It's Closed

And for good. That's right, even a key tenant like 3Harvey Norman has finally succumbed to sky-high rents and rock-bottom sales at the favvy haunt of Leslie and Gail. (It rhymes?) What to do? When you gotta go, you gotta go. Let's hope FEO didn't make things too difficult for them.

X-stitch

"Must rush out this piece of embroidery before Jie & Fen's espousal."

Proud Lion

Why are Temasekians so aloof and unfriendly? Well, it dates way back to the Sang Nila Utama times when the Palembang prince chanced upon this dao haw on his hunting trip. Good thing he didn't name our island Singaprouda.

Will Seafood Prices Go ↑?

Now that Henry Quek, Managing Director of Far Ocean Sea Products and President of the Seafood Industries Association Singapore, has recklessly lost an unprecedented $26 million at the gambling tables playing Baccarat, are the retail prices of swordfish and tuna likely to go up, up, up?

Yoko Yoko

As if my ongoing flu isn't bad enough, I have to also suffer from a stiff, sore neck - resulting in a nagging migraine that can't be easily 'shaken off'. Sign of old age? Here enters my pocket-sized Yoko Yoko by Ammeltz®, which more or less helps to soothe away some of those muscular aches. Pains be gone!

Burn at Your Own Risk

That is, if you're not afraid of 土 地 公 rising from the earth and whacking your ka chng with his wooden staff.

Voyage de la Vie

So this is what Singapore Idol first runner-up Jonathan Leong (above, with guitar) has been up to since the 2006 competition – performing the lead role of 'The Boy' in Resorts World Sentosa's theatrical rock circus. What do his family, friends and fans (who call themselves 'Jonatics') make of it? Apart from singing and dancing, will the skilled fencer also show off some of his fancy strokes?

'New' Kettle

It's back to the 'Stone Age' for now as our Mistral hot water pot died on us and had to be replaced by an older fashioned Aerogaz electric kettle with a heating coil/element inside. As long as Mom can make her morning coffee and Hogan can lean his head against...

Nautisk Forlag

The name itself doesn't even sound English (it's actually Norwegian). In an information that nobody asks for, Nautisk Forlag is one of the leading worldwide distributors of nautical charts and publications in addition to flags, log books, signage, safety lighting, training software...wow, this stuff is as dry as unmoisturized skin!

Was It an Elephant?

Does this well-captured photograph of an ele-phant swimming in a lake answer our long-standing question pertaining to the possible existence of a Loch Ness Monster in Scotland (whereby Ellie's trunk & head = Nessie's neck & back, respectively)? Can the Met confirm this?

The Wizard of Oz - The Board Game

Betcha didn't know there's a family board game version of this 1939 MGM classic, huh? Me neither. There's Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow - and even a Yellow Brick Road to boot! For ages 6 and above, whether or not you're staying in Kansas. Printed in three-strip Technicolor. Roll the dice!

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa

Can this syrupy concoction of natural herbs, loquat and honey extracts help cure me of my phlegmy cough? Or do I really hafta shell out a steep $56 to consult with Dr. Karen Oh?

The Peddler

Just when ya thought a post-Tioman Wenjun couldn't get any busier trying to expand his push-cart (children's books) business in Suntec, the eligible bachelor reveals he's now peddling music CDs - and even sold one to Sylvester Sim!

Next Month...

Noisy and crash-prone fast cars will be vrooming back to town once again from September 24-26 for the 3rd F1 night race. This time, the main attraction will be a state-of-the-art and ahead-of-its-time Light Cycle from TRON: LEGACY. Beat that!

They Have Each Other

Strays cozying and cuddling up to each other on an uneventful evening. Aww...

Ἀτλαντὶς

What's the story with the lost continent of Atlantis, which allegedly sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean circa 9600BC? The fall of a once-great civilization? Or merely the flight of Plato's overactive imagination?

Look Here!

"Say cheeeese, Bradys!"

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Cherie Hearts

Anointed Most Promising Franchisor by the Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) in 2005, Dr. Gurchran J. Singh's "largest, fastest growing, multiple award-winning homegrown brand of childcare centres" is headquartered at 19 Cecil Street (and close to 'industry colleague' Learning Capital College). So, Mr. Ismail Ibrahim's office must also be there, right?

