See Pin and Michael are just like any other couple who enjoy spending as much time as possible together, but their passion for chocolates was what led them into their next adventure together.

Chocolates are after all, associated with romance, but their love for the sweet delicacy took another avenue. They were curious about how to handmake good ones without needing to use anything other than natural ingredients.

So after a few trials and tests, the couple came up with Cocoraw which represents their very own brand of handmade chocolates.

Couples that cook together, stay together

Wanting to incorporate their image into the core of their business, the couple decided on the name Cocoraw as the title of their enterprise.

"We chose Cocoraw mainly because of 2 simple points. 'Coco' is short for cocoa and 'raw' roughly translates to the word fresh in Japanese. This indicates the nature of chocolates that we do-fresh soft chocolate ganache. In a broader sense, it also represents our approach in ensuring most of our products are free from artificial additives or preservatives," said Michael to Vulcan Post.

See Pin grew fond of the idea on building something from their love for chocolates. The positive reaction she received from her family and friends who had sampled their delicacies further fueled her drive to pursue it.

Michael took a little longer to get on board and even showed skepticism to the idea initially. But after they ventured into the flea market and bazaar market space, he became convinced after seeing the response.

Currently, they have decided to pursue it full time, despite having no background in the F&B industry. Both of them came from careers in media planning and technology consulting but decided it was alright to leave to focus on building their chocolate brand.

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Mad about chocolate

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Chocolates with a local twist

The chocolate truffles offered by Cocoraw come in a few classic flavours such as The Raw 70 which is their signature dark chocolate option for those pure chocolate fanatics.

For those with a sweeter tooth, they provide The Milk, milk chocolate truffles with subtle caramel nuances. The SGM is one of their more unique ones which combines dark chocolate with salted gula Melaka.

Occasionally, Cocoraw comes out with specials that are only available for a certain period. Some of them include The Ipoh White Coffee which blends their signature chocolate with the famous coffee beans from Ipoh, The Alcoholic Anonymous are for those wanting a bit of an alcoholic kick with their dark chocolates, and The Green Thing, matcha-infused dark chocolate truffles.

Michael mentioned that the couple try their best to come out with a new flavour every 2 months to keep options fresh and interesting. He also added that the crowd favourites so far would be The Raw 70 along with The SGM.

The pricing of these chocolates range between RM30 to RM35 (S$9.65 to S$11.25) per box. At the moment, their main channel of distribution is via their website but they also do limited distribution to MilkCow softserve outlets and Kingstreet Cafe, with plans in the future for more distribution channels.

The art of chocolate making

So how does one even begin to make these chocolates?

Micheal gave us some insight on how he and his partner work behind the kitchen counter. The chocolate truffles and various other products sold by them are completely handmade.

The chocolate base utilises commercial quality chocolate couvertures (which are made with pure cocoa mass and cocoa butter instead of compound chocolates that consists of cocoa mass and some form of vegetable oil).

The overall process consists of 6 main steps: preparation, melting down the chocolate couvertures, infusing the cream, folding the cream, moulding and setting, and finally hand-cutting and packing.

A full box of chocolate truffles takes approximately 20 minutes for the couple to produce, not including the time taken for the chocolate to set in the chiller.

The couple use an imported chocolate base and dairy cream for their truffles but most of the ingredients used to complement the chocolates are sourced locally.

"For example, we source our gula Melaka from Melaka and our roasted coffee grounds from Ipoh. At one point of time, we had a pandan infused chocolates using pandan leaves from our own garden. In the future, we hope to be able to work with a local cocoa producer and maybe even local dairy producers to be a lot more sustainable," said Michael.

As to how long they can be kept before consumption, Michael said, "They last approximately 2 weeks in a typical home fridge but we recommend that they be consumed within a week as they contain no preservatives."

The process requires a level of skills which the couple learned by themselves and via old school experimenting, which gives them more leeway to experiment with various flavours.

"We are not professionally-trained although there is a possibility one of us will go for some formal learning to equip ourselves with the finer details of the industry," shared Michael.

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5 places to satisfy your chocolate cravings in Singapore

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Delicious within budget

Fans of decadent chocolate truffles will be no stranger to the name Royce Chocolates, a well-known brand hailing all the way from Japan, and their best-selling Nama chocolates. It has been reviewed by food critics as one of the most decadent chocolate treats with its soft texture and rich taste.

But these sweets do not come cheap, hence why it's seen as more of a luxury treat.

Due to the similarity in certain aspects, we couldn't help wonder if Cocoraw was any way inspired by Royce when it came to bringing the concept to life.

Michael admitted that due to Royce sparking off the Nama chocolate craze, the couple did take the popular brand as inspiration to create their own.

"Besides the style of truffles, we have an entirely different approach to the brand and product. We have a simple and minimalist take on our brand and products. We like the 'raw' look if you must, over elaborate designs," said Michael.

Although it is a true delight to have their products compared to Royce, Michael stated that their incorporation of local flavours differentiates them from other international brands and can appeal to the Malaysian community more.

He believes that those who are already fans of Royce chocolates would be inclined to test out Cocoraw because of how they're able to deliver quality truffles with a range of unique flavours handmade in small batches for the Malaysian palate.

Michael sees this prevalance of homemade and handmade goods as a good omen for things to come as that is a clear indicator of a growing acceptance towards products made locally.

The couple have come a long way from their earlier days of selling 24 boxes of chocolates in 6 hours with slow traffic. They hope to scale their business better to cope with larger orders.

"We would like to scale the business just a little bit better to cope with larger orders in the next 6 months and we envision a new product line using locally-sourced cocoa in the not-too-distant future. We are also looking for creative spaces to set up a popup store for a short duration," said Michael.

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Everyone has probably gotten a mouthful from their parents before.

Whether it's for something you've done wrong or a joke you made that was suddenly turned into a life lesson, it usually comes with the favourite rejoinder, "This is for your own good."

And as we grow up, we start to slowly appreciate them for the constant nagging that we used to despise them for.

However in some cases, along the ranks of advice that our parents told us while growing up might actually be next to useless.

We've collected them here, and we're sure you've heard quite a few of them before.

1. "Study hard, and you'll be fine."

This has been around for a long, long time.

Encouraged by their parents, many children don't see the bigger picture beyond the walls of academics.

All they know is that by studying hard they might enrol in good colleges or universities and later, get the jobs they want.

And of course, there's all the stress around scoring and report cards days.

But the question is, "Are results that important?"

Studies are important but they're not the only thing that matter.

While being knowledgeable helps, it's really a good character or personality that build the trust and value needed for success.

Your performance at work and how well your do in life aren't solely dependent on academic ability.

Unfortunately, most of use don't realise this until we're out of university and it's a slap on the face from to universe.

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6 things new parents waste money on in Singapore

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Shutterock.com

The Straits Times

2. "Always respect your elders."

Don't get me wrong, it's good that people show respect to their elders.

That's part of our culture and it has its foundations in wisdom. After all, older people have the experience and knowledge that can greatly benefit us.

When our parents say this though, what they're really saying is "Shut up and listen, don't fight back when someone older is speaking."

We have to accept that there are antiquated notions that our elders should be discarding.

Casual comments that promote violence, racism, sexism, body shaming or ignorance-should we allow them to continue or just nod and stay silent, simply because the speaker is older?

We shouldn't excuse such words just because of who the speaker is.

3. "Don't hang out with people who have bad results."

There's an old adage that it takes just one bad apple to spoil the whole basket.

Such sentiments prompt parents to caution and even actively prevent their kids from hanging out with the "bad" crowd.

After all, in the Asian mindset, if you're not doing well in school, the rest of your life is probably in a mess as well.

Not only does it belittle those who aren't to good at studying, it also teaches the children to actually look down on others.

What this ignores is that getting bad results doesn't necessarily mean a person is stupid or lazy, as we will eventually find out on our own.

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How millennials are different from their parents

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4. "Extra co-curricular activities are a waste of time."

Many parents especially, who more worried about their kid's education believe most co-curricular activities are a waste of time, especially those organised by the school.

The children might as well take private lessons to up their own skills at home.

However, the whole point of extra co-curricular activities is to help students relax and give them a break from their studies.

They also teach valuable lessons like teamwork, persistence and can even pick up new skills or explore their interests.

5. "You have to be able to do this to get married."

The constant dating advice that parents produce out of thin air can be helpful, but can also be more annoying than what they think.

Parents might not be aware but some of their advice are the result of stereotypes or sexism.

Particularly for women, they are often more pressured to get married and this would traditionally mean they would have to take on other jobs in order to take care of the child.

The typical stereotype, "All mothers must cook and clean" is a perfect example and is completely disregarding what women actually enjoy and want to do.

In the same way, men are expected to "Earn enough income to support your family".

6. "If you don't get a good job, you'll just be a disappointment to yourself."

It comes as no surprise that many parents expect the best from their kids, even if it means they have to keep on pushing them.

For some parents, they believe that their children need to take up a certain path in order to be successful.

At the end of the day, parents are that way because they truly care for their children and want them to have stable jobs and careers in the future.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that one of those careers ensures bragging rights for the parents at family gatherings.

Unfortunately, having a choice of just four acceptable careers is quite limiting on the children.

The world has changed, any even these four fields might not necessarily ensure success or even stability down the line.

7. "If you wake up so late, half your day is gone."

Parents are always reminding us to sleep early, and it doesn't stop even when you're well past your teens.

Not everyone can function on the "sleep early and wake up early" routine.

Parents generally sleep early, so they don't see the hours of work their children put in during the wee hours of the morning.

In fact, some studies have shown that teenagers in particular have their biological sleep patterns shift towards later times, meaning that it would be difficult for them to sleep earlier, even if they wanted to.

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Tricks that will make parenting easier

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8. "You should be like her."

Our parents say this as a form of motivation or encouragement. After all, they're trying to give us a goal to work towards.

Their intentions may by good, to give a boost of initiative to do something but this often backfires leaving the kid with low self-esteem and a feeling of self-pity.

In fact, you may get so tired of chasing the perfect prodigy that you may just give up altogether.

9. "When you grow up, you'll understand."

Often, this cliche comes out when parents are reluctant to explain their motivations, as an alternative to the ultimatum, "Because I said so."

Either that, or this advice appears when parents are getting frustrated with how their children aren't cooperating.

