Not too long ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to test out a beast of a TV that adopted a new panel technology known simply as OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode). OLED panels are said to be the next big thing in home entertainment but being the skeptic that I am, I had to see it for myself to believe it.

Without further ado, allow me to introduce to you the…

LG EC930T OLED TV

Before I start talking about my experience with the TV, allow me to explain what the OLED technology is.

What is OLED and Why is it Important?

OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode and is a variant, an evolution, of LED backlit LCD technology. It is said to have better imaging quality, reduced power consumption and fast response times compared to regular LED displays, which would mean that there should be lesser (if any at all) image blur issues with any connected video-capable device such as a video player or a game console.

I was told by LG that OLED TV with Clear Motion technology enables 1000 times faster refresh rate than LED TV. Pixel Dimming is a whole new display technology only possible in OLED TV, this gives birth to LG’s Infinite Contrast feature which allows these self-lighting pixels to turn off completely, resulting in an absolute black colour instead of purplish or grayish tints seen on other TVs when the image fades to black.

If that was hard to digest, just know that OLED allows images to look sharper, enable colours to be differentiated on a more complex level (different hues, etc.) and reduces energy consumption.

Appearance, Remote Control & User Interface

The TV in itself looks like a perfect fit for any home. At 55 inches with a curved screen and nearly paper thin, not only will you get a TV that displays beautiful imagery, you’ll also get a TV that is a wonderful sight to look at.

The Magic Remote works in a very unique way. Instead of navigating the TV via directional buttons, the remote has a built-in motion sensor that feels similar to Nintendo’s Wiimote so you can just wave around the remote to scroll through apps or settings. I have to admit, I had fun waving the remote around like a wizard casting spells as the on-screen cursor moved around naturally without any delays.

The webOS user interface is easy to navigate through without any confusion. With the press of a home button on the Magic Remote, you can scroll through apps like Youtube and setup new devices like game consoles with ease. I’m quite impressed with webOS as it feels polished and is user-friendly, unlike using the Kinect with the Xbox 360.

Also Read: 10 Worth-Buying Things RM2.6 Billion Can Get You

Video Test

I’d like to remind readers that this model is the Full HD version, not the 4K version but it is not a bad display by any means. I was shown a trailer of the latest Fast & Furious film as well as some demo videos by LG to showcase its strengths.

Everything on screen looks more fluid, more smooth compared to anything I have seen before. I have a Full HD Philips TV but after seeing this TV with my own eyes, I can say without a doubt that the LG EC930T OLED TV is on a much higher level of superiority.

With the Fast & Furious trailer, the display was always crystal clear, even in scenes where objects are moving fast. They weren’t lying when they said that there is zero image blur for their TV. The colours looked livelier and natural as it doesn’t seem oversaturated or dull in any way. Combine that with the curved screen and you have yourself an IMAX-level display for your homes.

I couldn’t test the video quality via Youtube as the internet was really slow there and Youtube automatically scaled-down the resolution.

I wasn’t completely sold on the absolute black colour of the TV for the video test as I thought that it was just part of the video, that is until I did the gaming test.

Gaming Test via Playstation 4

I brought along my Playstation 4 and a copy of Grand Theft Auto V. On my TV at home, the black colour shown when you first start the Story Mode is a dark blue-ish colour but on the LG EC930T OLED TV, it is perfect black. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Furthermore, the game felt more fluid due to the fast response time delivered by the self-lighting pixels. For those who aren’t aware, Grand Theft Auto V is a 3rd person shooter and action-adventure game. Driving around the world map and fighting people never felt so fun. Thanks to the fluidity of the movements and the image depth given by the curved screen, I actually completely forgot about reviewing the unit for a bit and was completely immersed in the game.

During the in-game daytime, I never realized the world map looked so beautiful. Colours of the flowers, the scenery and the overall environment were like a masterful work of art. As for in-game night time, the dark colours made me subconsciously play stealthily and gave me a sense of impending danger lurking in every corner.

Mind you, I already finished the game and I didn’t recall experiencing this game with this level of intensity before. Gaming on the LG EC930T OLED TV is a very delightful experience.

LG EC930T OLED TV: Verdict

At this point, you might be thinking that I missed out on audio. It’s not that I didn’t want to write about it but rather, the review was done in an open space with a lot of noises coming from virtually every direction, which disrupts the acoustics of the speakers. Personally, I’d get a home theatre set to go with the TV because there’s only so much that a built-in speaker can do.

I was told that LG Music Flow sound bar and speakers can connect to both LG TVs and smartphones wirelessly via Wi-Fi. I haven’t identified which home theatre set specifically but an upgrade in sound quality without having wires messing up the room sounds like a must-have for the LG EC930T OLED TV to me.

Honestly, the only improvement that I want for this OLED TV is a bigger screen. I don’t have 4K capable devices as of now so that’s not something I worry about. Overall, the LG EC930T OLED TV is a great TV that seems to live up to LG’s promise for an immersive viewing experience with vibrant colours and an absolute black level of darkness. This isn’t even the best that LG has to offer.

Later in the year, LG will be releasing newer models that is not only bigger, but also has support for 4K resolutions with 4K upscaling to make non-4K videos and games look even better. But for now, this is more than a movie addict and gamer can ask for.

Also Read: 5 Things We Malaysians Need For The Ultimate Home Theatre Experience

It’s here. It’s finally here. Us iPhone users have sadly been stuck with using our phones to access WhatsApp, but the day has come when we can finally sync our WhatsApp accounts to our desktop with this WhatsApp Web thing we’ve heard so much about.

Now that it’s finally here, here’s a quick run-through on how to get WhatsApp web right on your desktop. It only takes a minute.

First, go into your WhatsApp app on your phone, and go to Settings. If you are eligible to get WhatsApp Web, the option should show up there. If not, then I guess you’ll have to wait a while more.

Tap it, and you’ll be prompted to use your phone to scan a QR Code. That QR code is available here.

And that’s it! Chances are, it won’t be available to all iOS users just yet — in true WhatsApp style, it’ll be rolling it out slowly to all users in a week or two. But as a few iOS users have already gained access to the new feature, it probably won’t be long before we’re all on the bandwagon that Android users have been jeering at us from.

(Yes, Android users. I hear you.)

Enjoy yourselves, and let’s hope it was worth the wait.

Also Read: My Issue With WhatsApp, & Why The Billion-Dollar App Won’t Be Leaving Anytime Soon

Malaysians were flabbergasted when Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh of the Education Ministry recently said that a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination does not guarantee a place in a public university, especially for medical courses. This statement was met with a lot of disapproval from netizens and many commented that “skin colour is worth more than the CGPA” and that that’s why most recommend students to “go overseas to study medicine instead”.

While everyone hates on what the minister said—some just purely because he is a minister—let’s take a step back and look at what he said without any bias.

An academic counsellor at a private university in Malaysia, Elaine (not her real name), shared that in her line of work, an average of 10 students come to see her daily because they wish to secure a spot at a university in Australia or New Zealand.

The type of questions asked by these students vary according to their needs. Some students set their mind on a particular course that they’d like to apply to, so they ask her about entry requirements and other necessary steps to take to be accepted by the university of their choice. On the other hand, there are also students who have no idea about what they should study and are simply looking forward to studying abroad.

Of the total applicants from Elaine’s workplace, about 400 students are successfully transferred to Australia and New Zealand. The rest are left to search for other available options.

A Downward Spiral?

Image Credit: Image Credit: http://mabschan.blogspot.com

While there is a happy verdict for the 400 students that do make the cut, Elaine reveals that she has made some disturbing observations from her discussions with the students. “There are students who want to be a doctor yet have no idea about how to get there. With medicine and dentistry’s deadline which are commonly earlier than other courses, students are still coming in after the deadline, despite the constant reminder from counsellors,” she said.

It is rather unbelievable that in this technology driven society, students still have “difficulty” accessing information from the university. “Students should be most technology savvy in this era, however with all the provided information platforms, be it emails, students portals, Facebook, notice boards, etc., students can still say that they did not receive any information from the counsellors. Worse still is when there are so many ways of announcing information, but counsellors are still frustrated at the lack of outreach to the students,” Elaine asserted.

This shows that the proactive go-getter attitude is sadly lacking in these students who know what they want, but are unaware of what it takes to get it.

Also Read: This Ex-Communications Executive Quit For Love And Passion—And She Isn’t Looking Back

Results Are Something, But Not Everything

Other than the challenges of being disciplined and informed, students are also taking their inferior results too lightly. “They have no idea that their mediocre results are no match for those who are well prepared to take up the challenge,” Elaine shared disappointingly.

Image Credit: http://teganukita.my

How about students who are academic geniuses then? Surely the cream of the crop will be the first to be accepted from the pool of applicants.