Don't Feed the Troll

A 'troll' in this case/post doesn't refer to one of those fearsome Nordic creatures; here, we're talking about "someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion". You know, those so-called 'faceless keyboard warriors' with tendencies to spend hours upon hours in front of their computers bombarding cyberspace with their balderdash. Hence, the title means 'don't encourage/instigate them'.

Fried Calamari

For squid connoisseurs who failed to squeeze the recipe for fried calamari out of the corpulent Mr. Curry, the compounds are relatively straightforward. All you need are sotong rings, buttermilk, all-purpose flour, salt, pepper and vegetable oil. And, of course, a saucepan. Happy cooking! (This ain't a food blog, so don't count on anything more.)

Fukumaru FM

Couldn't find much información on this swearword-sounding outfit. Maybe it's a direct competitor of Manhattan FM or Jurong Fishery Port? Or perhaps it's just a nondescript diner in Boat Quay. Is that a catfish?

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THE EXPENDABLES

AUSTIN ● COUTURE ● LUNDGREN ● LI ● STALLONE ● STATHAM ● CREWS ● ROURKE ● WILLIS
...but where are
CHAN ● EASTWOOD ● HAUER ● JOHNSON ● NORRIS ● RUSSELL ● SEAGAL ● SNIPES ● VAN DAMME
?

The Faces of Mao

The Great Leader Chairman Mao Zedong. If it wasn't for him, the People's Republic of China would've surpassed the United States of America as the world's #1 economy by now. Still...

ESP Lines (PG)

Operator: ESP Lines, good morning. This is Lynn. How may I assist you?
Caller: Did you know I was gonna call? Are you able to predict the future? Is this for real?
Operator: Slowly, ma'am. One question at a time, please.
Caller: I'm a man. Hello? I just sound like a woman. Why can't you tell that?
Operator: Excuse me, SIR. Even if I was a psychic, which I'm not, it doesn't make me any more of a voice expert than you are a gentleman.
Caller: Excuse ME! So now you admit you're not a psychic?!
Operator: When did I ever say I was?
Caller: Then why call yourself ESP?? You're obviously a fake!
Operator (laughs): I'm afraid you're mistaken. ESP refers to you – Extremely Stupid Person!
Caller: Kaninabe chow chee bye!
Operator: You're welcome.
Caller (as Operator hangs up): Wait, can I have your mobile number?...

The Secret Seven

Enid Blyton's celebrated series about, er, children running away from homes to join cults?

Elgin Bridge from Afar

From The Riverwalk, to be 'GPS-able'. Taken during sunset before my 'crossover' to The Central for dinner. Hokkienly known as 'tee teow kio' ('iron suspension bridge'). One can spot the (dome of the) Old Supreme Court Building in the background.

Pump It Up

Doesn't matter if it's leaded or unleaded; we just wanna say "加油"!

Where's Willy?

No, seriously. Where is William Hung? Still getting hung over from his 15 minutes of fame? Kissing Michael Koch's ass? Or banging UC Berkeley cheerleaders? The perennial outcast has now become as obscure as the Starchild.

Banish the Taboo

It's Taboo Tuesday and what better way to banish the gloom to the back burner than take a spin on the Scoopy’s & Cream gelato wagon? There's an abundance of frozen custard, an infinite party mix playlist and even an Italian Mafioso who makes bloody sure you have a good time – or else...

Meal @ Manpuku

When Manpuku Japanese Gourmet Town first opened its doors at Level 3 of Tampines 1 last year, there were long lines of patrons snaking outside the 500-seater food hall (ditto UNIQLO). Today, this concept restaurant sees only a trickling of customers one would expect in a Tōei tearoom. What happened?

Regardless, I was one of those 'two or three kittens' who checked out the Ajisen establishment and – boy – was I pleased.

(Above left): Omurice (omelette + rice) with chicken cutlets from Hokkyokusei. Guess this cuisine's getting popular here. Substantial and gravy-licious.

(Above right): Okonomiyaki from Botejyu. Tasty teppan snack that's similar in some ways to our local fried carrot cake. Good while it lasts.

You can never go wrong with a banana-chocolate parfait to parry all that grease previously ingested.