On the other hand, rather than hoping that your child will grow up and eventually get where you're coming from, isn't it better to try and reach some sort of understanding when they're younger?

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Cool parents who make parenting awesome

Source: Stomp

Sometimes enough is enough

Parents might think they're doing what's best for their kids, constantly giving them tips and advice.

But they also need to watch what they say and be tactful.

It might have sounded right to parents but it might sound wrong and inconsiderate to others.

We say all this but who knows, we might end up repeating these exact same words to our own children in the future.

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The fight between Grab and Uber has been a long and sustained one, buttressed by the fact that both companies are financially capable of dragging out one.

In November 2016, we covered the fight between the 2 companies with a detailed comparison of their features. In the end, the victory was determined by a mini landslide, with Grab taking the lead.

The interesting thought in the article was that even though Grab had significantly higher prices than Uber, the overall poll showed a win for Grab.

And although Uber's central management has been undergoing some major upheavals with #deleteUber, the wave has not been felt close to home. It's clear that Uber is here to stay for the foreseeable future, as they ramp up promotions and services in direct competition against Grab.

But how much of this war is actually sustainable?

We spoke to 2 NTU Masters graduates of Economics to help us break down the economics of the price war.

Warring It Out

The war strategy utilised by Grab and Uber is one of predatory pricing.

This means that companies set the costs of a service (i.e. rides) at a price lower than the marginal cost to the seller. These refer to the costs incurred by the seller when adding one more unit of service.

Through this, the companies are able to keep the costs of rides for passengers down, while upping the ante for low cost rides. All with the singular goal of eliminating the competition. Once that has been achieved, the victor gets ahold of the entire market demand, thereby exerting an almost-monopolistic control (save for taxi companies).

So the golden question would be, who would be the last one standing?

The Uber Advantage

Uber, owing to its presence worldwide has been successful in operating in loss-making markets. The losses incurred in these countries are supported by the gains they make in other markets where they have a stronger, more lucrative hold.

Secondly, event though Uber has constantly been reporting losses and a burning through of their war chest (especially in China against Didi), the company continues to raise money as if it is broke. In June 2016, Uber raised $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabia and the very next month, another $1.15 billion.

As such they have a massive war chest with which to compete, thus allowing them to cover any losses they might be making in countries where their market penetration rate is low.

Grab-bing The Win

Grab on the other hand has a presence limited to the South-east Asian region.

This restricts them with respect to their market penetration rate, and in turn, their total revenue. Logically speaking, Grab has inadvertently set itself up as the player more disadvantaged to fight a prolonged war.

However, it's clear that this is not the case as public opinion of the Malaysian startup remains strong. This is because the regional and local players often outperform foreign players as they understand their customers more closely.

They are more sensitive to fluctuating market trends and smaller nuances and are in a better position to alter their business model according to market needs.

This places Grab at a place where they have better customer service optimisation than Uber.

A Fierce Competition

According to one of the graduates, now an economics analyst, the price war can likely sustain for a while.

The strategies that Grab and Uber involved dynamic pricing, meaning that ride costs are subject to fluctuations in demand and supply, i.e. a high demand translates to surcharges.

Both Uber and Grab have since introduced 15 per cent fare reduction at different points, with Grab going one step further by removing the base fare of $8. Upon reflection, these reductions may seem attractive but are still somewhat offset by the dynamic pricing.

The only significant benefit that comes from the reduced prices are when you take rides outside of peak hours, which honestly speaking, how often do any of us do that?

How Long Can They Continue?

The war, while exciting as a commercialised marketing strategy for the companies to announce that they can provide better savings than the other, it is highly unlikely that they will be able to sustain a constant game of trying to one-up each other.

It is typical that price wars will stagnate after a while, followed by a slew of flashy price-slashing campaign. However, there'll still be a limit as to how far they can take their discounts, estimated to be at most a few dollars less.

After all, drivers need to earn a profit to live, and Uber and Grab must not compete with official cabs like Comfort Delgro (although taxi companies have been innovating ways to stay relevant).

Otherwise, limited by these factors, the fares set by Uber and Grab can only go so low.

For consumers, the price war can appear to be a messy thing as rates can fluctuate within minutes simply by refreshing (try testing your UberX).

It's always good to do a search and comparison of rates before making any booking, as the upfront pricing and dynamic pricing strategies have made it more difficult for passengers to estimate costs.

In case you have yet to hear about it, there are already such Skyscanner style apps and sites in the making, with one that will pull up promo codes for you.

Whatever the case, it is certain the fight will last a while, so just buckle up and enjoy it while it lasts.

A thank you shoutout to the 2 NTU Masters graduates for consulting with me on the article.

Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations.
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With his movies being ones we grew up watching and loving, Jackie Chan is perhaps the quintessential Asian action star that many look up to.

Mixing wit, action and humour, the Jackie Chan of today is a silver screen hero who, three months ago, received his highest honour yet - an honorary Oscar.

Here are some lessons we can learn from him.

Set A Goal, And Continue To Do What You Believe In

That journey to receiving an Oscar isn't an easy path - only coming after spending 56 years in the film industry, being in over 200 films, and breaking lots of bones.

For years, Chan was chided by his father about the reasons as to why he hasn't won an Oscar despite being so decorated with awards in other parts of the world.

He simply brushed it off, saying that because he only made action-comedy movies, he would never be in the running for that award.

It was only after he visited friend and fellow Hollywood star, Sylvester Stallone's home where he got a hands on with an actual Oscar trophy did it change his mind about wanting one.

After that day, he continued to make film after film in Hong Kong and Hollywood, and was eventually being recognised for his contributions.

"Why did I become Jackie Chan? Mostly because I work very hard. When people were sleeping, I was training."

Look Up To Your Hero, But Don't Be Him

Having worked as a stuntman to Bruce Lee, many view Chan as his successor in the post-Bruce Lee era, bridging the gap between Hollywood and Hong Kong.

But that's where the similarities end.

The last thing Chan wanted to become was "the next Bruce Lee", even after getting words of encouragement from the man himself.

So naturally, he started pursuing his own signature style of martial arts and action films, eventually carving out his own brand and name.

"I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."

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Jackie Chan films daring stunts on top of Sydney Opera House

Source: YouTube screengrabs, AFP, Reuters

Build Not Just A Company, But Also A Family

Last but not least, we definitely can't forget the people behind each and every one of his films - the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.

For 40 years since 1976, they have been by Chan's side film after film, and the team's now in their 8th generation.

Throughout his career, Chan has seen many of his ventures folded, but his stunt team will always somehow pull through despite the difficulties faced - and this is because he treats his stuntmen as family, as brothers.

In a recent episode of a Chinese variety show which Chan appeared on, a tribute videos from all of his ex-stuntmen was shown.

In each of their tear-filled testimonies, there was a common theme all the way - about how he treated them like they were more than just employees, because he was a true embodiment of martial arts, loyalty and brotherhood.

A sentiment that he expects each and every stuntmen to abide by, because if not, Chan will simply bar them from joining.

Then came stories about how in the early days, despite being the boss, he would split the earnings with his assistants equally, and he would even help them settle the down-payment for a home and even a car, despite not being financially well-off at the start.

And it is not just the material things.

Simple gestures such as giving his assistant a jacket to brave the cold in spite of him just wearing a thin undershirt is just one example of how he helps others first before himself.

The Legend Of Jackie Chan Will Continue To Live On

Despite all his accolades, there are no signs of Jackie Chan slowing down.

With six movies set to come out this year alone (including some voice work in a LEGO movie), expect to see more of Jackie Chan and his stunt team on the big screen soon.

"My dream is to continue filming until my body tells me to stop."

Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations.
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Jackie Chan stars in new Bollywood film Kung Fu Yoga

Source:

AFP

Ah, Chinese New Year. The time when people get together with their families to talk about all the things that they've missed of each other.

But with reunions come the perennial questions that never seem to get old?

"Ah Boy / Girl, what you doing now ah?"

The good thing about this is that now I have a solid answer to give my relatives, and surely writer is a clear enough answer, barring the possible "you writing book ah?" queries I suspect will follow.

But what about entrepreneurs?

In November 2016, we published an article about how startup founders explain their jobs to their parents.

So in line with the upcoming Chinese New Year, we decided to take a look at how entrepreneurs talk their way through CNY interro- ahem, I mean, conversations.

1. Darius Cheung, 99.co

When relatives ask me what I am doing now, I always see it as a opportunity to do business.

I'd reply that I am helping people to buy and rent houses, and follow that up with a "Do you want to buy and rent a house? Do you know anyone who is looking?"

The cheeky CEO of 99.co laughs and teases that "entrepreneurs always be hustling i guess. =)".

2. Tan Peck Ying, PSLove

Haha, I must admit that initially, it was a little more awkward for me when my relatives ask me what I am doing now because our product is related to "Menstrual Cramps".

This can be a more 'hush hush' thing for the older generations, so I would usually just sweep it off saying that I'm doing e-commerce selling female stuffs.

That would give me the chance to then quickly turn around the question to find out how they are doing!"

3. Jeremy Lim, workwander and Makerscut

"Because of the nature of my startups, most older relatives have problems understanding what I do. So I've gradually learned to dumb down my response, but what I get would be something totally irrelevant. It's quite unfortunate that they would not be able to understand what I work so hard on.

For Workwander, I'd say I help offices rent out their office space, and people would respond "Oh, you're a commercial property agent lah!"

For Makerscut, a crowdfunding platform to enable fashion product designers, I'd say I get people to make bags and shoes in Indonesia and Thailand to sell online. That would get me the "Oh, so you got a blogshop!"

But when all else fails, I will say I'm struggling with starting my own business and haven't had a salary for many months now. So please be generous with your ang pow! Thanks! Haha!"

4. Yunnie Tan, Miraculove

"I used to be quite sceptical when distant relatives or friends ask because it seems like the generic and occasionally superficial question "how's life?"

It makes me wonder if they are genuinely interested in my answer.

However, I've been lucky to engage with relatives and friends who're so fascinated by my backstory that they subsequently become my brand evangelists or offered me unexpected help such as linking me up with their contacts in the industry."

Tan adds that it is not easy to open up to people and subject herself to 'feedback for improvement'.