Not necessarily, according to Elaine. It’s not always about getting the top grades and being the president of all the clubs in the university. For example, being a doctor requires skills and knowledge, but universities in Australia and New Zealand who conduct interviews are also looking for actual dedication and passion.

“Some students who are sure they want to be doctors will gather all the information they need for application and admissions but are not aware that interviewers are looking for genuine applicants—students who love medicine from the bottom of their hearts and are not in it for the fame and money,” Elaine remarked.

“They think all it takes is straight As. Interviewers can tell if students are answering from their heart or answering with a pre-prepared answer script, yet students still think that interviewers are just looking for the perfect answer,” she added.

Image Credit: http://blog.nbf.com

Other than academic requirements and having a legitimate interest in a certain course, soft skills are just as crucial. “Students have always been trained to excel in examinations but they lack communication and social skills. This can be clearly seen when students come in and enquire about courses. They either cannot articulate properly or they have no common courtesy at all while asking questions, yet their results are as good as can be,” Elaine explained.

It is no secret that mastering the English language in Malaysia is still a huge obstacle for students. Late last year, Muhyiddin Yassin, who was the Education Minister then, openly admitted during a dialogue on the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint 2015-2025 that “something is not right” when students are still struggling with English when they enter university.

Image Credit: Malaysian Insider

To make things worse, the Education Ministry is delaying the compulsory pass in English in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination that was supposedly scheduled to be implemented next year. This delay is to give more time for teachers and students to “get prepared”; however, this preparation time could come at a cost, that is the further deterioration of English proficiency among students.

But language skills aside, what is the excuse for poor social skills and courtesy then?

Passion ≠ Hard Work ≠ Money ≠ Fame ≠ Success

I might be over-generalising here, but students and young graduates of this age are a confused lot.

They want to be successful, but they might not understand the challenges they need to overcome in order to achieve that. Thanks to over-inspirational stories on the internet, they think that they can get wealth, fame and world-travel all from a day’s work (Sound familiar?). They will always assume that there is an easier route so they want to do the bare minimum and expect to obtain maximum results.

Passion, hard work, money, fame and success are not always directly correlated. Some people work hard their whole lives but still live with only the essentials. The only element that makes everything else worth it is a sense of purpose.

Image Credit: https://storify.com

The concern here is that these students, assuming that they return to Malaysia after studying abroad, are supposed to be the “leaders of the future”. What kind of doctors, lawyers, businessmen, entrepreneurs—or any other working professional for that matter—are we churning out if these future leaders don’t have a clear sense of direction and purpose?

Of course, students who complain about not getting accepted by a university just because they got a 4.0 CGPA is not acceptable. If every bright student who got rejected by Harvard complains about it on social media, we’d be having an online riot.

That said, it isn’t fair to leave well-performing students in the dark about their application results. For students to understand what went wrong, it would make more sense to at least provide an explanation as to why they were rejected.

Also Read: 5 Common Traits That TEDxKL Speakers Have Successfully Mastered

This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post. 

8 years ago, I came to Singapore to pursue my undergraduate studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), a decision that would later lead me to continue working —and more importantly, living — in Singapore.

During my time at NUS, all undergraduates had to take up Singapore Studies, a compulsory module for students to gain a deeper understanding of Singapore’s history, as well as her nation building efforts. It was through this module that I first came to know about the political background of Singapore, its governing structure, the concept of gerrymandering, and of course, the elections.

Image Credit: theconceptualstore.com

Like many of my peers, I am somewhat apolitical: we read what the media says about certain ministers, and we allow the media to shape our perceptions of ministers in Singapore. Most of us will probably never get the chance to meet any ministers up close anyway.

So when NTUC invited me to an intimate media session with labour chief and NTUC’s Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing, there was no reason for me to say no. It was probably the only time that I would get to meet with a minister in a relaxed setting, I figured.

As soon as Minister Chan entered the room, the chatter faded; he went around introducing himself to each of us, and assured us that this would be similar to his regular meet-the-people sessions. All of us were free to voice our concerns and to ask him work-related or personal questions.

While I came prepared with some casual questions, the tone of the conversation was geared towards a more intellectual discussion about the various policies that had been implemented by the government over the past few years. I did not manage to ask the minister anything (“What was the hardest decision you had to make?”), but I did listen attentively to how Minister Chan responded to the various questions raised by other media representatives.

It dawned on me, then, just how much more fortunate and blessed Singapore (and Singaporeans) were in comparison to my fellow Malaysians.

Image Credit: snipview.com

You see, I used to enjoy being asked about Malaysia when I first came to Singapore. Sadly, I realised recently that that’s no longer the case, especially with the recent 1MDB scandal, Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s alleged misappropriation of funds, the Low Yat riot, the tumble of the Ringgit, and the series of Johore car thefts, among other incidents.

Something that Minister Chan raised, and which I remember clearly from our session with him, was that being in politics (or any leadership role, for that matter), you need to be able to make the best and right decisions, even if they may be unpopular. Case in point: fuel prices. The easy decision to win the hearts of citizens and many in the Cabinet would be to subsidise fuel costs; logic would make it seem as though everyone would enjoy savings and benefit from this.

But this is hardly the case: in actual fact, the rich would benefit more (because they consume more fuel), while the poor would not enjoy much — if any — savings at all since they cannot afford to drive. The tough but right decision would be to increase fuel prices through taxes, and transfer the tax revenue to everyone.

Here’s a great illustration on the matter from My 15 Hour Work Week, who was also there for the session:

Image credit: My 15 Hour Work Week

Image Credit: TODAY

Minister Chan himself has a humble background; he admitted that coming from a single-parent family made him who he is. “My mother is a machine-operator. I do not stay with my father because my parents are divorced. I think my poor background has made me more determined to succeed.”

But while his family wasn’t that well off, Minister Chan studied hard and graduated as one of the top four scorers from Raffles Junior College. He was awarded a President’s Scholarship and Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship, which he used to pursue an economics degree at Christ’s College at the University of Cambridge. He graduated with First Class Honours.

Prior to entering the Parliament, Minister Chan also served as Chief of Army at 40, and subsequently became one of the youngest Cabinet ministers at 42.

Image Credit: news.gov.sg

Other issues discussed included the issuance of work permits and foreign talents, all of which Minister Chan answered eloquently. He shared with us that the government takes into account all possible solutions, and adopts only the most equitable one for Singapore citizens.

It was through the session that I realised that Singaporeans and Singapore is blessed with great talents in the Cabinet who truly put the interests of Singaporeans above all else. Most of us do not follow Parliamentary debates or dwell on how policies are made; we often complain about policies only after they have been introduced. However, the conversation with Minister Chan convinced me that policies in Singapore have all been properly thought through, and we can be assured that the government has got the backs of all Singaporeans — no one will be left out.

Unfortunately, I can’t say I feel the same for Malaysia. I am not confident that all members of Malaysia’s Cabinet put the interests of its people first, or at least strive to do the right thing for the nation, instead of making popular decisions just to win the heart of certain races in order to stay in the Cabinet. I’m not sure if they are even trying.

Unpatrotic, I know.

And as I walked out of the building where we met Minister Chan, I couldn’t help but mumble to myself, “Singaporeans are so much more fortunate than Malaysians.” Pretty sure a lot of my fellow Malaysians feel the same too.

Also Read: 10 Bizarre Things Said By Malaysian Leaders In 2014

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During his schooling days, the teachers had only one thing to complain about Alvin Sinclair: He talks too much. The 32 year old radio DJ recounts how his report card would often write “Alvin talks a lot in class” or “Alvin is talking to other students and disturbing them”.

“I got that really often. But who knew that one day I would be doing a job that requires me to talk, talk and talk!”

Having worked at RTM, Fly fm and now Traxx fm, talking, hosting and presenting seem to come naturally to Alvin. But there is more to DJ-ing that just running your mouth for hours; it’s also about building connections with people through words and that is what Alvin enjoys the most.

“I love this job because I get to connect with different people, from different backgrounds with different personalities and characters! It’s amazing to meet all this new people that listens to you on air and when you meet them in person, they just go, ‘Whoaaa…so you’re the person behind the mic!’ Its fun!”

Image Credit: Alvin Sinclair Facebbok

Owning A Restaurant Isn’t All That Fun

Apart from being a radio presenter, Alvin is also passionate about the F&B industry. So passionate, in fact, that he opened his own restaurant called The Balcony with a friend.

He explained to Vulcan Post that owning a restaurant is far from glamourous, requiring long hours and hard work. “I was initially attached to one of the biggest F&B groups in Malaysia for a few years. Then I decided to branch out and go on my own. Well it’s not as easy as people think, ‘Wow you own a restaurant, that’s fantastic.’ But the work that needs to be put in is crazy!”

