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5 ways the Polestar 2 Core Edition proves less can be more

With a less-is-more approach, the Polestar 2 Core Edition offers a more value-for-money entry into the Swedish brand.  What first comes to mind when you think of Sweden? IKEA, and probably ABBA. But there's plenty more that has come out of Sweden besides flat-pack furniture, meatballs and impossibly-catchy pop songs. Founded as a standalone brand just eight years ago and headquartered in Torslanda, Sweden, Polestar is a design-forward electric performance brand that wants to put its Sc

clarencegi75

clarencegi75

Curry does not exist?

Curry. When many of us think of Indian food, we naturally think of curry.  Except, well, 'curry' isn't actually a thing. Not the word, and not even technically the food that we think of.  Many of us probably think of curry as some sort of dish that has a gravy or sauce. But that is in fact a generalisation of a wide variety of Indian dishes, and also a decidedly Western invention intrinsically tied to India's Colonial past. 'Curry' as a word doesn't actually exist in the languages spok

bobthemob

bobthemob

Why oolong tea could be the superior drink of choice at lunch

Coffee - without sugar! - has long been (and still is) my go-to option to accompany my lunch. Amidst a larger 2025 goal of reducing the number of cups of kopi-o kosong I gulp down a week, however, I’ve recently thought about how my lunch experience can be switched up slightly with yet another sugarless drink: A can, or indeed bottle of oolong tea. Oolong tea is said to offer a perfect balance of flavour and functionality - perfect not just for complementing one's meal but also reinvigo

donutdontu

donutdontu

Forget the Future - Embrace the Past

Ah, the future. That shiny, chrome-plated paradise we're all supposed to be chasing. Well, I say bollocks to that. Let's take a cheeky detour down memory lane instead, shall we? Imagine you're lounging in a velvet smoking jacket, sipping brandy from a crystal snifter, surrounded by dusty tomes and antique globes. Sounds rather spiffing, no? That's because old is gold, methinks. While everyone else is frantically scrolling through their social media feeds, we'll be gleefully embracing t

clarencegi75

clarencegi75

The Music that Shaped Me, Pt. 2

Note: If you’ve stumbled onto this post without any context, do read Pt. 1 here first! It is said that the average person’s music taste starts to solidify early on in their adult lives, and by their early 30s they will begin to say things like “Music was better in my day”, “>insert your favourite artist or genre< is not real music”, something to that effect. Of course, I am speaking generally. With four more years to go till I hit 30, I’d like to think I try to expand my tastes o

hollowataraxia

hollowataraxia

Less caffeine leads to more dreams

There's nothing like a double espresso to kickstart your morning, especially if it's extracted from medium- or dark-roasted beans. What a tasty way to begin the day. I enjoy coffee, but I'm not a caffeine addict so it's not a must for me to consume. In fact, lately, I've only been drinking it once or twice a week - doing this ensures that when I do drink it (to power my way through a hectic day), the caffeine kick will be well and truly felt. I did not stop drinking coffee thrice a day

jeresinex

jeresinex

Germany is weird, too

As we've previously established and regularly highlighted, Japan is pretty weird.  And as it turns out, Germany's kinda weird, too:  m2-res_720p.mp4 The above video has been making its rounds on social media, and the simplest description of it is that it's a game where they are trying to cut an object (here, a pretzel) EXACTLY in half. It's pretty amazing that the person actually succeeds, but the fact that this is a game at all (on TV, no less) is fascinating.  Schlag d

bobthemob

bobthemob

Financial literacy starts with learning to be content

We've all experienced making a bad financial decision at some point in our lives. Perhaps it was an impulse buy or a celebratory splurge on something we didn't need or have a use for. But the worst kind of bad financial decision is one that's made for the purpose of keeping up with others in your work, social, or family circle/s. Even if the item is useful, acquiring it just to 'stay current' is not a good use of your money. I think we can all agree on this. Photo: Engin Akyurt,

jeresinex

jeresinex

An egg-shaped planet

For some unexplained reason, I have been on a bit of a astronomy/science-fiction binge lately, having tumbled down yet one more Youtube rabbit hole. Having also recently watched Mickey 17, 'other worlds' have been on my mind.  Now, beyond my love for science fiction and occasional forays onto the Internet, my astronomical knowledge is limited at best. I was playing around with a fascinating online visualiser (Solar System Scope), and just from randomly clicking around the solar system i stu

bobthemob

bobthemob

Japan is weird. I love it (Part 8)