However, since it is impossible to avoid the question, she finds the best way is to make the reply as "energetic and exciting as possible, focusing on what's up and coming."

Sometimes, it might even become a chance to conduct "some form of consumer research".

5. Lesner Chua, DSTNCT

"This first scenario is for the uncles, aunties and ahma (grandmother).

When they ask me how's school, I will reply that I've graduated as I don't want to explain that they've asked me that for the past 5 years. They will then reply that I should follow my Uncle and work in the police or bank. I'd just take out my phone and continue nodding.

The second is for the 'wanna act in-the-know auntie and uncle'. They would ask if I'm still working the same job and how much I'm getting paid. I'd reply that I pay myself, but it isn't a lot." They would then go on and on that they remember it's a sales company, that I draw advertisements, if the information is real, and that they heard about this terrible brand…

I usually respond by taking out my phone and leaving after collecting red packets."

6. Alphonso Ngiam, Deuce and Sheer

"The one question I really dread answering is 'What are you doing now?'

When I tell them I'm running my own business, people would either ask what it is about and if it is lucrative. Either that or they'd comment that there are many people also doing e-commerce and ask again if it is good money. There would be multiple other questions like how much I earn, whether I can sustain the business.

Then there are those who give me that sceptical look. They'd think I am wasting time or finding an excuse to not work full-time. You know, the strawberry generation.

It is important to not be discouraged and continue working hard and let the results prove themselves. We only have ourselves to answer to and not your relatives! You define your own goals yearly and if you achieve them, be proud!"

Relatives Don't Define You

Taking a final note from what Ngiam said, these awkward 'interrogations' might make you question your own success but it is important to remember that they do not determine your success.

Strive towards the new year, and "let the results prove themselves!"

Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations.
Visit Vulcan Post for more stories.

Education, the bane of our lives.

At least, it was that way until some of us stepped into the working world. Yet we all ploughed on for more than a decade, just to reach that dangly carrot in the far distance.

That carrot, which to us, represents a good and well-paying job.

All that is quickly changing. Today, no matter how many years of our lives are spent toiling over books and notes, it may not necessarily grant us our dream jobs. Does this mean that the importance of education has diminished over the years?

Or is it simply because the education system is no longer as relevant as it once was?

In the past, the education system centred on content knowledge, retention as well as research skills. That coincided well with Singapore's industrialisation process, whereby even literacy was a sought after skill that would enable companies to utilise whatever limited technology they had on their hands at that moment.

However, the constant shifts in global economy today has caused the education system to be less relevant. According to Unicef's data, world youth literacy rates stand at 91 per cent, while the number of illiterate youths declined from 170 million to 115 million.

With more and more youths becoming literate worldwide, education systems have to adapt to these changes by providing their students with specialised skills outside of textbook knowledge that will make them more employable when they enter the workforce.

These skills can only be acquired through actual experiences outside of the classroom. Which brings us to the importance of internships and hands-on courses.

The Vital Role that Startups Can Play

With the emergence of the startup scene now, one way that Singapore's education system can counter the problem of skills mismatch is to make use of collaboration with startups to provide useful work experience and skills for the students.

Startups are always ready to hire interns and train them from ground up, providing them with the relevant hands-on skills that will eventually prove to be especially valuable for their future job hunts at other companies.

Internships at startups can then serve as the bridge for students to get their desired work experience and also give them exposure to skills pertaining to innovation and entrepreneurship. Hopefully in the long run, this would reduce the skills mismatch gap and also lower structural unemployment rates.

There is definitely a need to accentuate the importance of a study-work-study-work approach more so than a study-study one. Whereas the latter produces a book-smart individual brimming with content knowledge, the former will produce a better rounded student who is adept at both content retention as well as soft skills such as problem solving and leadership among others. This will be what sets them apart from other candidates when it becomes time for them to burst into the work scene.

The matching of students to internships at startups could even be made compulsory for all schools to adopt. With such a practice in place, it will help to hone the skills of students at these up and rising companies which have much to offer.

How Startups Can Help To Close Skills Mismatch Gap

The Straits Times found that the unemployment rate rose from 3.5 per cent in 2015 to 4.3 per cent in June 2016 in Singapore.

This was caused by an increasingly large skills mismatch between job seekers and hirers. The students churned out by schools were just not turning into efficient workers required by up and rising industries.

Graduates were also found to have very little relevant real-life skills of jobs they wish to apply for as schools had not given them the chance to pick up these skills. This is a very real problem that society currently faces today and the importance of internships and part time jobs to pick up skills have not been emphasised enough.

This is where startups can come into the picture with an end goal in mind.

In a research conducted by audit firm Deloitte in 2015, it stated that "traditional credentials are seen to be under threat; they are seen as taking too long to earn and not providing the students with knowledge and skills that they need in the workforce". With academic certificates and degrees becoming more widespread and arguably less valuable in today's context, it is pertinent for schools to take the next big step towards equipping their students with the right values and skills that will allow them to thrive in the working world.

Complete policy structural reform takes a lengthy amount of time to implement, hence looking towards startups to help fill the gap that the current education system is unable to provide would be a good step forward.

A Good Education System Goes Beyond PISA Rankings Alone

Singapore may have the highest achieving students in international rankings, judging by the recent PISA rankings for reading, maths and science, which puts them first amongst 72 countries and economies.

Yet this does not indicate how the students are eventually going to make use of that advantage to help them with their careers in the future. The focus has been shifting, and will continue to shift towards the importance of effective communication, teamwork, leadership skills, taking initiatives, problem-solving, creativity, persistence and curiosity.

The problem is that the education system is just unable to adapt to these evolving needs fast enough and their focus does not keep up with the times.

There has been huge emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship in recent years.

However, Singapore's education simply does not promote the importance of them as much as they should. It is little wonder that the system has been churning out intelligent young students capable of solving difficult problems and applying critical thinking skills, but all on paper.

In the real world context, however, Singapore has not been doing as well as expected.

In the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) rankings, Singapore has noticeably fallen in rankings on innovation and sophistication, two key areas that are pertinent to economic success in our technology driven world today.

This once again pushes for the need of an internship focused education system which local startups are capable of achieving.

Ultimately, the booming startup scene is one that can be extremely beneficial to our local education system.

By joining hands with schools, startups can provide the education system with its much needed booster and commit themselves to producing holistic students who can do well both academically and professionally in the future.

To remain competitive in the global market, we need our country's future leaders to be equipped with the best education possible; one that teaches them things beyond textbooks and allows them to be best they can be.

This article was written by Seline Kok, Copywriter at startup Grdient (grdient.com) which is trying to build a university of the future to groom the next generation of innovation workers.

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We're no strangers to incidences of abrasive people yelling at others in public.

The incidents are usually recorded by smartphone-wielding bystanders, and these silent observers are usually lambasted at on social media, with many asking why they chose to simply stand around rather than offering their help there and then.

There are of course many reasons as to why someone would choose that over helping the poor fella(s) in the situation (Too dangerous? Getting hold of incriminating video evidence against the culprit is a better approach? Person recording is actually an aspiring director?), but what actually stands out is how non-confrontational - to a fault - many of us can be.

Sure, there's that one person (or a few) recording an incident who is rendered helpless, but in many cases with a sole hero emerging to save the day, many bystanders remain firmly rooted at the ground they're standing on, remaining as, well, just bystanders.

Another one of these videos has emerged, and the roles of antagonist/troublemaker, protagonist/hero, victim, and cameraman were once again reprised.

The StarHub Incident

In the video, we see the man in the light grey shirt behaving barbarically and yelling vulgarities the other man, and a hapless StarHub staff trying to ease the situation.

Throughout the commotion, as one man got more angry, the other simply stayed calm.

As the video made its way across all Facebook newsfeeds, the hero himself, now identified as Justin A. Farren, posted a comment sharing his POV and thoughts.

As compared to concurring with the negative (often toxic) sentiments shared by netizens who have watched the video, Farren urged them to give the man some sympathy, and to appreciate that "things like this are rare in Singapore".

He still asserted, though, that the abuse was uncalled for.

Not Just Another Everyday Hero

Given the very public nature of Facebook, many soon realised that Farren wasn't just another everyday hero - he also has a day job as Creative Director at video game publisher Ubisoft.

For the unacquainted, some of the more popular games (that even non-gamers would have heard of) from Ubisoft include Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, and Watch Dogs.

What's admirable is not just how Farren bravely confronted the aggressor, but how even after having vulgarities (and spit) hurled at him, maintained a clear-headed view of the situation - spreading a message that calls for understanding over naming-and-shaming, an unfortunate hallmark of many cases of citizen journalism.

Regardless of his job, Farren has set an example for many of us to follow the next time we're confronted with a situation like this.

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At a first glance one could almost believe that the 3D models pictured in this article are photo-realistic paintings of Malacca at its seafaring prime.

Despite what the eyes say, these fantastical scenes were painstakingly crafted on Autodesk 3D Studio Max and rendered on V-Ray 2014 by a history enthusiast.

35-year-old Mohd Faizal Rahmat studied architecture with a focus on philosophy and art in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, which sparked his personal interest in 3D modelling.

Armed with a longstanding interest in historical folklore thanks to bedtime stories from his grandmother, Faizal told Vulcan Post, "The Kota Melaka in 3D started long before I was admitted to UTM Sudai Johor, when I was still little child."

An assigned urban study for his 5th year in university brought him to the cityscapes surrounding Malacca. As he was known to be a Malaccan history enthusiast, he covered the historical section.

"There, I gained the opportunity to meet important persons regarding the subject and from there I slowly constructed the idea," he said. "Combining my knowledge from an architectural point of view and also the urban study that I did, I started to construct the 3D."

Even after he discovered the art of 3D modelling in the year 2000, he did not have much time to focus on the art as he was caring for a sick mother. When she passed away due to lung cancer in 2014, that was when he was able to pay full attention on developing the 3D models.

He had already spent some time studying 3D modelling in his own time but it took 12 years dabbling in architectural and interior design before he could actually bring his dream to fruition.

Making his own contact with museum folk and experts in-the-know about the depths of Malacca's history, Faizal pursued his chosen path into the depths of Malacca's history.

Armed with the knowledge and skills, he was able to pay full attention to his passion project.