The restaurant has since been sold but Alvin never forgot what the experience taught him. One of the things he learned is the importance of patience.

“You can’t expect to invest in something and hope for the returns tomorrow. We have to nurture it like a child, and just wait. Most importantly you need to stand out and be different, you need to have a unique selling point, giving customers a reason to come to your outlet.”

The venture also taught him an important lesson about trust. “Everybody wants to be your friend once you have a restaurant,” he said with a wink. Whatever could he mean, we wonder?

Image Credit: Alvin Sinclair Facebook

Also Read: How To Juggle A Side Business & Full-Time Job, According To A Young Beauty Entrepreneur

Don’t Fear Failure

Having had so much experience, we asked Alvin what has he earned so far? He had two words for us; experience and knowledge.

Image Credit: FHM Malaysia

“Money can’t buy experience. I can be in locked in a room with people from different industries and I can still strike a conversation and talk about their industries.”

We couldn’t agree more. Our interview with Alvin has showed us some wise words to say in the face of failure:

1. If it does not work, no problem. What’s next?

Some people might say that it’s much wiser to focus on one venture at a time. Others prefer to stick their fingers into as many pies as possible and see what happens. Alvin Sinclair sits firmly in the latter category.

“When I first started I didn’t really have a choice, focusing on one job/industry is the best thing to do. Stable income, pay your bills and repeat it all over again day in day out. But after a few years down the road, you will start to think, is this really what I like doing? Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?”

It’s an important series of questions to ask and a scary one to answer. It’s something we all ask ourselves at every point in our career. Alvin feels that most people are comfortable with what they do which is why they are afraid to take on multiple projects at once. Exploring new territory and leaving the safety of routine can be a daunting task for most.

But not so for Alvin. He enjoys the challenge.

“I like to pursue multiple roles and see which works out best for me. If I have an interest in it, I’ll pursue it. If it does not work, no problem. What’s next? It’s always what’s next for me.”

Also Read: Life Lessons From Malaysian DJ Leng Yein To Slay It Like A Lady Boss

2. Keep trying and never stop

Image Credit: Alvin Sinclair Facebook

It took 4 years of trying for Alvin to get into radio. That’s a pretty long time and it just goes to show that we should never let failure stop us from pursuing what we truly want.

“I have started a few business before and I have failed so badly that it got me into debt. But it never stopped me from trying again. My family will go like, ‘Another business? Are you serious?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah! Haha!’ Well, it’s unbelievable but I just love trying it and I don’t care how many times I fail. I always believe it’s not about how many times you fail, it’s about how many times you wake up from it and keep moving!”

3. YOLO!!!

One reason why Alvin is so unafraid to try as many things as possible it’s because he realises that we only have one shot at being on this earth. And once you realised that too, the fear of failure becomes a hurdle you can jump over rather than an unclimbable wall. There will always be critics and people whose words act as nothing more than a deterrent although they may have your best interest at heart. But you should never let any of these hold you back.

Image Credit: Alvin Sinclair Facebook

“To some people, they think I’m jumping around here and there, not concentrating on one job, some people even say I’m too old to be trying out new things! Well I say, you are never too old to try or give it a shot. You only live once. You don’t want to be thinking one day: I should have done this or done that. While you have the time, do it!”

You Do The Knocking

Whether it’s starting your own business, opening a restaurant or pursuing your dreams to be a radio DJ, you have to put yourself out there and work towards your goal, Alvin stressed.

“Dont wait for opportunity to come looking for you, you create it. You go and start knocking on doors. No harm asking and no harm trying! Just believe in yourself and you will eventually get there.”

Also Read: 5 Common Traits That TEDxKL Speakers Have Successfully Mastered

Pac-Man recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, game publisher Bandai Namco partnered with Hipster Whale — the team behind mobile game Crossy Road — to bring to us Pac-Man 256. This new iteration is basically like an endless Pac-Man, but of course, it comes with its own twists.

Gameplay

Pac-Man 256 tasks you with escaping the infamous Pac-Man kill screen caused by the Map 256 glitch. With deceivingly simple swipe controls and iconic gameplay, the game is pretty easy to get the hang of, and once you do, you might find it hard to peel away from. Unlike Crossy Road’s reliance on snappy finger-taps and swipes, Pac-Man 256 encourages moment-to-moment planning as you navigate your way through the maze.

If you’re looking for something to play during your commute, Pac-Man 256 is something you might want to give a try. And to start you off, here are some tips to surviving the glitch and ghosts, and maybe even rack up a high score.

It’s All About The Combo

Image Credit: App Store

You get one point for every dot you eat. But eat 16 dots in one combo, and you get an extra 16 points. And an extra 32 points for 32 dots, 64 for 64, and 128 for 128. Eat the eponymous 256, and not only do you get an extra 256 points — you also kill every ghost on the screen. It’s a risk/reward as you try to pick routes filled with dots, but avoid ghosts along the way.

In addition to eating dots, you will also occasionally find fruits around the map to eat. Always eat them — fruits net you points and multiply your scores.

Image Credit: Pocket Gamer

Chomping on a power pellet (a big dot) turns the tables on the ghosts and gives you the ability to eat them instead of letting them kill you. Eating one ghost gets you 10 points. A second ghost gives you 20 points, 30 points for a third ghost, and so on.

Facing The Ghost Gang

Pac-Man’s formidable rogues plague the maze. Each type of ghost has its own unique trait, and knowing how they move is key to avoiding them.

Image Credit: App Store

Blinky (Red): Your vanilla ghost. Blinky will chase Pac-Man down if Pac-Man comes close, but isn’t as fast as Pac-Man. Only a real threat if it happens to be blocking your path.

Inky (Blue): Patrols a certain area in the maze, making him predictable and easy to avoid once you’ve figured out his pattern.

Pinky (Pink): If you cross her path, she will make a mad dash toward you. Pinky is faster than Pac-Man, so it will be difficult to outrun her in a straight line. Do your best not to get in her way.

Clyde (Orange): Clyde’s main concern is getting towards the bottom of the screen. Never go up against Clyde, always go around him.

Spunky (Grey): Asleep most of time. Get close to him and he’ll run off elsewhere. His movement is rather erratic.

Sue (Purple) and Funky (Green): They move in packs of three and four respectively, but only move horizontally. This can make them hard to get past, but not a huge threat.

Glitchy: Any glitch in the game is bad news. Just try your best to avoid them.

(Source: Pocket Gamer)

Power-Ups

Image Credit: App Store

Collecting dots and coins unlock the ability to obtain and upgrade power-ups for Pac-Man. Once you equip a power-up on Pac-Man, you will be able to find the equipped power-up on the map, and activate it when Pac-Man touches it.

The various power-ups range from a laser that kills any ghost in the direction you are facing, an ice block that slows down ghosts, a tornado that goes around the map killing ghosts it touches, a giant Pac-Man that lets you kill ghosts without eating a power pellet, and even a bomb that kills nearby ghosts when Pac-Man comes into contact with one.

Wall-hugging

When you need a bit of a breather, you can hug a wall. This is when Pac-Man hits a wall and doesn’t change direction, giving you a moment to observe enemy ghost movements and even avoid attacks. Wall-hugging doesn’t diminish your combo, so don’t be afraid to use it. Just make sure not to be swallowed up by the glitch that will start appearing from the bottom of the screen.

Because of its surprising amount of depth, Pac-Man 256 can easily turn into extended play sessions of “after this round, I’ll put it down. No, after this one…” It is the perfect pick-up-and-play game for your morning commute or if you just have a little time to kill.

Share your high-score in the comments below. Pac-Man Fever is back, baby.

Download: App Store and Google Play

Also Read: How To Be A Pro At Two Dots

We live in a self-obsessed world, well, the world isn’t really self-obsessed—we are. While human selfishness is often the norm, few people rise above it to make sure that the needs of others are met. Such acts of kindness tend to find us when we least expect them and they leave us refreshed and happy.

Ms. Eswari decided to try out the MyTeksi app for the very first time on the 18th of August. After a few minutes, Mr. Yap arrived to pick her up and when he did he was very keen to help her get the special promo rate. After, a few unfruitful tries they proceeded on their drive to her destination.

As she approached her destination, she quickly realised that she couldn’t find her wallet. They pull over while she checks the contents of her bag with a sense of panic.

Nothing.

Also Read: 4.0 In Your Exams-No Big Deal, According To This M’sian Academic Counsellor

Mr. Yap was worried that she might have dropped the wallet before she got into the cab but a quick call to her office revealed that she left it there.

Well, we all forget our stuff sometimes, there’s absolutely nothing special about that but the way Mr. Yap handled the situation definitely is.

When she asked him about driving back to get her wallet so that she could pay, he responded by saying, “You are going to be late for your appointment. Never mind, never mind, small matter. You can pay me later.”