When you think of snow, I think its only natural to think about snowballs. And I'm sure everyone that has ever experienced snowfall would have grabbed a handful and chucked it at their nearest friend.  Of course, trust the Japanese to turn it into a sport. Yukigassen, which translates to 'snow battle'.  In concept, yukigassen doesn't actually sound all that complicated. It's basically a mix of capture-the-flag and dodgeball, except with snowballs. Kids all around the world ha

bobthemob

bobthemob

Not sure if I'm getting old, but grocery shopping's getting enjoyable

I've recently noticed that late-night grocery shopping has become an activity that I enjoy from time to time. It kind of started when friends suggested to meet at the carpark of Tampines Giant Hypermarket for a chatting session (I know, car guys are weird) - I figured that since I was there, I might as well just pop in and buy some stuff for breakfast (Giant has some of the most affordable and tasty Croissants). Gradually, I realised that it is quite enjoyable to grocery shop late at

Mycarforum makes a visit to Zeekr!

All who joined us at the latest Mycarforum hangout with Zeekr got to learn more about the leading safety features and design elements of the new Zeekr X! Shopping for a new electric crossover is fast becoming a difficult task: It seems as if a new option is entering our market every other week. But the lucky few who joined us on the evening of 27 February 2025 should have an easier time picking out their next car. This latest iteration of the Mycarforum hangout saw a total of 39 Mycarf

clarencegi75

clarencegi75

The art of doing nothing?

Here’s a quick fun fact for those who’ve sworn themselves entirely off TikTok, out of the fear of having to run yet another social media account: You don’t actually need to log in to the app to scroll it. Quite incredibly (but also quite scarily), the platform’s algorithm is still able to curate an incredible array of videos that it thinks will make you want to keep scrolling. And for this existential-crisis-ridden 28-year old, it’s decided to feed videos more along the 'self-help’ route re

donutdontu

donutdontu

Fascinated by honey

If there's one natural food (aka can be eaten raw) that I absolutely love, it's honey. Yes, there are countless varieties from around the world, but for this story, we'll talk about the kind that comes straight out of a hive, complete with honeycomb. I'm not an expert on this topic, but every time I consume raw, unprocessed honey, it tastes a lot better compared to honey that comes in a jar. No squeeze-bottle honey for me, please. Perhaps it's just my imagination, but raw honey doesn't

jeresinex

jeresinex

Japan: The trend that became a turn-off

Ahh Japan. The destination that many travellers desire. The perennial trending subject on social media. Japanese cuisine, culture, quirks, technology, and everything kawaii have inspired endless posts, stories, reels, YouTube videos, and TikToks. If one didn't know better, you'd think it was the dream destination on this planet. While I love the food, the service and the shopping, the sheer number of tourists (me included) has become a turn-off. I'm not talking about those who inconven

jeresinex

jeresinex

Journey to the West: First Steps in Southwestern China, Pt. 2

Note: Click here to read Pt. 1, where the journey began in Hong Kong. NEXT UP: CHONGQING Day 3, cont.: Dad had decided on the scenic route to Chongqing - train. We did not realise that the immigration process at the Hong Kong Kowloon West station involved both the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, so we found ourselves in a rush to board the train (we boarded minutes before the scheduled departure). Through the eight-hour journey, the passing sights made me realise the diversity

hollowataraxia

hollowataraxia

What to expect at the new Audi House of Progress Singapore

The new Audi House of Progress Singapore is a brand new retail space that promises to deliver elevated experiences. The new Audi House of Progress Singapore is the German marque's brand new flagship retail space, combining retail opportunities with customer-centric experiences. With the brand transitioning to a direct-to-consumer sales model, the House of Progress represents the definitive touchpoint where guests can get up close and personal with the Audi brand. But, this is no simple