What came about were dreamlike depictions of Malacca in its golden ages between 1456 to 1477, crafted with attention to history. Many of the details sourced from historical records from the British Museum, Portugal's records and the national archives.

60 per cent of his detailed and intricate work came from this painstaking research. The blanks left in history meant that 40 per cent of his work was filled in based on his own creativity to bring the Kingdom of Malacca into 3D reality.

The depictions of Faizal's Malacca are filled with beautiful imagery, deep colours and intricate details that do justice to the artistry of Malaccans in the days of yore.

Designed on a 3D modelling software that can be used for game design, the details look like they could easily be the model for an upcoming Assassin's Creed game set in Malacca (hint hint, Ubisoft).

His designs range from the city of Malacca itself to the smaller but no less impressive throne rooms.

The combination of his passion for both Malaysian architecture and 3D simulations meant that Faizal was granted opportunities to further his interests in projects such as the interior design of the National Palace of Jalan Duta, the Grand Palace of Johor Bahru and Istana Hinggap Gua Musang, among others.

Recently, Faizal was put in a difficult position when a commission of one of his works fell through, according to a post on the Lowyat forum. He was left with no payment for his efforts, apparently due to the fact that the project was abandoned.

According to a personal post on his wall, Faizal aims to pursue legal action for his troubles. Unfortunately, Faizal's issues are another sad addition to a long list of creatives who are undervalued and taken advantage of for their work.

Despite his troubles in getting the right remunerations for his work, it is clear that this Malaysian has some massive talent and attention to detail when it comes to 3D modelling.

Though some on the Lowyat post have critiqued certain sizing issues with his work, the fact remains that he dedicated his time and efforts into learning the 3D programming softwares on his own, not to mention his attention to historical details.

Mohd Faizal Rahim might just be a name that we will be seeing more of a few years down the road, maybe in the credits for game or movie?

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If 11 November (11.11) is the day for singles, then 14 February is the day for couples, and with it comes a whole slew of shopping opportunities. Valentine's Day in Singapore is not something to be trifled with, and we have the stats to prove it.

In February 2015, a Groupon survey done on 20,694 of its global subscribers found that Singaporeans are among the top 3 spenders for Valentine's Day, with 1 in 3 willing to spend more than S$135 for the occasion. A 2016 Mastercard survey reflects a persisting trend, with Singaporeans again coming out in 3rd position, only this time, participants were willing to spend $263.

Read also: Guide to V-Day gifts for the different types of couples in Singapore

That's a lot of money, and apparently, most of it is channelled towards experiences, rather than the conventional dinners and flowers. So, we took the liberty of compiling a list of unconventionally interesting Valentine's gifts that you and your partner will enjoy.

1. Be my (foodie) Valentine

Valentine's Day tends to be rather headache-inducing when it comes to making restaurant reservations. Booking last minute can burn a veritable hole in your budget, or end up with dinner at a fast food restaurant.

A site for restaurant reservations, Chope, hosts restaurants featuring a tasteful myriad of cuisines, not just in Singapore, but also Phuket, Bali, Bangkok and more. Talk about a truly international dining experience!

And you can even start making your reservations now - air tickets not included.

2. Be my (fitness) Valentine

GuavaPass is a startup that connects you to gyms and fitness studios all over the world. For the couple afraid that all the Valentine's chocolates would add a few more pounds, or for those who enjoy working out together, this is the gift for you.

The great thing about GuavaPass is that discounting their worldwide networks, they also have studios in almost every corner of Singapore, so finding a place to workout has never been easier. The second great thing about the GuavaPass is that it helps you shed all those chocolate pounds, as well as give you that healthy glow.

3. Be my (beauty) Valentine

All the chocolates and dining out might not be good for the skin, so after a decadent meal, or even as a post-workout downtime for the both of you, how about a facial? And I don't mean one of those animal print masks either. No, I'm talking more about a decadent experience to share with your partner.

The Amaris B. Clinic features several skin treatments for both males and females.

Dead skin build up is a common problem. Also, do you know that a woman's collagen is reportedly less dense than that of a man's, which means a woman's skin is roughly about 15 years older than a man's of the same age?

Medical Grade Skin Peel Treatment reduces dead skin and improves skin's clarity while dermabrasion helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and even acne scars. It acts by removing the top most layer of dead skin cells while promoting collagen growth at the same time. A treatment with no downtime is the Spectra Laser. Utilising powerful laser technology that's gentle on the skin, this treatment is able to stimulate and promote the growth of collagen. It reduces excessive sebum production, improving discolouration, reducing pore size and more.

With these non-invasive medical aesthetics beauty treatments, both of you can strip the years off your face.

4. Be my (adventure) Valentine

Put a healthy adventure spin on Valentine's with BeMyGuest.

The platform curates a mind-boggling array of activities for anyone looking for a day of action and fun. Rather than the conventional dinner and flowers, take your date out to the Adventure Cove Waterpark, werk it together in a twerking class, or even learn how to snowboard!

The fun part about BeMyGuest is that it doesn't just cover Singapore, but more than 800 destinations from Budapest, Hungary to Tokyo, Japan.

Exercise and eating right can give you that special glow for Valentine's, and for that extra boost of radiance, here comes gift no. 5.

5. Be my (body makeover) Valentine

For a more luxurious experience, you and your partner can also consider signing up for medical aesthetic treatments, something that would revamp your whole outlook so that you and your partner can become the people you want to be together.

A good option for ladies to consider, if you're not the GuavaPass type of person, but are the type to worry about what all the holiday snacking will do to your body is Amaris B. signature fat reduction and body contouring treatment: Vaser Liposelection (VASERlipo). This is the latest minimally invasive body sculpting procedure, which utilises the most advanced ultrasonic technology to melt away and remove unwanted fat cells in while leaving important connective tissues largely undisturbed.

VASERlipo allows a very thorough removal of fat cells and results in better skin contracture post-treatment. There is minimal downtime and patients can resume daily activities after a day or two's rest. .

Guys, want to impress your lady with flat washboard abs? Here's a popular treatment sought-after by gym goers - Vaser Hi-Def Lipo, which removes the deep and superficial fat that "blocks" the detail of the underlying tissue. This 3-dimensional body sculpting treatment is designed to sculpt rather than de-bulk and therefore, giving muscles more pronounced definition.

This is a more advanced body sculpting and requires an experienced and qualified body-sculpting doctor with well-trained hands and artful eyes to achieve a desirable result.

Re-inventing Valentine's Day

We may have grown up with the ideas that Valentine's is all about the candy and flowers, but how many different combinations of that can you come up with, without it coming off as too boring?

Start getting creative this year, and who knows, amongst all our suggestions, you might even get to tick off some New Year Resolutions as well!

This article was done in collaboration with Amaris B. Clinic.

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You would think that the Pokemon GO would've died down by now, and developer Niantic Labs would've moved on to another franchise while still making slight improvements to the once-popular game.

Oh how wrong you are.

Pokemon GO Welcomes The Johto Region

If you've played on a Gameboy the second generation of the Pokemon franchise, Gold and Silver, names such as Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile will definitely be familiar.

With them, over 80 more Pokemon is set to be released into the wild as part of a larger game update to be rolled out later this week.

Along with these Pokemon from the Johto region, you will soon be able to see "gender-specific variations" coming to all Pokemon.

Let's not forget evolutions too.

Through the new update, certain Pokemon that you may already have can evolve into one of the Johto Pokemon.

Pokestops will soon drop special evolution items as well, and these items will be needed to evolve some Pokemon.

Read Also: A beginner's guide to Pokemon Go

Everything Else

The way you encounter and catch new Pokemon will be slightly different as well.

According to Niantic, Pokemon will now react differently when you are trying to catch them.

The next change also sees a much needed addition to the screen when catching Pokemon.

The encounter screen will now include a carousel from which you will be able to choose either the berry or the type of Pokeball that you want to throw at the Pokemon.

So no more scrolling through your long list of inventory trying to find the perfect item for the occasion.

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Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon Go now in Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, Facebook / RSAF, Facebook/SPF, AsiaOne, Capitaland, Lianhe Wanbao, The New Paper, Stomp

Speaking of berries, the Razz Berry will be welcoming two new addition to the berry family - the Nanab Berry and the Pinap Berry.

Nanab Berries will let you easily catch a Pokemon by slowing down their movements while Pinap Berries doubles the Candy if you successfully catch that Pokemon.

Lastly, you will now have expanded options to customise your avatar.

The limited wardrobe of hats, shirts, pants, and other items will see new additions so that you can put on your best outfit for your next Pokemon hunt.

Read Also: Brace yourselves, Pokemon Go is now available for download in Singapore

Let The Madness Begin (Again)

Throughout much of 2016, Niantic Labs has been busy fixing bugs in the game and also releasing Pokemon GO to additional countries.

The relatively recent release in large markets such as South Korea and South Asia in countries like India are sure to draw in a huge intake of new players.

This update comes rather timely in a way - it lets these new players who have only started out to continue playing it for longer, and for those who have been playing since 2016, lets them reignite their interest to catch new Pokemon.

Judging from all the positive responses on Pokemon GO's social media pages, as well as the many local communities, the game is far from being dead.

Note that the current Pokemon Sun and Moon on the Nintendo 3DS is the seventh generation in the franchise.

That's FIVE more generations for Niantic Labs to include.

So grab a powerbank and a bottle of water - you will need it when the update is live.

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Buzzwords such as "adaptability", "innovation" and "partnership" were used frequently throughout Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's Budget speech earlier today.

Delivering his second ever Budget speech, Minister Heng emphasised the need to build capabilities and partnerships to foster an innovative and connected economy.

Describing enterprises as the "heart of vibrant economies", he talked about the importance for our enterprises to develop deep capabilities in order to stay competitive and grow. To achieve this, businesses need to use digital technology, embrace innovation, and scale up, he added.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

Here are the key highlights of Budget 2017 that are especially relevant to SMEs and startups:

1. The government will enhance 'Adapt and Grow'. This initiative was launched last year to help workers looking to take on new jobs. Wage and training support provided under the Career Support Programme, the Professional Conversion Programme and the Work Trial Programme will be increased. An "Attach and Train" initiative will also be introduced to secure attachments, rather than full-time positions, for workers to train themselves for jobs of the future.