Once, they arrived at the destination he even gave her RM20 so that she could pay for her cab ride home and he assured her that she could pay him the next time they ran into each other.

“I will be in KL only. Don’t worry. Small matter. You pay me next time,” said Mr. Yap.

Although, his gesture wasn’t extravagant or lavish by nature, he did manage to place a smile on her face and help her out.

Blown away by the gesture, Ms. Eswari took to Facebook to share about her experience. You can check out her post here.

Since then, the post was shared 166 times, liked more than 750 times (at the time of this writing) and it has piles of comments applauding his gesture and a few comparing him to a disguised angel (definitely overboard—he’s just a good guy).

Image Credit: Eswari Kalugasalam Post

Competition between ride-sharing services and cabs has been fierce and intense with many people complaining about the poor service that they often receive at the hands of cab drivers. This incident just goes to show that we can’t paint the whole lot with the same stroke—they are still a few awesome cab drivers out there.

Also Read: I Tested A PS4 On A RM10K Full HD OLED TV. I Never Want To Game Any Other Way Again.

Food porn is horrible. The way it makes you hungry even though you’ve just had lunch, or the way that overpriced plate of Eggs Benedict seems to glisten on your phone screen when honestly, you just want to spend $2 on some rice. But it has taken over the Internet, and with YummyPin, it might never go away.

YummyPin, a Singapore-based social media platform that’s helmed by serial entrepreneur Edward Au, is basically what you get when you mesh Burple with Pinterest — a daily feed of gorgeous looking food porn available on desktop and as a mobile app. You can pin your awesome food photos to a personal board, which can be viewed by your followers or by the public. What you get at the end of the day is an amazing spread of food you want to put in your mouth.

A mobile Pinterest dedicated to food — what more do you want?

Of course, looking for a good eatery isn’t just about the pictures. Each photo also comes with information about that restaurant, your personal review, and the price of that dish or meal. Viewers can also like or comment on each picture.

To enhance the experience offered by their platform, YummyPin has employed the help of several bloggers, whom we all know have tons to say about their meals. Their blogposts are integrated into the platform for interested users to read more about each eatery.

A personal touch comes in the form of a wishlist, which is my favourite feature. When I find something I want to try — as I often do when I look through my friends’ Instagram photos — I can add them to the wishlist. This is then saved into my personal profile, leaving me free to finally put my Evernote list of food places to rest. Yummypin even comes with a location-based feature, which will pull out great eateries near my current location.

What makes Yummypin even better is that you can get discounts from the app through the YummyStore. Simply select a pass from a list of available deals from the YummyStore, and you will be shown a QR code that you can present to merchants upon redemption.

Do note, however, that this feature isn’t available on the current mobile app, and is not explicitly stated or promoted on their website. Official screenshots of YummyStore also look vastly different from the app I currently have on my iPhone, so we may have a pretty sweet update on the way.

Verdict: 4/5

You can’t really fault a Pinterest for food, especially when it’s already filled with many great food pictures and places. However, as a new user, I was disappointed that I had no way of knowing if any of my friends were on YummyPin as well.

It’ll also be a challenge to get people off platforms like Instagram — where most food porn goes — and onto independent platforms like this one. The potential update, which offers users discount passes to get great deals, may be a gamechanger. Food porn with discounts could well be every hungry Singaporean’s wet dream.

Now excuse me while I get myself a snack.

YummyPin is available in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, and can be downloaded via the App Store and Google Play.

Also Read: JalanJalan: How Chinese Altars Inspired A Singapore Discovery App

This 30th August, Disney Infinity 3.0 will be released for the masses to enjoy on multiple gaming platforms. Now, you might be thinking that Disney Infinity is just a kid’s game. Well, the latest iteration will prove your assumptions wrong as it is the perfect opportunity for gamers of all ages to jump into the Disney Infinity bandwagon.

Here are the reasons to convince you that Disney Infinity 3.0 is bound to be the best release yet.

1. The Addition of the Star Wars Universe into Disney Infinity

It’s no secret that Star Wars is the main highlight of Disney Infinity 3.0. Not only will you get to play memorable characters such as Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Master Yoda, you’ll also get an early sneak preview of the upcoming Star Wars film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Currently, Finn and Rey are the only characters from The Force Awakens included in Disney Infinity 3.0 but there will be more to come in the future. With Star Wars being included, you get to experience two major story lines in the game.

The first being ‘Twilight of the Republic’, which is set shortly after Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. This story focuses on Anakin Skywalker and his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, uncovering the mastermind behind the droid army, with appearances from General Grievous, Jabba the Hutt, and more!

The second storyline included in the game is ‘Rise Against the Empire’, which focuses on Luke Skywalker and Leia battling against Darth Maul. The director of Disney Infinity 3.0, Jason Moffitt, personally recommends Ahsoka Tano for new players as her agile dual lightsaber-wielding fighting style is easy to use and flashy to boot.

2. The Combat System is Designed By Ninja Theory, the Developer of DMC: Devil May Cry

Remember Devil May Cry? The reboot I mean, not the original 4 games with a long-haired Dante. Remember that oddly satisfying and stress relieving combat mechanics in the game that allowed you to pummel demons into oblivion, rack up massive combos and look stylish while doing so?

All of that is thanks to Ninja Theory and apparently, they are collaborating with Disney for Disney Infinity 3.0, in which they are the ones who designed the new combat system of the game. With that piece of information, you know you’re going to have a great time with in-game battles, regardless of whether you’re using the destructive Darth Maul or the lovely Minnie Mouse.

Of course, you’re going to have to expect the combat system to not have a massive bloodfest and torn limbs as they’re trying to keep it child-friendly but still, it’s a great addition to a game that you might spend hours upon hours playing.

Also Read: 5 Things We Malaysians Need For The Ultimate Home Theatre Experience

3. Ultron and Iron Man in Hulkbuster Armor Are Also in Disney Infinity 3.0

If you still can’t get over the latest Avengers film, this will be a treat for you. In previous Disney Infinity games, they added plenty of Play Sets from the Marvel Universe, which included the likes of Thor, Spiderman, and Groot, among many others, in the game.

To be up-to-date with the latest Avengers Film, Disney Infinity now includes Ultron and Iron Man in his Hulkbuster Armor as playable characters. Don’t worry, Iron Man in his standard Mark 43 suit is still included in the game so you can play as two separate Iron Mans (Iron Men?) in the game if you want to.

You can use all the Marvel characters, both heroes and villains, in the Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set. The Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set involve a group of Marvel character joining forces to defeat waves of enemies. There will be more information on this Play Set when the game is released.

With Disney Infinity 3.0, they encourage creativity from the users so you can feel free to try and remake the Avengers films in the game or just mix and mash characters to produce quirky and fun results. As Jason Moffitt puts it, “the game is only limited to your imagination”.

4. Disney Infinity 3.0’s Enhanced Toy Box Mode, Where You’re Allowed to Go Crazy

As I mentioned before, Disney Infinity is a game that encourages creativity but with Play Sets that come with a somewhat fixed storyline, it doesn’t quite sound like it’s open to creativity. That’s where the Toy Box mode comes in handy.

You wanna create worlds? Go ahead. You wanna share your creation with the world? Share it online. You wanna play in someone else’s world? You don’t even have to ask for permission. You don’t see this type of open-world creativity potential with a lot of games today. The only other game I can think of with similar creative freedom is Minecraft—but Disney Infinity looks way better.

If you ever imagined what would happen if Ultron and Darth Vader crossed paths or if Mickey were to step in to the world of Tron, you don’t have to leave that imagination hanging on your head anymore. Whenever you have an idea like that, feel free to build it in Disney Infinity 3.0 and watch as your imagination comes to life.

But those are not the only things the Toy Box is bringing to Disney Infinity 3.0.

5. Toy Box Expansion Games That Add Variety to Disney Infinity 3.0

The Toy Box mode has expansion games that will help you enjoy the game even more. Coming to Disney Infinity 3.0 are two new games that players can play in and customise using unlocked toys, gadgets, and any in-game character from across the Disney Infinity universe, including characters from Disney Infinity 2.0 and 1.0.

The Toy Box Speedway is a racing game where players can choose their favourite characters from Disney, Marvel and Star Wars to race across 9 race tracks, through 3 tournament cups, and see which is the fastest toy in the box. I managed to play this for a while and it feels just as fun as playing Mario Kart so it makes for a great multiplayer game.

The Toy Box Takeover game is a scenario where the players will have to enlist the help of friends and family using characters from Disney, Marvel and Star Wars to save the Toy Box from the ‘bad guys’. You’ll have to outsmart, outmaneuver and defeat enemies in 6 action-packed levels across 5 themed worlds.