Grapefruit

I suppose the mumster must've been terribly mistaken when she picked up a citrus × paradisi from the supermarket thinking it was a citrus × ​sinensis. No wonder it tasted bitter.

ITS Centre

Who could blame those clueless secret operatives when it comes to 'extraterrestrial cooperation'? Without anything more to work on (save for sketchy details like "the mothership comes in peace from somewhere beyond the galaxy"), they can only call the command post 'ITS Centre' (CAPS for respect).

Courage Under Fire

they'll protect you from the fire demon with spanners, hairdryers and whatever it takes...

Quitting in Style?

Rogue JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater has been creating quite a ruckus with his high jinks and shenanigans aboard Flight 1052 on August 9. The 16-year aviation veteran apparently snapped and launched into a profanity-laced tirade (against some unknown passenger) over the public address system, before activating the plane's emergency inflatable slide and gliding down the gutter – two beers in hands. Working-class hero who has the guts to quit in style? Or is there a deeper truth to the incident? And what's with the 'nice gash' on his head?

The Rub-down

"In Javanese massage, pushing and stroking techniques predominate, working to ease muscle and joint pain. It relies upon deep thumb pressures pushing, pressing and circling along and around the body's energy meridians to break down tensely knotted muscles and to stimulate the body's lymphatic system into releasing its self-regenerative power." Sounds painful…

The Chapel

Hand-built using Tembusu wood as a main material, the Chapel within the Changi Museum is dedicated to the memory of all internees and POWs incarcerated during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945. Lest we forget, let's step forward and offer our most heartfelt prayers.

Goldust

Dustin Patrick Runnels, better known as Dustin Rhodes (son of Dusty and half-brother of Cody), debuted in the World Wrestling Federation fifteen years ago and forever changed the face of this sport. Garbed in black and gold, the Hollywood-lovin' and movie quote-spoutin' cross-dresser was a master of mind games. And after you've seen and heard it all, you’ll never forget the name...(*deep inhalation*) Goldust.

Hiao Gao

Pet aficionados have no problem cutting corners on their own expenses so that they can splurge on their pampered pooches. I say, why not? In exchange for freedom and family, these animals don’t deserve anything less than our best. Time to doll up the dog and soak him in the scented bathtub!

New Slippers. Again for Now.

No thanks to the undeclawed and chronically destructive + disobedient 'Sei Yan Gan', I resorted to getting this pair of $6.90 United Kids Teen Spirit slippers from Tom & Stefanie. I know I'm, like, pushing 36 and all, but that's precisely why I need to 'act young'!

The Kardashians

Can you keep up with Kourtney, Kim and Khloé?

Lunch In, Lunch Out?

Whether you're busy lunching in alone while rushing a work report or leisurely lunching out with colleagues while sharing the latest gossips, Taiwan 便 當 is guaranteed to satiate every stomach on every occasion. Come on down to North Canal!

Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag

"The logo depicts the five stars of the Singapore flag in their original ensemble as seen on the flag. The shooting motion that accompanies the stars, meanwhile, resembles the movement of the crescent moon in the national flag. The use of brushstrokes gives it a light, elegant feel, and depicts a sense of flight, of aspirations and of hope."

All good. Now can we ask why the upper part of NDP performer Corrinne May's get-up looks so much like Jerry's cone (i.e. Elizabethan collar)?

Would U Give Up Ur Seat?

If you descry a coupla seatless elderlies on a crowded 'admiralty', what would you do? Give up your comfort spot if you had one? Or coerce someone else to give up theirs if you don't? Or 'act blur' altogether?

The FortificaTion

I feel a little like Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, churning out new James Bond flicks once every few years. For me, I haven't updated on the SERS project since The EleVation - and it certainly appears now that (1) the 40-tier apartments are taking full shape (what with white coats of paint); (2) I'm deceiving myself by continuing to label this series as 'Nature'.

Stay Stoned

It doesn't matter if you get totally shitfaced at The Stones Bar drinking Bailey's and dancing to The Snapshots - as long as you can sober up enough to arrive at the reinforced parade ground in time.

Gates of Hell (Opening Soon)

Dear towkay, it's been exactly 49 days since your torturous death. Time to regroup your soul and seek revenge on your ruthless tormentors.