2. The Wage Credit Scheme will continue to help firms cope with rising wages. More than $600 million are expected to be paid out to businesses next month, and roughly 70 per cent of this amount will be to SMEs.

3. The Special Employment Credit will continue to provide employers with support for the wages of older workers till 2019. More than $300 million, which will benefit 370,000 workers, will be paid out in FY2017.

4. The SME Working Capital Loan, where the Government co-shares 50 per cent of the default risk for loans of up to $300,000 per SME, will be available for the next two years. Minister Heng shared that this initiative has seen good take-up since its inception in June 2016. More than $700 million of loans have been catalysed so far, which means that 2,000 or so SMEs have benefited from this.

5. The Government will enhance the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rebate by raising the cap from $20,000 to $25,000 for YA2017. The rebate will remain at 50 per cent of tax payable. The CIT rebate will be extended for another year to YA2018, at a reduced rate of 20 per cent of tax payable, capped at $10,000. The enhancement and extension will cost an additional $310 million over YA2017 and YA2018.

6. The Additional Special Employment Credit will provide more support for firms hiring older workers. The re-employment age will be raised from 65 to 67 years, with effect from 1 July 2017. To encourage employers to continue hiring workers who are not covered, this initiative will be extended till end-2019. Under this scheme, employers will receive wage offsets of up to 3 per cent for workers who earn under $4,000 per month, and those who are not covered by the new re-employment age. Employers will receive support of up to 11 per cent for the wages of their eligible older workers. This extension will benefit about 120,000 workers and 55,000 employers, and will cost about $160 million.

7. SMEs Go Digital Programme will help SMEs to build digital capabilities. SMEs will get technology advice at each stage of their growth through the sectoral Industry Digital Plans. Sectors where digital technology can significantly improve productivity such as retail and food services will start first. SMEs will also get in-person help at SME Centres and a new SME Technology Hub that will be set up by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). SMEs that are ready to pilot emerging ICT solutions can also receive advice and funding support. More than $80 million will be made available for these programmes.

8. A*STAR Operation and Technology Road-mapping. A*STAR currently works with firms to conduct operation and technology road-mapping to identify how technology can help them innovate and compete. A*STAR will expand its efforts to support 400 companies over the next four years.

9. A*STAR Headstart Programme allows SMEs to co-develop Intellectual Property with A*STAR to enjoy royalty-free and exclusive licenses for 18 months in the first instance. In response to industry feedback, this will be extended to 36 months. For companies seeking access to intellectual property, Intellectual Property Intermediary, a SPRING affiliate, matches them with IP that meets their needs. It will work with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to analyse and bundle complementary IP from Singapore and overseas.

10. A*STAR Tech Access Initiative supports companies in the use of advanced machine tools for prototyping and testing, which may require costly specialised equipment. A*STAR will provide access to such equipment, user training and advice under this initiative.

11. The Government will commit up to $600 million for a new International Partnership Fund. The Fund will co-invest with Singapore-based firms to help them scale-up and internationalise, he explains. This could be game-changing for local companies looking to grow through acquisitions overseas.

12. SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative aims to groom Singaporean leaders by expanding leadership development programmes. This includes sending promising individuals on specialised courses and overseas postings. For a start, the programme will target 800 potential leaders over three years.

13. A Global Innovation Alliance will be set up for Singaporeans to gain overseas experience, build networks and collaborate with their counterparts in other innovative cities. It will have three programmes: Innovators Academy for tertiary students, Innovation Launchpads for entrepreneurs, and Welcome Centres for innovative foreign companies. The Alliance will be initially launched in Beijing, San Francisco and various ASEAN countries.

14. Increased accessibility of training for all Singaporeans. To enhance training that is more accessible, the Government will offer more short, modular courses, and expand the use of e-learning. Funding support for Singaporeans to take approved courses will continue to be available through SkillsFuture. In addition, union members can get subsidies for selected courses through the NTUC-Education and Training Fund. $150 million has been set aside to match donations to the Fund.

15. National Jobs Bank will be made more useful for jobseekers and employers, as it works with private placement firms to deliver better job matching services for professionals. Employers and Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) are also encouraged to develop training programmes for their workers and the industry so as to receive funding support from SkillsFuture Singapore.

16. Industry Transformation Maps brings together TACs, unions, and the Government to transform each sector. 23 sectors have been identified, covering 80 per cent of the economy. Six has been launched so far, and the remaining 17 will be launched in FY2017.

17. The Government will top up the National Research Fund by $500 million to support innovation efforts, while the National Productivity Fund will be topped up by another $1 billion to support industry transformation. $2.4 billion will be set aside over the next four years to implement the CFE strategies.

Not a one-size-fits-all approach

As Minister Heng laid out the measures for our economy and society, he mentioned that it is important for Singapore to take on a "learning and adaptive approach" - to try new methods, continue with them when they work well, cut losses when they do not, and draw on feedback and experience to adjust and refine the plans.

"That is the Singapore way", he added.

So this concludes the round-up of the most important announcements regarding SMEs and the startup ecosystem in Singapore.

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Spelling and grammar mistakes are aplenty on the internet.

For most of us, committing a boo-boo as such can be a slightly embarrassing affair (mostly drawing jibes from close friends), but for an account with a decent following, such errors can spell - pun intended - someone's job being put on the line for the slip of hand or mind.

Regardless, these very public mistakes are usually spotted by and harped on by netizens and publications alike, and most recently, Pentel Singapore was the new butt of jokes.

Two days ago, this Facebook post by the Singapore arm of the stationery-maker got much attention for all the wrong reasons.

Glaring grammatical errors aside, the post itself didn't conform to any definition of exciting, but it has since been shared 172 times so far, and covered by online publications like Mothership and SGAG (and now us as well).

The comments section is also rife with (pretty hilarious) jibes at the bad English, spurring Pentel Singapore themselves to address the situation:

Fair enough.

However, two days on, the mistake still mysteriously remains.

To give them the benefit of the doubt, let's just assume that they're not entirely active on their Facebook page (though they could have corrected the error when they posted the comment).

Not exactly.

While we appreciate that little plug for their erasers, there's yet another grammatical error in a post promising to not have any more of said errors.

And yes, the mistake on the 18 Feb post still remains as well.

But given that Pentel is (fortunately?) not a company whose main business is selling educational courses or anything that would require good grammar, their sales probably won't decline after this incident.

In fact, the buzz garnered by this fiasco might have actually drawn even more attention to their products than usual.

No one can really say for sure the exact intentions of their social media team (or even the lack of one), but hey, if they wanted hype - they certainly got it.

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25 hilarious mistakes made in news

Source:

Fashion label Raoul would have easily made the cut for this story, but it unfortunately closed the doors for its very last retail store in Paragon last February.

Owned by fashion and lifestyle group FJ Benjamin, Raoul was once considered one of Singapore's most promising fashion brands.

In its heyday, it had boutiques as far afield as Melbourne and London and became a beacon for the Singapore fashion industry in a market dominated by European fashion labels.

Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, is probably the brand's most high-profile customer. The Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing an outfit from Raoul's pre-fall 2012 collection when she visited Singapore that year, which triggered the 'Kate Effect'. Enquiries about the ensemble skyrocketed, with separates apparently sold on eBay for many thousands of dollars.

Despite its relative success, the brand has since decided to focus on its wholesale business in the United States and Europe. But who can blame them, when the retail climate in Singapore is so bad right now.

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No tenants, and no shoppers

Source:

With that said, we need to show our support for such firms in this tough time.

While it is obvious that everyone adores goodies from established global brands, our homegrown gems also deserve some love and recognition. Here are some companies that I bet you didn't know are born and bred in this little red dot.

1. Skin Inc

Korea has pretty much been touted as the unrivalled land of beauty and skin care products. But with the emergence of Skin Inc, I don't think having Singapore on the beauty map is a far-fetched idea in the long run.

Sabrina Tan, founder and CEO of Skin Inc, started the company because she wanted to find a solution to her eczema-prone skin. She soon bade goodbye to the IT industry and the six-figure annual salary she was drawing then, to work on developing paraben- and fragrance-free multipurpose products.

In fact, its range of customisable products have hit the shelves of Sephora stores in Singapore, Australia and the United States - and that is no mean feat!

2. TWG Tea Company

With its lavish decor that is reminiscent of Victorian accents and a fancy menu fronted by a French-sounding motto ("Grands Crus Prestige"), it is so easy to mistake TWG Tea as an atas company that hailed from France.

Also, the prominence of the year 1837 on its logo often led people into thinking that it refers to the company's establishment year. Apparently, the number refers to the year of free trading in Singapore when the Chamber of Commerce was established in Singapore instead. Tea trading was conducted by East Indian company monopoly until then.

Short for The Wellbeing Group, TWG launched its first Tea Salon & Boutique in August 2008 at Republic Plaza in Singapore. Fast forward nine years, the brand has come oolong way and has successfully made its mark on the world map, with over 50 tea salons and boutiques across 15 countries across the globe.

3. Banyan Tree

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is no stranger in the hospitality and spa industry. Synonymous with an all-pool villa concept and a tropical garden spa, the brand is founded by a married Singaporean couple, Ho Kwon Ping and Claire Chiang.

Since Ho had no prior experience in the hospitality industry, he roped in his architect brother's help to design his dream. Their first spa resort opened doors in 1995 with only seven staff members; and while it took 13 years for them to launch their second location, Banyan Tree has since experienced significant growth with over 9,000 employees today.

4. Strip and Browhaus

Under the wings of Spa Esprit Group, Strip and Browhaus are the go-to beauty salons in Singapore that can help to tame your hairy situation.

Founder Cynthia Chua took the trend of bikini waxes from New York, refined it, and successfully exported it back to the American city. She then started a chain that specialises in grooming eyebrows and eyelashes. Following this achievement, she took a very Asian practice - threading - and popularised it in the West, reversing what she did with Strip.

By the sweat of her brow (pun intended), Chua successfully expanded overseas, with over 68 salons in London, Hong Kong and Bangkok, just to name a few.

5. OSIM

With Asian superstar ambassadors like Andy Lau and Lee Min Ho fronting the brand, it's likely for people to think that OSIM belongs to a Chinese or Korean company. Actually headquartered in Singapore, this brand is focused on enhancing the experience of well-being by developing various healthy lifestyle products, such as its signature massage chairs.