I don’t know about you but this sounds like plenty of fun to experience in Disney Infinity 3.0. Are you excited yet?

With Disney Infinity Producer, Jason Moffitt

Also Read: I Tested A PS4 On A RM10K Full HD OLED TV. I Never Want To Game Any Other Way Again.

This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post.

It’s always something to look forward to: the thrill of booking those tickets, the rush of going through immigration, arriving at another place that smells and feels different. Travel — one of the many things Singaporeans cannot live without.

Of course, there’s also that unavoidable part of travelling — the packing. Maybe it’s a pair of white jeans you think’d look hip in Moscow, or that cardigan you wore as you walked by the Singel canal in Amsterdam, or the Charles Bukowski book of poems (because he’s crap at prose) you want to enjoy in a Melbourne café; either way, bringing the right things with you when you travel is an important deal — it can make or break your trip. Still, they say the worst decisions sometimes make the best stories.

Image Credit: Carousell

In the mood for travel stories, Carousell is introducing the #CarousellxAirbnb campaign, and they want to hear all the tales from your various voyages. Exchange students are more than welcome to join — I mean, I’m sure that rice cooker that has served you well comes with some fond memories. Every item holds its weight, and Carousell understands that very well.

Take Benjamin Kheng from local band The Sam Willows, who waxes lyrical about his guitar: “My guitar case has been with me to every part of the world which I’ve travelled with the band. Travelling has truly inspired musical growth, not just for myself but also for my band.” His band mate Sandra Tang, however, holds her camera as a travel staple. She says, “I bring it wherever I go. I love taking pictures of scenery and of others. My camera is the lens through which I see the world, and also where our music has taken us to.”

The campaign is on the quest to find the most inspiring and memorable travel stories told through the listing of related items on the mobile marketplace. The best part? Five selected winners will walk away with a total of $2,500 worth of Airbnb travel credits. To take part, simply take the following steps:

1. List your travel item for sale on Carousell between 17 August and 11 September (you may list as many items as you wish).
2. Come up with a compelling story to go with your listing.
3. Include #CarousellxAirbnb within your post.

Here’re some pretty interesting finds that we’ve spotted on Carousell already. Anyone fancy some Zimbabwean currency?

Image Credit: Carousell

Image Credit: Carousell

Image credit: Carousell

For more information, head over to #CarousellxAirbnb.

Also Read: How To Be A Pro At Airbnb

This article was originally published on Vulcan Post.

K-pop fans, your dreams may be coming true.

Airbnb is holding the stayover of a lifetime, as five lucky winners will be able to win a night in Seoul, in the home of one of Korea’s biggest stars, G-Dragon.

They will be in for the sleepover of a lifetime in G-Dragon’s second home in the Hongdae neighbourhood, and will be given a personal tour of the space by G-Dragon himself.

Here’s the description of the Dukyang Studio:

Hello Airbnb guests! This is your host, G-Dragon. For five of you special friends, I’m going to completely welcome you into Dukyang Studio, which is filled with my memories from over ten years of music and dance training. Right now the studio looks just like it did when I was a trainee, but I’m transforming it into a home for us to get to know each other better! I’m going to fill it up with everything that inspires me like fashion, music, toys and cartoons. Dukyang Studio is in the Hongdae neighborhood which is known for its artistic spirit and local underground music. I can’t wait to welcome you into my Airbnb!

And if you’re hoping to explore the city itself, G-Dragon will also bring his guests around, show them his favourite spots in Seoul, share the best places to visit, and even bring them for dinner at the legendary YG Cafeteria. The trip will also end with G-Dragon writing a review about his guests on their Airbnb profiles — talk about a great reference!

The prize also includes an economy class return plane ticket to Korea, so cost is not an issue. The only thing is you will have to follow are the house rules: play nice with other visitors, and no drawing on the art.

“I’m thrilled to become a host on Airbnb, and I’m excited about welcoming my fans into my second home. I look forward to providing them with a unique local experience by sharing a glimpse into the early years of my career and bringing them around the neighborhood I grew up in”, said the Korean artist.

The ‘Night At’ experiences by Airbnb have been a big hit, especially since they’ve come to Singapore. Most recently, Airbnb held a contest here in Singapore for winners to spend a night on the Esplanade stage during Singapore’s Jubilee weekend. The current contest, though, will be the first regional one, as winners will be picked from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. It’ll also be the first celebrity ‘Night At’ experience — and if we had it our way, definitely not the last.

To enter the contest, just visit G-Dragon’s listing on Airbnb and submit a write-up of no more than 300 words/characters (in Japanese, Mandarin or Korean) describing how you would connect with someone from a different cultural background. Submissions must be made before midnight on August 29, 2015 (Korea time).

So good luck, and godspeed!

Also Read: This Airbnb Contest Will Let Someone Spend A Night At The Esplanade — Literally

This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post. 

Call a GrabCar, meet a football legend?

That’s what happened to Sam, a Singapore-based student who called a GrabCar — the private car arm of Malaysian taxi-booking startup GrabTaxi — to head to school. In a screenshot that was later shared by local joke community SGAG, his driver was none other than Noh Alam Shah, one of the football legends of Singapore.

This realisation sparked discussion on forums and in the comment sections of various social media platforms, with many taking this as proof that footballers in Singapore don’t make enough money. Alam Shah is currently playing in the S.League, where players are said to make around $5,000 – $12,000 a month. With his years of experience on the Singapore National Team — during which he was the top individual scorer in the 2007 AFF Championships and overall top scorer in AFF Championship history, Alam Shah’s salary is bound to be in the higher range.

So is it fair to say that the low wages offered by Singapore’s football industry has forced him to ferry passengers around for a living? Not quite. While the salary range of Singapore’s S.League may be lower than that of other professional leagues that we’re familiar with, driving a GrabCar is hardly a sign of destitution.

Perhaps, like many private car owners, he’s just looking to make a quick buck on the side. After all, if world famous DJ Deadmau5 can drive an Uber, why can’t a Singapore football legend drive a GrabCar?

So if you’re a Singapore football fan that needs a ride somewhere, you may want to try GrabCar. Who knows, you might get lucky and meet Fandi Ahmad one day.

Also Read: Uber S’pore Steps Up Game For Drivers With Minimum Earnings, Stays Ahead Of Competition

In the latest move by one of Singapore’s political parties, the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) has announced that they’ve applied to set up a Singapore Cabbies Association (SCA). This is to help secure the rights of, and ensure the welfare of taxi drivers in the country.

In an interview with TODAY, SDA chairman Desmond Lim said that the SCA would function as an “alternative” to the existing National Taxi Association (NTA), which has more than 10,100 members under their wing. In comparison, the SCA revealed that they are currently a 200-member-strong group.

Image Credit: The Straits Times

Some of the goals of the SCA, shared Lim, include:

1. Fighting for stronger regulation of third-party applications such as Uber
2. Enhancing training for taxi drivers and public education
3. Pushing for Uber drivers to undergo formal training and comply with the same regulations as taxi drivers
4. Ensure Uber drivers have up-to-date Medisave contributions to renew their vocational licences
5. Offer legal advice and financial education for cabbies

(source: TODAY)

In the same interview, the SCA’s assistant treasurer William Lim, who’s also a full-time taxi driver, said that the training currently offered by taxi operators to cabbies are very basic, and that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and taxi companies are not doing enough in response to the NTA’s feedback.

So far, comments from netizens seem to suggest that many are not impressed by what the SDA is doing. Responses run the gamut from the usual “this is an election gimmick” types, to those who feel that SDA’s small number of members won’t be able to make a dent in the current situation of cabbies. There have also been claims that the SDA are merely trying to gain the votes of cabbies with this move.

Meanwhile, private car drivers (like Singapore’s S.League legend Noh Alam Shah, for example) might not be too happy with having to apply for vocational licenses when all they want is to make some extra cash on the side. Who has time for cabbie training when there are football matches to play, right?

That said, if the SDA does end up delivering on their promises, they could very well have something great going for them. Despite the improvements that have been made in the taxi industry, what’s clear is that cabbies don’t always enjoy a conducive working environment; a recent article by The Straits Times showed just how much more the jobs of cabbies can — and need — to be improved.

As of now, it’s not clear yet if the SDA will succeed with their plan; they haven’t exactly been given the green light after submitting their application to the Registry of Societies yesterday.

Also Read: Your Next GrabCar Driver May Be An S.League Legend

Of late, we’ve been plagued with issues pertaining racism and intolerance. It has come to a point where not even a day goes by without someone trying to incite bigotry and provoke one another towards hatred. It has become tiresome to hear of stories related to this. It has come to a point where people are beginning to talk about leaving and never coming back.

It saddens me to hear of all this; to think that we’ve come this far, and we’re giving up. We love our country so much yet but we give in to our selfish needs before anything else.

