shop for a house that you want the MRT that is within walking distance, do you think it should be less than 400m or anything below 1km is walking distance to you? Please poll. Thank you very much. Regards,