According to founder and CEO of OSIM International, Ron Sim, the brand name is actually a combination of his surname ('Sim') and his desire to go global ('O'). A very apt name indeed, seeing how much the retailer has grown since its inception in 1993. It has now established 1196 outlets across 30 countries.

6. Akira

The name Akira undoubtedly sounds Japanese, so forgive me for thinking that the company originated from the Land of the Rising Sun. After all, aren't the Japanese renowned for its innovation and developing superior electronic goods?

Well, I guess the company did want to leverage on this conception since its brand name signifies brightness and the morning sunshine in Japanese.

Established in 1990, Akira is a local brand that caters mainly to the mass market, with a huge focus on the affordability and quality of the products. What's inspiring is that the brand actually had a very humble beginning with a portfolio of only 12 products; and over the years, it has proven its success by multiplying to more than 2,000 models.

7. Pedro

Personally, Pedro seems to me like an upscale version of fellow local brand Charles & Keith, stocking contemporary footwear, bags, and accessories for both men and women. With its exotic-sounding name, and the fact that it carries various leather goods, it's understandable for some to think that it is an Italian company.

Like its parent company, it has established itself successfully in both local and overseas markets, operating a total of 93 stores in countries like Kuwait, Morocco, Oman and Qatar.

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Brands that have left the Singapore retail scene

Source:

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Malaysia was recently caught up with the unfortunate news of 8 young boys aged from 13 to 17 passing away due to a tragic road accident. A 22-year-old woman had rammed her car into them while they were cycling. She couldn't brake in time and the victims were killed on the spot.

Many Malaysians had a lot of things to say about this. There were those who immediately found fault with the driver, claiming that she wouldn't have been able to mow down 8 cyclists if she wasn't already driving fast to begin with.

Read also: JB crash: Car driver out on police bail

There were those who placed fault on the guardians of these children, reprimanding them for allowing these young children to leave their home during odd hours and not monitoring their behaviour properly. Some have even suggested a punishment for guardians who allow their young children to roam the streets at night.

Read also : 8 teens dead after horror JB crash involving car and cyclists

There were also a fair few who brought up authorities and their stance on this. Some questioned on why there was no action taken if this was a problem to begin with.

This has led to a Facebook user by the name of Zulhazri Abu Bakar to share an opinion of a policeman on the matter. The post highlighted the efforts that the police force have taken before to stop these teenagers from cycling dangerously on the roads during late hours.

The policeman who wishes to remain anonymous speaks of other incidents prior to this. He says that these children were not just from the main Johor Bahru area but came in a group of 30 to 40 from areas such as Plentong, Pasir Putih, Masai, Tampoi, Kempas, Skudai, and Tiram. They were frequently seen not just once or twice but almost every weekend.

Read also: Horror JB crash: Driver a nice person, say neighbours

"It's not that we did not warn them, we have even used a megaphone to do so. Some of us have even lost our patience and threw their bicycles away not because of any ill intentions but as a reminder so they may feel afraid to repeat this dangerous act," said the post.

Unfortunately, he said it was all in vain as the children were not supervised properly by their parents.

The post also mentioned how the cyclists would react every time the authorities tried to stop them.

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8 teen cyclists dead after horror JB crash [Warning: Distressing images]

Source:

The StarTV screengrabs

"Whenever you headed over to them, they would start screaming and taunting the police by lifting their bikes to the opposite side of the road. This is how it was like usually," said the post.

To prove his point, there were two videos attached with the post depicting these teenagers cruising down the roads and doing dangerous acts where they would not have been able to steer away from danger if there was any. They also ignored the sirens of the police officer and kept cycling away.

The usual locations these children cycled at were not just at the shoulders of roads but also right in the middle.

Read also: Horror JB crash: 6 months for those involved in tragedy to recover, says shrink

He also listed a few hotspots around the area where you would catch them cycling around with no concern on their safety even though 95 per cent of their bicycles were middle-sized and had small tyres.

"With every warning, they continued to not heed our words. So when these incidents happen, who's to blame? Of course 50 per cent of us policemen are placed at fault for not taking the right action but where is the role of the parent or guardian that should have been more alert?" questioned the policeman.

He ended the post with saying that although he understood that young children would want freedom and have fun, parents should be monitoring their behaviour to not have this kind of incident repeated as most of these children are as young as 10.

The original post can be seen below:

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Just like in the years of Bush yonder past, Trump's inauguration to the office has become an orange goldmine for American comedians, especially those who have always taken a more political slant for their jokes like Trevor Noah, John Oliver and Stephen Colbert, among others.

And recently, a popular bit with these comedians is to imitate Trump's strange way of speaking, from his slow enunciation to his 'pinch and flail' hand gestures from his tiny hands.

So it stands to reason that, just in time for America's President Day, a video meme has been circulating the world that is still confused about how such a parody of a spoilt business tycoon managed to become the number 1 man in America right now.

This is the climate that this brand spanking new Malaysian take of the meme to come in.

Employing the ever popular and goodly tactic of a Trump imitation, the video is an open letter to the Trump Administration about how, of course America is first. America is the best country. The greatest. No other country can compare.

But the video argues that if America is first, then Malaysia should be second. Malaysians will helpfully carry a woman's bag, and she doesn't even need to ask.

Read also: After 'America first', satirical video outlines why it should be 'Singapore second'

Published on YouTube by The Ping Banter on the 20th of February, this ringing endorsement of Malaysia's beautiful culture and people only clocked in at 2K views when we checked yesterday, but as of time of writing it's already clocking in 16.7K views, and growing really fast. The fastest that you've ever seen. Fantastic.

The parody video is an expression of everything that makes Malaysia great, with particular focus on what would appeal to Trump's particular interests, as they have been publicised by the American media.

Malaysians are loving how relatable the open letter is, identifying with the points expressed in the video, and even praising the writing.

A parody of Trump's inauguration speech

The 'America First' policy by the Trump administration gained notoriety during Trump's inauguration, the second meme to have come from the event.

In the now infamous speech that Trump penned for himself, his first decree as President of The United States, Trump said that, "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward it is only going to be America first, America first."

This decree gained approval from other world leaders such as president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe.

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Trump sworn in as 45th US president

Source:

AFP

Reuters

However the Netherlands took a different point of view (make sure you turn on the subtitles).

As described by the channel on their video, "The whole world was watching for the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States: Donald J. Trump. Because we realise it's better for us to get along, we decided to introduce our tiny country to him. In a way that will probably appeal to him the most."

First aired on a weekly comedy show Zondag met Lubach, the team aims to showcase the beauty of Netherlands, filled with touristic pans of the beautiful views as a Trump impersonator expresses to Trump exactly why Netherlands is fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

And as Time has covered, other countries soon followed suit with #everysecondcounts, including clearly, Malaysia.

And the American-aware Malaysians are loving it.

Considering how one good viral video was how YouTubers such as Jinnyboy rose to fame, this parody may be Ping Banter's first step into internet stardom in Malaysia. Their content clearly resonates in Malaysia, and they were timely enough to take advantage of a good global meme.

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The term "millennial" is more often than not cast in a negative light.

Usually stereotyped to be flakey, idealistic and entitled, employers tend to be more wary of them, and there are some around me, while falling into the definition solely based on age, who refuse to be identified as 'the M word'.

"How dare you call me a millennial," quipped my friend-respondent, half seriously and half jokingly (but mostly seriously).

But the polarising feelings towards the term don't just appear out of nowhere - in research by recruitment agency Robert Half in 2015, the group is shown to be more prone to looking for a new job as compared to other more passive options when refused a pay raise from their bosses.

Said David Jones, senior managing director of Robert Half Asia Pacific, "The expectations of millennials are high because they are living in an age of low unemployment in Singapore. They expect a pay rise or a promotion as they are confident they can find employment elsewhere if their expectations are not met."

Sounds ironic, but the 'strawberry generation', while seen as flippant by employers, actually do have a rather sober view of working life.

A Millennial Careers: 2020 Vision survey conducted by ManpowerGroup Singapore found that 39 per cent of the millennials they surveyed expect to work past age 65, 22 per cent expect to work past age 70, and 14 per cent felt that they are likely to work until they die.

And as for job hopping - a trait commonly associated with the group, 50 per cent of those surveyed revealed that they would stay with their current employers for the next few years or longer. To be noted, though, is that millennials are still more likely to leave when they feel unsatisfied with their jobs.

Survey results also revealed that rather than being spoiled, they are actually working long, or even longer than those in other generations, with Singapore millennials clocking in an average of 48 work hours per week.

But while surveys can give us all the data in the world, what are millennials actually saying about what they deem as a deal breakers in a job? We spoke to a few and found out.

Read also: Higher salaries for university graduates from NUS, NTU and SMU in 2016

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How millennials are different from their parents

Source:

Singapore millennials speak out

(names have been changed for privacy purposes)

Maria, 26, Marketing Executive

"I will leave if I need and want to gain a new skill set at another company, in another position. I think that stagnation and feeling like I'm not learning anything is one of the main reasons why I'll be put off continuing with the company."

"Company culture is also important - if it's too rigid, uncaring, or it doesn't empower me to make me feel like I'm making a positive impact…that's a definite no-no."

Dylan, 29, Team Lead

"Call me weak, but I'll leave when the people and place are toxic. Work is busy as it is, but if you can't even rely on your team to help you fill in the gaps without feeling like you're being judged - that's when work becomes dreadful."

"Also when there are obvious freeloaders or colleagues who just do the jobs for the 'glory' around. It's very unfair to the colleagues I know who do the not so glamourous, but tedious work. So when I realise that the bosses are giving unfair promotions, that's when I'll consider if working in a place is worth it or not."

"But mostly, I quit when I start feeling like I spent my entire work day doing nothing I feel proud about."

Jane, 26, Analyst

"I'll quit because of the lack of support and guidance. I understand that I'm here to work, and self-improvement is something you work on, on your own, but with lack of support, there's no way I would stay."

"I can learn things on my own, but no one can get somewhere without people telling you where you went wrong. I know we have to find our own ways to learn, but when we already do, and are already implementing what we learn in our jobs, we want honest feedback not some cursory "Oh it's good."."