Yes, it is easy to want to join the bandwagon and hate on certain groups of people. Yes, it is easy to want to criticise everyone else and act like we are the only ones who know best. Yes, it is also easy to say “I’m leaving this place” and letting someone else fix the problem.

But isn’t that taking the easy way out? Doesn’t that only prove that we’re being fair-weathered in nature? Wouldn’t that mean that we’ve no care nor love for our people and our motherland?

Image Credit: mediarakyat.net

Life is all about going through ups and downs. It is all about going through good and bad times. It is all about facing difficulties and coming out stronger than ever. So why act differently when it comes to being there for our country?

We keep wanting to point fingers at others and think ourselves better than everyone else. As much hatred as I’ve witnessed, I’ve seen an equal (if not more) amount of kindness and love. People have only seemed to have forgotten the amity and humanity, as they seem to only focus on the animosity and dislike.

Let me remind you that there is still hope yet. Let me remind you that we are not going down a doomed path as we seem to believe we are. In just a span of two weeks, I encountered three incidents that reminded me why I’m proud to be Malaysian.

Image Credit: http://myklcampustour.com/

I was driving along a highway when suddenly I heard a loud ‘pop’ sound and realized that I needed to pull over. To my horror, I had a flat tyre and had no idea how to change it. In just two minutes, a young Malay lad riding a motorcycle stopped to see what was going on.

When I told him what happened, he immediately assured me that everything will be alright and proceeded to help me change the tyre. I was pleasantly surprised that someone would be willing to help so easily, despite the fact that there was nothing to gain. I thanked him profusely for his help, and he smiled at me and said, “We’re all Malaysians. If we don’t help each other, who else will?” before riding off.

Also Read: This Viral Facebook Post Is The Ultimate Proof Against Racial Stereotypes In Malaysia

Some days later, I was feeling a little upset about something and was crying as I sat down on a bench alone at the park. I was oblivious to an old Chinese uncle who approached me and sat down next to me. He then asked, “Girl ahh, you okay or not? Why are you crying?” Still in tears, I nodded my head and said that I was okay, a lie I was sure he didn’t believe.

He then turned away and looked at some kids playing on the see-saw and said, “It’s okay to cry sometimes. Just remember that everything will be alright soon. You’re such a pretty girl, you should smile more. Don’t be sad, okay?” before getting up. I thanked him, and saw him walk away.

About a week later, I was walking into a shop when I saw a group of young Indian boys together. When I walked past them to get some items, I overheard them making fun of me in Tamil, probably unaware of the fact that I could understand them perfectly well.

I was hurt, but didn’t say anything. Suddenly an older woman appeared out of nowhere and scolded the young boys in Tamil, “You boys should be ashamed of yourselves! Making fun of a lady just because she looks different is rude. Didn’t your mothers teach you boys manners?”

The young lads were clearly shocked and didn’t say a word, but I was deeply touched. I never knew that people were so kind. I approached her and thanked her for standing up for me. She didn’t have to do that, as she doesn’t know me and I am quite sure that she didn’t know the boys as well.

Image Credit: Unicef

All three incidents got me thinking: why? These people were complete strangers from various backgrounds who had nothing to receive in return for their help and compassion. Yet, they looked past skin colour and cultural differences. All they saw was a fellow Malaysian in need of help, and they gave their all. That is something I was glad to be reminded of. I’ve never felt more proud to call myself a Malaysian.

We’ve come a long way since 31st August 1957. It’s been almost six decades of independence, and we’ve grown so much. Hundreds of thousands of people have worked so hard to make Malaysia the country it is today. And I wanted to be reminded of that historic moment when we tasted freedom for the first time.

So as I opened YouTube and watched the video of Tunku Abdu Rahman shouting out “Merdeka!” seven times, and the Negaraku being played while the Jalur Gemilang proudly being raised, I had tears streaming down my face.

Image Credit: http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/

It was then I realised something—I’m a Malaysian, and will always be a proud Malaysian. I live in a beautiful land with wonderful people, and it shall always remain a part of me. I will always love my country, come what may.

Let’s not forget that real meaning of Merdeka and allow irresponsible parties or people to sway that.

Happy Merdeka, my fellow Malaysians.

Also Read: Vulcan Post’s Six-Word Malaysian Story Contest

This article was originally written and contributed by Ashley Greig. The views expressed in the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of Vulcan Post, but like her, we too hope for a better Malaysia to reflect on social media.

As a teenager, I loved watching kung fu movies. They were what inspired me to pick up martial arts. I started at the age of 16; I was clueless and socially awkward, and my experience with martial arts was limited to some ‘fancy’ hand swings I’d picked up from movies starring Bruce Lee, Tony Jaa, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li.

Initially, my sole aim was to learn self defence and be physically fit, but what I gained from martial arts turned out to be much more than that. Here’s a look how martial arts has changed my life for the better.

I make mistakes often

Image Credit: smabloggers.com

This might sound counter-intuitive, but everyone makes mistakes — even the black belt students and our instructors. It’s so common on the dojo (a practice hall where martial arts is taught) that no one is going to bat an eyelid when you make one.

Personally, I’ve made so many mistakes during practice it’s almost unbelievable. My instructors always encourage us to make mistakes, and over time, I’ve found myself becoming more self-aware with each mistake I make, which means I’m less likely to repeat them. It’s also become easier and quicker for me to progress, not only on the dojo but in other aspects of life.

It’s time for you to start making those mistakes too.

Forget about being cool

Image Credit: japanese-cg.com

Let’s get this straight: if you think you can be the badass kid simply by picking up martial arts, then you’re very much mistaken. I’ve come across many new students who were in a hurry to get their black belts, yet didn’t manage to persevere and overcome their frustrations, giving up on the sport halfway through.

I must admit that there were times when I envied those who had already gotten their black belts. I think most of us can relate to the feeling of being a newbie; we can’t help but be extremely self-conscious when in the presence of others with higher ranks. I realised soon enough, however, that the colour of one’s belt is not what determines a person’s skills or their character. What matters in the long run is that you’re able to stick to your decision to pick up martial arts.

Good vibes all around

Image Credit: honeykidsasia.com

In this day and age, it can be difficult to carve out some time and space for yourself in the midst of a constant flurry of emails, work/school commitments and FOMO-inducing Instagram posts. So on hindsight, I am thankful to my 16-year-old self for making the decision to pursue martial arts.

Yes, there were ups and downs, thoughts of giving up, and I experienced a lot of anxiety each time grading rolled around. But if I were think about it objectively, I’ve gained not only physical strength, but established close friendships with others whom I might never have met otherwise. Good vibes all in one place? Absolutely.

Banish the lazy bones in you

Image Credit: quickmeme.com

If you’re known to be immature and to procrastinate in getting things done — such as studying or washing the dishes — you’ll find yourself actually doing them the way you plan after months of dedicated training.

How does this work? Well, as you go for more training sessions, you get exposed to more techniques and skills. And performing and practising these techniques require focus, hard work, and dedication — all of which will contribute to you becoming more self-disciplined. 

It could save your life — literally

Image Credit: greatnewplaces.com

Learning martial arts requires a whole lot of energy, focus, and patience, but knowing that I can now independently face an attacker has given me the ultimate boost of confidence and self-esteem that I feel we could all do with. 

I feel good that I am able to protect myself and others around me. I don’t mean to be a cynic, but I’ve always thought to myself that anything could happen — and I would like to at least have a chance to prevent it. A basic foundation in martial arts could actually save your life should you find yourself involved in undesirable situations.

Image Credit: Budokan Fight Studio

Comparing my lifestyle before and after joining martial arts, I’d say it’s truly impacted me in a big way — and I’m proud of it. Having overcome various mental, physical, emotional and spiritual problems along the way, there’s no question that martial arts has changed me fundamentally, and I have become a better version of myself.

Also Read: Martial Arts Is Alive And Kicking In Singapore: Meet The Man Who’s Bringing The Art Form To Local Students

This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post. 

How did your parents meet?

A chance encounter at a museum perhaps, or maybe they were set up by friends; it could well be a meet-cute at a laundromat, or the classic high school sweetheart/girl-next-door story. It’s one thing to be experiencing all of the headiness first-hand, but it’s another thing to watch it all happen on the outside. And that’s what K Sajeev Lal does. He’s a grand orchestrator in the process of matchmaking — or rather, a photographer.

Sajeev owns a photography studio in Little India, which he bought over a long time ago for $7,000. Over the next decade and till present, he and his wife Sheeja Shaj have run the studio together. His main clientele? Young male foreign workers from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, who send their portraits back to their parents in South Asia to look for brides. Business model done right? I think so.