bobthemob

bobthemob

Journey to the West: First Steps in Southwestern China, Pt. 1

It used to be that when a person was visiting China for the first time, the natural choice was Beijing. No better way to learn about a country than a visit to its capital, amirite? Having had their fill of Peking duck and climbed the Great Wall of China, the next places they would likely look at are those on the east coast - Shanghai, Nanjing, perhaps Harbin. In recent times though, the southwestern parts of China have gotten much coverage on social media. Chongqing, the country’s largest c

hollowataraxia

hollowataraxia

Japan is weird. I love it (Part 7)

Ok, the title might be slightly misleading, but there is still a Japan-link.  So, pufferfish. Specifically, a wikipedia entry called Pufferfish mating ritual.  Long story short, one particular species of pufferfish make complex geometric circles in the sand to attract a mate. And this particular species is found only in Japan.  It's beautiful. It's bizarre. And it's absolutely amazing.  From the wikipedia entry: In a 2014 documentary by the BBC, narrator David Atten

bobthemob

bobthemob

Armored MMA

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a brutal sport that, in recent decades, has grown to significant prominence.  Whatever you make of the sport (and the often complicated and sometimes problematic climate that swirls around it), there's no denying its popularity, driven in large part by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) brand - a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise.  But if partially-clothed men/women beating the s*it out of each other is not quite your thing, may I interest you in

bobthemob

bobthemob

Japan is weird. I love it (Part 6)

Fireflies. Not a topic I think about often, if at all, but here we are.  On a recent podcast episode, I learnt that the light that fireflies emit is nearly 100% efficient. That's amazing (nature generally is). And it is precisely the study of fireflies (and their light) that has allowed the development of more efficient LED lights.  On a whim, I did a bit of extra Googling, and lo and behold, Japan pops up once more, with yet another culturally-unique eccentricity.  In Japan, ther

bobthemob

bobthemob

We happy few, we Band of Brothers

It is safe to say that one way or another, the majority of Singaporean men have served their country. Be it sleeping in the jungles of Mandai, walking the beat on the streets of Clarke Quay on New Year’s Eve, or putting out fires (literally) clad in heavy protective gear, most local and naturalised male citizens have given up, as the song goes, “two years of our time”. But many have differing views of National Service. Some see it as a hindrance, a waste of time. Some see it as an opportuni

chrissyc

chrissyc

The Music that Shaped Me, Pt. 1

Some of my colleagues will know that I make electronic music outside of work and school. A stark contrast from the impression I give off (several people throughout my teenage years told me I seemed more like a classical guy). Truth be told, I wasn’t always into music. Growing up in an average Singaporean Chinese household, my main sources were either the sporadic exposure to radio stations, or more frequently the theme songs of whatever was playing on KidsCentral/Okto (RIP free-to-air kids

hollowataraxia

hollowataraxia

Zebras

On a recent podcast episode, this hilarious nugget of information was brought up: "Zebras have the loudest farts".  What.  I have spent some time Googling this, and I cannot yet definitely verify the accuracy of this statement. But there is some scientific basis to it - zebras are hindgut fermenters, and there's a whole bunch of biology behind it but the important takeaway is that yes, zebras fart plenty. This also explains their 'bum-heavy' shape, similar to cows, horses, el

bobthemob

bobthemob

When suppressed feelings arise

"Don't keep it bottled up inside" is a saying many of us are familiar with. By now, most of us are aware that ignoring your emotions is an unhealthy practice. Yet many of us do it anyway. I don't think I'm particularly stoic, but as I get older, I've realised that I do tend to not express how I'm feeling, and that this practice has led to anxiety. One example of this happened just a few weeks ago. Prior to this year's Motor Show, I had trouble sleeping. I would keep waking up with my m

jeresinex

jeresinex

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