"I don't want self-validation. I want constructive feedback. I'd rather hear it from my boss, not my client. We have to work TOGETHER to find ways to get there, not throw the "millennial" new jobs to do and ask them to figure out on their own because "opportunity"."

Emma, 25, PR Executive

"Boss, pay, and no time for myself. It's so important to have bosses you can get behind, whether it be in terms of ability or character. The two characteristics rarely come together, so you have to decide what you value more and make your decision based on that."

Read also: How millennials are changing the world of work

Ferdinand, 28, Arts Manager

"I think that a sense of ownership in what I do and the ability to make decisions is quite important to me. I would also quit to take a break. I'm very aware that work-life balance will always be a struggle so quitting is an extreme, but at my previous company, I felt I really needed to focus on my own well-being again, to like tip the work life struggle more to the life side, for a while."

"Oh, I would also quit if the people working with me are unfriendly, unsupportive and mean."

Andrew, 27, Marketing Executive

"Generally, I leave my job because I'm looking for growth and for experience. I'll leave if both are lacking. But if both are fulfilled, then I'll be looking at monetary benefits and increments."

Ziyi, 25, In Between Jobs

"It's quite hard to say in general why I'd leave a job, because I feel I'd take into account many different factors before resigning. But some reasons I've seen ex-colleagues leave is finding another position that is more in line with their interests, career goals and also personal reasons."

Nelson, 28, Supervisor

"The lack of progression, management issues, overly long work hours - these are some of the reasons why I'll quit my job. Also, if the pay isn't decent enough. While it might sound a bit flippant, I have also considered quitting my job to pursue my interests!"

Anthony, 27, Assistant Director

"When a manager lacks knowledge, and can't guide me. Also when there seems to be no direction in the company, and if it doesn't operate in line with my belief system. Or, on a more positive side, I'll quit when I want to discover or pursue what I "truly" want to do."

Quendra, 26, Marketing and Comms Executive

I'd leave because I don't seem to be held to the same standards as my colleagues who have children or romantic commitments. If I'm requested to stay back after work, there's not really a good reason I have, and it seems like leaving exactly on time is taboo.

It seems like if I don't have a child, or if I don't look a certain age that makes it look like family is my priority, then I can't leave on time without getting a smear on my reputation. If I have something on with my friends, that appears to rank lower than family, when, truthfully, I don't need to give a reason at all - "I have something on" should be good enough.

Oh, and people are so fearful of authority. I think it's inefficient, and very often, someone higher up makes a passing comment about something, and the next thing you know, "Let's not have an opening speech", and "Let's have no speeches".

People fly to make decisions just to please someone instead of consulting with all the parties that have a stake in something, or, even questioning the rationale of the passing comment. The thing is, higher management are still human beings, and most of them I've interacted with will listen to you, and they aren't unreasonable.

It's just this.. is the word silos? That. It's very inefficient and slows everything down because I need to re-explain why we're currently doing things the way we are doing it, and we don't have a better option at the moment.

I like people to talk and behave like human beings, and interact with each other like human beings, not like gods that walk the earth.

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Millennials at work

Source:

What are some of the common gripes?

No growth, no guidance and bad company culture - these reasons constantly came up in the conversations I had, and I couldn't help but agree as well.

The problem isn't that millennials are spoiled and entitled - they simply have different priorities. For millennials, hard work is not an issue, but whether or not their efforts are contributing to something greater - be it their career, or some 'larger' purpose that they believe in - is what makes them stay or leave.

It's not a purely 'millennial' problem, it's just an inevitable part of a generation gap.

Soon enough, millennials will move on to be bosses themselves, and it won't be surprising if the new batch of employees will also have other negative traits thrown at them.

Time will tell.

Read also: Millennials at work

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Photo Gallery

Spending habits of millennials in Singapore

Source:

The Business Times

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It's a well-known fact that Singaporeans lead a fast-paced and hectic life. We are perpetually impatient and always rushing - to the office, to catch the train, or even to 'chope' a seat at our regular lunch spot.

So even a five-minute downtime can be seen as a luxury to most of us. Anything that can help us save time (and money) are much welcomed, so we've compiled a list of some easy tech-savvy hacks that can make your life a wee bit more bearable and convenient.

You can thank us later.

1. Scour For Cheap Flights

There are seven long weekends in Singapore this year, which makes for a perfect excuse to go for a quick getaway.

Here's a trick: Delete your browser cookies, or go incognito to get cheaper flight (and hotel) deals. Ticket prices tend to go up when you visit travel sites multiple times.

2. Get Promo Codes For Your Next Uber/Grab/Taxi Ride

Two National University of Singapore (NUS) undergrads have developed a genius platform for Singaporeans to discover ongoing promo codes from Uber, Grab and taxi companies (mostly Comfort DelGro).

Using just Facebook Messenger, save your time on Google-ing and get the promo codes you need on a single platform!

3. Prevent Your Cords From Fraying

Apple's charging cords for iOS and Mac devices tend to fray after a few years (or months) of wear, which is really frustrating because buying a new one isn't exactly cheap.

Instead of spending money every few years to replace them, you can actually prevent cord fraying and breakage by using a spring. Simply remove the spring from a ballpoint pen, stretch it by pulling both ends, and then twist onto cord as you would attach a key to a metal ring.

4. World's Cheapest Amplifier

So you've got a few friends over at your place and the conversation is flowing, but you still need some music playing in the background to up the vibe. The easiest way to crank up your smartphone's speaker volume is by placing it in an empty cup (works efficiently for morning alarms too).

Definitely a life hack that's low on effort and high on impact.

5. Going Dutch

Splitting lunch bills with your friends can be a very tricky thing, especially when there are small and big eaters in the group. For those who just can't be bothered to do the Maths, use bill-splitting app Divvy to do the work for you.

Just snap a photo of the bill, drag each item to the person who ordered it, and see how much everyone owes. It's that easy!

6. Test Dead Batteries

If you don't know if a battery is charged, simply drop it on a hard surface.

Batteries that no longer have full power capacity or are almost dead will bounce a lot, while fully-charged batteries will only bounce once or stop completely.

7. Find Your Car In A Parking Lot

I'm sure there has been numerous occasions when you can't seem to locate your car in a parking lot (or worse still, a multi-storey carpark). Don't sweat it and try holding the remote to your chin, with mouth slightly open, to increase the range of the remote signal.

This does sound a little silly, but apparently it works!

8. Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength

If your home router suffers from a poor Wi-Fi signal, you can easily boost the connection (to acceptable levels at least) with just a few pieces of aluminium foil.

Fold them into a parabola shape and place it on top of your router. This reflects some waves and can increase the effectiveness of your router. Cutting up an empty beer works just as well too.

9. Say No To ERP (aka Everyday Ripoff People)

Get smart and plan your route with gothere.sg. With the app, you can check if your trip from destination A to B will incur any ERP charges. If so, you can utilise the 'minimise ERP' option to see if there's a cheaper route.

You can also click on the ERP gantries on the map to view ERP charges for various times of the day.

10. Printing When The Ink Is Running Low

Running really low on printer ink but need that document right now? Change the font colour to #010101, which is 99 per cent grey. It is also said that certain fonts take up less ink than others.

For example, Century Gothic takes up less ink than Arial. Other fonts that have low ink usage include Times New Roman and Calibri. There is even a font called Ecofont with tiny holes punched into the characters to reduce ink wastage whilst still maintaining readability.

So there you have it, 10 nifty life-changing hacks that can save you both time and money. I'm sure this list is just the tip of an iceberg and that there are plenty of other tech-oriented hacks around.

Since good things must be shared, don't forget to share with us some of your hacks in the comments section below!

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Melissa Lim was thumbing through her Instagram feed when a whimsical illustration caught her eye.

It was a hand-drawn picture of architects, teachers, writers, you name it, with the words "Powerful People" on its header.

Melissa felt a tumultuous tug on her heartstrings - but what hit home was the black-haired girl at the bottom right corner.

It had the words: "Women who keep fighting for what's right".

She reposted the picture right there and then.

"Female empowerment is something close to my heart," the entrepreneur says.

LadyBoss, Charlie's Angels-esque

When Jacqueline Yeo, a fellow entrepreneur, brought up the idea of starting a women-centric community, Melissa knew it was something she needed to be a part of.

A natural in marketing, Melissa relishes in dreaming up creative marketing ideas.

This new initiative was an opportunity for her to put both of her passions - female empowerment and marketing - to great use.

She was game.

The pair, together with Liyana Stuart, launched LadyBoss, a digital magazine and online portal with a queenly quest: to empower and inspire women entrepreneurs and leaders in Asia.

The formation of LadyBoss brings Charlie's Angels to mind.

Only in this case, instead of three nimble private investigators - it's a group of three high-flyers with a brilliant business acumen.

Right from the beginning, Melissa knew they were onto something momentous.

Here was a community that rallies behind women trailblazers and nurtures sisterhood.

The timing couldn't be more fitting.

"We had first-hand experience that being a woman entrepreneur is a lonely journey. Women should not have to work in solos," she says.

Life Is As Interesting As You Want To Make It

Melissa's sentiment on working in a supportive community echoes a famous African proverb ("If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.").

It was also borne out of a personal experience.

A decade ago, Melissa was an uneasy teenager who often spent her days brooding over living a purpose-driven life.

"I wondered a lot about my purpose since I was a teenager. I was miserable even though I lived a comfortable life. As the years went by, I realised it was up to me to take charge," she shares.

Years passed and she soon discovered her remedy to living with intention.

Hint: it's got to do with her love for business.

But you probably know that already.

After graduating with a degree in marketing and management, Melissa started getting her feet wet at her mother's small business.

She worked her way up.

After craving for a change of scenery, the then 25-year-old moved to Yangon, Myanmar to start her own online retail store.

It was Melissa's first proper venture; she described it as "a crash course on entrepreneurship".

Many would have labelled the abrupt relocation to Yangon as a quarter-life crisis, but Melissa begged to differ.

"It worked out well because life became exciting and fulfilling from then on," she says.

Having initiative and creating a life on her own terms paid off.

Back To Singapore

After a year of living in Yangon, Melissa was ready to move back to Singapore to take on a new challenge.

Before long, she, along with Jonathan Lee, co-founded BiTS, a business intelligence tech startup.