Portraits of love (Image Credit: Objectifs’ Facebook page)

The Business of Matchmaking

The deal is straightforward: you go to a studio to get your photo taken, wear some decent threads that will make you look at least mildly attractive, neaten up your hair, pick a background scenery of your choice, look fresh in front of the camera with some fake flowers, and smile. Sajeev will then snap that portrait fit for the beginning of your search for a wife, and then you’re on your way. He insists that’s where his job ends: “I just take the picture only, after that I leave it to them.”

Ravi — one of his customers — for example, had been taking portraits in different studios but had no luck in finding a wife. He decided to go for one of Sajeev’s sessions, and then…success! “I got married last year, after sending my portrait back home. I’m very happy with the result,” he said, smiling. He also added that the process was simple: Sajeev did not direct them on how to pose or what to wear, he simply asked them to pick a background, and props and clothes in the studio were available for use if they wanted. No pressure at all.

Sajeev, Sheeja, and Ravi (Image Credit: Ox Lee via Objectifs’ Facebook page)

While it all seems colourful and sunny, Sajeev revealed that the Little India riots in 2013 had affected business at the studio. The location of his studio is also just around the corner from where the incident happened. “Before that, on weekends I usually get a lot of customers coming in all day but now, because of the curfew and all, it’s much lesser already,” he tells us. It’s sobering to realise the that the resulting alcohol ban and curfew rules have affected not only businesses selling alcohol, but also other local enterprises.

Going Digital

Before settling down with his photo studio, Sajeev was in the business of event photography — a service he still provides. “When someone offered me to take over the studio because he was retiring, I thought it was a good deal. We started with film photography first,” he shared. But times have changed; technology levelled up, and digital photography came a-knocking on his studio door.

In 2004, Sajeev Photo Studio became fully digital. Sajeev revealed that it wasn’t just technological changes that drove him to make the shift. He said that even when he was shooting on film, there was already an increasing pressure to produce the prints quicker and in a shorter time. “Now I can get the pictures out in two hours, so they have time to makan first and then come back to collect their photos,” he said. It all works out.

Besides efficiency, Sajeev had to go for courses to upgrade his skills, including a Photoshop one to bring his famed picturesque backdrops to another level. 

Image Credit: Chiou Shi JIan via Objectifs’ Facebook page

The Perfect Backdrop

Perhaps the first thing you will notice about Sanjeev’s portraits are their backdrops. Decisively camp, strangely calming and mesmerising, worldy and nostalgic, the backdrops he has in his studio are a peculiar mix of landscape, scenery, and textures (there’s a strange water droplets one). “People really like the sky and the sea one,” he says, pointing out the many different portraits that chose the particular backdrop, “Or also the one with the tree in the corner. I think it looks very natural and serene.”

Earlier in the night, I heard someone comment on how some of the backdrops look very “China, communist-era” and Sajeev said it was because he had purchased some of them from a Chinese photo studio that was closing down.

As he moved into the digital era of the photo studio, he explained how some customers chose to shoot with a blank background and then request for a specific image of their choice to be projected behind them — this would be done during the editing process. “Most of them want a Singapore backdrop to show their relatives back home the modern city they are in,” he says. You’ll observe this as you look through the collection he has on exhibit — all the Merlions, tall buildings, scenic bridges we have in the city that make a cameo in the photos. There’s even one with an SIA plane flying in the foreground. “He asked me to add that!” Sajeev laughs.

Image Credit: Objectifs’ Facebook page

The Singapore Story

It’s no surprise that Sajeev Photo Studio became a point of interest for the exhibition A Decade of Portraiture in Little India presented by Objectifs, Centre for Photography and Filmmaking. It is through the photo studio that we can examine the changing roles of the photographic portrait and photo studios, the story of the Singapore immigrant, and a little about the history of our country as well.

Sajeev’s personal story is also one for the books as his wife related how they met. “He was 15 when he left for Singapore and I was just a girl in India. 11 years later I got a portrait of him as a working man in Singapore, and the rest was history,” Sheeja said. And if you thought it was a selfie he sent to Sheeja all those years ago, you might be disappointed. “He was working at the zoo at that time and sent me a photo of himself next to a kangaroo!” she exclaimed. Ah, jumping his way into her heart.

They now have a son who is currently serving National Service, and like father, like son, he too has expressed interest in his father’s business, and even plans to maybe take it up a notch. “He doesn’t like to be still all the time, so he suggested exploring the concept of the mobile photo studio. The pop-up booths you’d see at events,” Sheeja said. All in for the family business.

Image Credit: Objectif’s Facebook Page

I asked if after all these years, playing a role in the matchmaking process and watching men getting their portraits taken in search of love makes him a romantic. Sajeev smiles, gives a little chuckle, and looks at his wife. Sheeja takes over and says happily, “Yes, yes he is a romantic.”

Love, romance — these things, they’ll never go out of style.

Sajeev Photo Studio: A Decade of Portraiture in Little India will be running till August 31. For more information, visit: www.objectifs.com.sg/sajeev-photo-studio

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I remember many years back, if I wanted to reserve a seat to watch a movie at the cinema, I’d have to look at the newspaper to find out screening times and then call the cinema number to make a reservation. Few years later, cinema apps came along and I used them to make a booking and get a reservation number to redeem it at the counter.

Now, there’s no need to even go to the counter thanks to the QR code and QR code scanning machine at the cinema entrance.

The ticketing industry is revolutionising, not just for the cinema, but also the way we reserve seats in restaurants, concerts, travel, and other kinds of entertainment. We’d never imagine that the way we book tickets would have evolved to this point over time—and it still is.

GoTicket is another Malaysia-based startup that wants to join the evolution of the ticketing industry.

GoTicket is a platform that focuses on selling tickets for leading attractions in Southeast Asia. The website was launched last year with a purpose to provide online tickets from major attractions and destinations with the lowest prices. The simple modus operandi for the team at GoTicket is to look for new attractions and then negotiate with the management to get the best deals for their users.

There is already a list of destinations that are listed on the site. Currently they have got some destinations for Malaysia and only 1 for Singapore, which is the Universal Studios. In the menu bar, attractions are listed according to several categories, such as edutainement parks, theme parks, water parks, zoos, and more.

Clicking on each image brings you to the details of that destination and if you are satisfied with your selection, you can click on the ‘Buy Now’ icon to look at the ticket prices.

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Moreover GoTicket also claims that their tickets are free from hidden charges and are more affordable than the attractions’ gate price. Simply put, you no longer need to queue at the entrance of an attraction venue because you would have already gotten a ticket from GoTicket—at a lower price.

Is It Really Cheaper?

To test out what GoTicket has claimed, I went to their website as well as Legoland’s website to compare the prices.

Screen grab from Legoland website

Above is the original ticket prices as stated in the Legoland website. And below is the prices provided by GoTicket.

The adult and child ticket prices has been decreased by 20%. And there are lower prices for the theme park and water park as well.

Discount addicts will know that group-buying sites like Groupon and Milkadeal offer even cheaper prices, sometimes discounts up to 40% on certain attractions. However, one thing to note is that those deals are not listed on the group-buying sites every month. Those deals come and go and the prices or discounts will vary.

Other than that, discounts on group-buying sites for attractions are only valid for a certain period, for example 4-5 months from the date of purchasing the voucher.

Verdict: 3.5/5

For people who do not want to wait for the deals that they are eyeing at to appear on group-buying sites, they can just access GoTicket to get a cheaper price immediately. The team at GoTicket should, however, work on increasing the number of attractions listed. Although with their current few listings, I am already pleasantly surprised that I got to know of some attractions that I’ve not known about, such as the upside down house in Malacca.

Upside Down House Melaka.

The payment system is user friendly as it supports the local payment system as well PayPal, which is a plus point because the platform will appeal to foreigners who do not have a local bank account.

The website’s interface certainly needs to be improved. The colour and theme should exuberant more vibrance, since travelling is after all a lively activity filled with enthusiasm. With some minor improvements and added attractions for more variety, GoTicket could be a big hit among local and foreign travellers. The team could also consider developing an app so that users could buy cheaper tickers on-the-go; although I’m not sure if the attractions would be pleased or annoyed by that.

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I love Google Maps. Granted, I’m horrible with directions and depend on it on a daily basis, but the possibilities that Google Maps present to us are incredible.

The innovations company that technically has a playground as its headquarters has in turn given us the world as a playground. If you’re not using any of these tools, then you’re missing out big time. Here are the top 5 coolest things that you can do on Google Maps.

Digital LEGO

LEGOs are awesome. They’re building blocks of fun, unravelling unbounded creativity. But cleaning up is always a mess, and damn they always take up so much space.