BiTS Singapore team

Whatever made her launch a startup like BiTS?

"SMEs in Singapore are in dire need to keep up with the times and we can't afford to watch them deteriorate as they are the backbone of our economy," Melissa insists.

"Manpower costs are so high in Singapore and these businesses could definitely use some help with automation of mundane, repetitive tasks. Employees will then have more time to do meaningful work," she adds.

Remember the business acumen mentioned early in the article? As the interview glides by, it's becoming clearer why Melissa's started BiTS and LadyBoss with her co-founders.

The marketing gigs and business opportunities she's taking on are adding up to a big life change in her career.

Sisterhood Of Women Entrepreneurs

Despite the footprint women entrepreneurs have left on the world, it's impossible to underestimate the enraged elephant in the room - the stigma around women entrepreneurship is dreadfully apparent, especially in a country like Singapore.

"Someone told me that women shouldn't be too ambitious or capable. Men would be intimidated and would not want to marry you. It may sound absurd but these are real issues that local women face. That said, I have met many women entrepreneurs who have very supportive husbands!"

The entrepreneurial marathon is an anxiety-ridden journey.

Coupled that with the double standards, it looks like there's an awful long way to go.

Melissa hopes that LadyBoss can help put the stigma to rest and cultivate a group where women can have each other's back.

"Our latest event had three panelists who have built million-dollar businesses. We want local women to have role models to look up to. Our previous event revolved around the theme of 'Passion to Profit'. We want to show women that it's possible to love what you do and build a profitable business based on your passions."

"An Ukrainian woman came up to me and said she enjoyed our panel discussion. She realised she doesn't have to be someone special to be successful. All she have to do is put in the hard work. This is exactly what we want our entrepreneurs to take away from our events," Melissa says.

It's definitely empowering to see women joining forces when the going gets tough and proving stereotypes wrong, and is surely a sight to behold.

The fire in Melissa's soul ignites and nothing's going to smother the flames.

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It's getting harder to care for the battery health of your smartphone. For phones, tablets, and laptops, gone are the days where we can just simply replace the battery if it became damaged due to bad charging habits.

Batteries in all these devices are now sealed in, and unless you are technically sound, you wouldn't want to pry open your devices without specialist equipment.

The rise of thin and light devices also means that doing repairs on them will burn a hole in your wallet so many times that you will rather get an entirely new device.

In that light, you will want to ensure that any new tech you buy lasts as long as possible. While phones are something we change so very often, our larger devices like tablets and laptops are the ones that we expect to last at least 5 years or more.

Ensuring the longevity of your phone battery

There's a lot of conflicting advice on the web that details what you should and should not do with regard to charging habits.

Well, the first thing you should know is that the old ways which you are advised back when you got your first Nokia isn't relevant anymore.

1. Do not Deep Discharge regularly

Deep Discharge Cycle - this is a process of draining your batteries completely before charging it back up again to full, and is something you definitely should not do. A full charge cycle is counted as the time your battery goes from 100 per cent to 0 per cent, and letting your phone die will mean you've used up one cycle.

The Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer batteries that are found in most modern devices will actually get damaged if you keep doing this.

That's not to say that you shouldn't do a deep discharge either. Experts recommend doing it at least once a month to 'calibrate' your battery and to ensure accurate charge measurements.

2. Do not charge until 100 per cent

While we are on the topic of charging your devices from 0 per cent to 100 per cent, do not top up your battery to the brim. Instead, unplug anywhere after 80 per cent.

You should already know by now that you should be using certified chargers and cables with your devices to prevent any mishaps. A combination of that and the circuitry in your devices will (mostly) prevent overcharging, and protect your battery.

While that may be true, it is still not a good idea to charge your devices all the way.

Also, it is not a good idea to let your phone die at 0 per cent either. Your phone only has a finite amount of charge cycles and every time you go down to 0, that's one more cycle added, and one step down the lifespan of your battery.

3. Do not overheat

The process of charging will inadvertently involve some heat being exchanged and for the thin and light devices of the modern age, and that heat is definitely a problem.

An excess of heat is often associated with the performance of a device being affected, and this includes the damaging of the battery as well. Certain phone cases will also compound the heat, so if you have one on, it'll be best to remove it when charging.

The same can be said about the other end of the spectrum, as extremely cold temperatures are also bad for your device. Apple recommends a temperature of 32° C or less.

4. Trickle charge, don't fast charge

You brand new phone may be touting this new feature called "fast charging" promising to give you a day's worth of up-time in just 15 minutes - but honestly, it's best not to use it often.

While charging technology has evolved rapidly, the batteries that are being charged have largely remained the same in the last decade. If at all possible, it's better to use something like a 1A charger to plug into your phone to charge over an hour or two.

Of course the arrival of USB Type-C seeks to change all these offering even faster charge times at higher values, but still it's best to go low.

5. Switch off your devices

In a connected world that is constantly online 24/7, it's easy to take for granted that our devices need some time off too.

Switching your phone off once a week can do wonders to ensuring the health of its battery, and helping to maintain its efficiency and charge capacity.

6. Leave half a charge if you're not using it frequently

Some of us will have a spare phone, or a tablet and laptop that we use infrequently. For these devices, it is recommended that you keep them at least half charged.

Keeping it 0 per cent will in the long term render the battery incapable of holding a proper charge. At the other end, keeping the device fully charged can actually make the battery lose some of its maximum capacity, leading to shorter battery life.

7. You do not have to charge your new device for 8 hours

This is something that until today, I still hear salespeople telling their customers in stores.

Devices with lithium based batteries (a norm for consumer products these days) can be used right out of the box because as you've read above, they will have a minimum 50 per cent charge so that they can be kept on the shelf.

Frankly, anyone will be guilty of at least one of the above offences, and in the context of today's capitalist world, our bad habits would probably be of little impact since we go through multiple mobile devices over the course of 2 to 3 years.

Even then, batteries failing after a year of bad management is still a possibility, so it can't hurt to have some best practices until your phone line is ripe for a re-contract.

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Last year, this "International Number Ones" map hailed Singapore as having the world's "Healthiest People". Although we (surprisingly) did not manage to claim the namesake of "Best at Mathematics and Sciences", the financial burden that comes with owning a car made me feel that we probably should have been #1 at "Car Costs".

According to financial literacy site DollarsandSense, there are many factors compounding car costs in Singapore, from the vehicle's open market value to the infamous COE.

We spoke to 10 Singaporean drivers to get more insights on how they manage these costs. Our savvy drivers range from their early twenties to forties, with more than a year's experience behind the wheel. Their vehicles include a Kia Koup, Mercedes C180, Honda Jazz and Honda Airwave.

Singaporean drivers spend $200 a month on average on petrol

While the average monthly fuel spend is approximately $200, our drivers claim the figure can range between $80 to $800, depending on the intensity and frequency of driving. Factor in running costs such as road tax, insurance, service and repair, ERP and parking, and the amount spent on cars can easily shoot up another few hundred.

As a non-driver, these numbers gave me a good insight into the costs of car ownership here. Fortunately, our drivers have some street-smart tips to share on ow they save money along the way.

Read also: No nonsense explanation on why cars in Singapore are so expensive

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Photo Gallery

More women in Singapore driving flashy cars

Source:

The Business Times

Juliana Tan

Tip 1 - Learn to do your own maintenance

Find yourself frequently surprised by warning lights flashing on the dashboard?

Regular maintenance is crucial to extending the vehicle life and avoiding hefty repairs down the road. Always refer to the owner's manual for recommended service schedules (by experts), tyre pressure, and optimal petrol grades to ensure you're getting what your car needs.

One resourceful driver relies on simple self-maintenance to help keep workshop visits more affordable. More skilled than the average motorist, he changes blown headlight bulbs and tackles new air filter installations on his own, guided by car manual instructions. These ad-hoc tasks may help you to accumulate savings towards the occasional good meal out, but should definitely be approached with caution. When in doubt, leave it to the experts.

Washing and vacuuming your own car was another practical tip, helping you save at least $11 each time. However, if this doesn't quite rev your engine, industry experts suggest looking out for promotions at nearby service stations which offer professional washes at discounted rates, or through loyalty point redemptions.

Tip 2 - Don't buy (useless) trinkets

We all know that one person who decks out their rides with things showcasing their individuality. The unnecessary weight not only impacts your ride's fuel efficiency, but can also come at a darker cost.

One driver shares how his parents have a passion for miniature soft toys on the dashboard. These became a safety hazard during a hard braking episode, when one or two offenders found their way near the gas pedal - increasing the chances of frightening consequences in an emergency.

Lesson: leave the assassin bunny on the store shelf.

Tip 3 - Pooling your ride

With the rise of third-party private car services like Grab and Uber, drivers interested in turning a quick buck can consider joining carpool services along their travel routes. One surveyed driver dabbled in carpooling services a while back, earning about a hundred dollars extra a week.

If rider horror stories are leaving you less enthused about becoming a carpool driver, updated sharing options may change your mind.

Tip 4 - Cards and gas station memberships

Our drivers fuelled-up across various oil company brands. Their go-to tip was pairing loyalty cards with credit card deals for maximised savings.

For example, 3 drivers use credit cards such as OCBC 365 at Caltex service stations for attractive fuel savings. One appreciates how pairing fuel purchases with a Plus! loyalty card gave her the added flexibility to use LinkPoint rebates for grocery shopping or future Caltex fuel purchases.

Caltex's partnership with Plus! also helps motorists stretch their dollar by accumulating LinkPoints from fuel and non-fuel purchases alike towards savings on petrol, Caltex car washes, daily necessities, travel and dining.

Interestingly, one driver notes that such loyalty card pairings also contributed towards more affordable premium fuels. As such, higher-end cars didn't necessarily require a pricier tag for quality fuels. Only one driver plays it safe with numerous loyalty cards, and likely, various credit cards. Always handy.

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6 items S'poreans who want to save money shouldn't buy in S'pore

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Driving doesn't need to be that expensive

Managing car costs in Singapore need not be a pricey habit… well, maybe not that pricey.

Although I would certainly not be jumping at the chance to get a car of my own just to take advantage of these cost-saving tips, there is always something to learn about reducing costs no matter your level of driving experience.

What are some of your money-saving tips as a driver? Let us know!

Read also: Most underestimate costs of owning a car

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