That’s why Google’s Build With Chrome is one of the coolest things around. Build your creations anywhere in the world (the actual world; it’s all based off of Google Maps) with any kind of tile (and colour) you want, and you never have to clean any of it up. It’s a tiring process, clicking through their large selection of LEGO parts and colours, but the results are so beautiful.

Gorgeous work of art hidden off Alexander Road.

Singapore Flags by the Floating Platform

Google Maps for the Moon and Mars?

If you’re sick of Earth, then maybe other planets are more your style. With Google Earth, the larger, older brother of Google Maps, you also get to travel to Mars and the moon, with surfaces mapped out completely through all the photographs taken over the years.

But you don’t have to just look at it. In fact, you can zoom in to find out more about each line and crater that has been analysed by the world’s scientists, and even find out where each expedition landed.

Where Apollo 11 made its first moon landing in 1969.

Test your geography knowledge

If you aced your Geography exams in school, you may want to test your knowledge with the actual Google Maps. This awesome game, SmartyPin, makes use of Google Maps to test you on your world knowledge. They will ask you questions, and all you have to do is drag the pin to the answer.

The world has practically become your playground. Go nuts!

Check for traffic congestion

Before you leave the house, do plan your routes to avoid getting caught in unexpected jams? One of the most under-utilised Google Maps tools is traffic, where you can get a live feed of how bad traffic is around the world.

This is cool because getting stuck in traffic is never cool.

Ugh, PIE looks bad right now, maybe try CTE instead.

Make your own map!

If Google Maps isn’t enough to satisfy you, then maybe creating your own map will be more your speed. Google My Maps basically allows you to customise Google Maps to your own use — whether you want to plan for a trip, highlight neighbourhoods, or decide on driving routes.

You can technically do whatever you want with Google Maps as your template, much like what this Singaporean did to draw out electoral boundaries.

Visit walking trails in Singapore

The most recent addition to the Google Maps family is a new set of Street View walking trails that you can explore in Singapore itself. By placing your friendly Google Maps yellow man by the walking trail you want to explore, you will be able to experience the trail firsthand without actually going there.

Never visited the TreeTop Walk? Do it on Google Maps. Pulau Ubin? Save yourself the mosquito bites and do it on your computer.

The world has never looked cooler.

Also Read: 6 Things You Never Knew Your Google Maps Can Do

It’s bad enough that you have to grapple with the weird (not so weird) effects of puberty while you find your place in ‘teen’ society but you are also expected to meet the academic goals your parents set for you.

“Get good grades, go to college, get a job, a spouse (and/or a mistress), a couple of kids, and maybe a dog.”

A dream that you’re constantly sold over and over again—probably without the mistress—and the obvious truth that you’re going to die a painful death one day.

And so you bite.

You get to school the next morning and you ostracise yourself from the cool crowd by convincing yourself that being cool doesn’t truly matter (yes, it does) and you attend all your classes with your nerdy pair of glasses, you take notes, study late at night, you avoid catfights and evade beat downs (yes, nerds sometimes get beat downs, at least in the movies).

Image Credit: Memecdn

You spend each day in the presence of your physics textbook at the sacrifice of teenage joys. You know, things like your first kiss, the first time you got drunk (and/or high), your first girlfriend/boyfriend, your first pregnancy and STD scare (hopefully not at the same time), and other forms of teenage debauchery.

You were convinced that trivial things like these don’t matter—but they do.

Fast forward to the end of high school, you ace your exams with flying colours. You finish high school with a 4.0 CGPA while the cool kids don’t.

Here’s your shot at redemption; at least that’s what you think.

You draw up plans to head to one of the best colleges. Maybe you could become a doctor or a scientist. Maybe you could cure cancer?

In all honesty though, you might not even make it into college.

In fact, recently Malaysiakini quoted Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh saying, “A 4.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination does not guarantee a place in a public university especially for medical courses because of the limited places and stiff competition.”

“If CGPA is everything, probably they (the universities) will not have interviews,” he added.

If a 4.0 CGPA doesn’t guarantee you a place in a public university, then what does?

Image Credit: Chucklesnetwork

Rhetoric? Activism? Volunteerism?

Apparently all three, as universities also look at extra curricular activities and volunteerism and not only academic performance.

Not only is one expected to have a decent CGPA but one also has to help old ladies cross the street, kiss babies on their foreheads, feed starving and protein-deficient kids and save the world in general—just so one could be accepted into an university.

According to this article, an academic counselor Elaine stated, “Some students who are sure they want to be doctors will gather all the information they need for application and admissions but are not aware that interviewers are looking for genuine applicants—students who love medicine from bottom of their hearts and are not in it for the fame and money.”

If that truly ever becomes the case, won’t we render universities useless?

I mean, sure, universities still need to instill in you the skill to splice open a body with a sterilised knife within minutes but is it not also their responsibility to instill in you a love and a passion for a given craft?

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If the determining factor for an applicant getting accepted into a university is based on how well they manage to seduce the interviewer and to convince them that they are in love with a particular profession, then I truly feel sorry for the state of things.

Image Credit: Meme

Because we are now drawing up conclusions about a person’s future based on the interviewers gut feeling which clearly is volatile. Just because the interviewer wasn’t impressed a student’s swagger doesn’t mean that they won’t be good enough to represent the university or that they will be bad professionals.

How can you expect a student to claim that they are in love with the idea of being a doctor for the right reasons when they never even saw the insides of a rotting human body (assuming that’s what doctors do in college)?

Passions and love are always likely to change when push comes to shove.

Instead of relying on human emotion, shouldn’t we rely on a system that’s already in place?

From kindergarten all the way to the end of high school, a student is graded and promoted to the next level based on their academic performance. They are graded on how well they do math rather than how well they kick a ball, dance or sing. Authorities of education prioritise academic performance throughout a person’s development and then at the end of it all state that academic performance isn’t everything. The student should have learnt how to kick a ball or something.

Academia shouldn’t be concerned or bothered with extra-curricular activities, they should only be interested in the betterment of a given thought and its execution.

Image Credit: Funnysportmemes

Does that mean all academic geniuses should get into the best universities?

Yes, that’s what I’m saying. If I have a 4.0 CGPA and I didn’t make into the soccer team and I have to compete with another candidate who also the same CGPA and does make it into the soccer team, then I have no problem rationalising the university’s choice—even though, I can smoke their faces off in a game of FIFA.

But if the university has to choose between a candidate with 4.0 CGPA and no extra curricular activities and a candidate with extra curricular activities and a 3.5 CGPA, then screw the candidate with the 3.5 CGPA.

They will find their calling in life. Maybe they can set up a business or start a cult.

Also Read: 4.0 In Your Exams – No Big Deal, According To This M’sian Academic Counsellor

P.S.: This article is the author’s opinion on how universities should prioritise academicians over all-rounders; but then again, as with all opinions, this is subjective. 

We recently wrote about the official launch of Fit Rebel, an online fitness wear portal which offers high quality and fashionable fitness wear for women. This e-commerce site consists of a good amount of brands based on functionality, affordability and exclusivity, handpicked by the founder Nadia Hasbi, herself.

To raise awareness about fitness in the Klang Valley, Fit Rebel has participated in the active lifestyle revolution and started a running club called Fit Rebel Runs, a running club for people who don’t run to encourage them to become active and pick up running.

The inspiration behind this club was fueled by Nadia’s positive experience when she participated in other runs around KL and enjoyed every one of them. Before this, Nadia who wasn’t a runner herself, accidentally volunteered to participate in the Viper Challenge 2015 with a group of her friends.

Image Credit: Sports Bandits Facebook

When she found out that it entailed a 20km run with 20 obstacles, she was intimidated at first, but resolved to take up the challenge. When the big day came, her team decided to take it easy, have fun and leave no man behind. “It took us six hours to complete the course. It was exhausting, we had pains and aches all over our bodies for the next few days but we look back at the experience with fond memories,” remarked Nadia, laughing.

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Nadia Hasbi. (Image Credit: Fit Rebel)

The aim of Fit Rebel Runs is to rally a group of fun-loving people who want to make their typically lazy Sundays a bit more active. Nadia said “exercise can be fun and easy. While fitness enthusiast live by the ‘no pain, no gain’ catchphrase, not everyone will take to boot camps, marine-inspired workouts or intense body building routines. Sometimes, people just need a little motivation and some friends to get up and get moving, and this is what the Fit Rebel Runs are all about.”

How to participate in Fit Rebel Runs?

To participate in the club, the Fit Rebel Runners are required to meet at KLCC Park, in front of Dome Café by the fountain at morning 7:30 am sharp. Before starting the run there will be a quick warm up. The route is about 5km long and it takes half an hour to complete.

Image Credit: Fit Rebel

There is no subscription or joining fee but you are required to pay RM 5 every time you run with them. This fee will eventually be invested back into every member. After completing 10 sessions with the Fit Rebel Runs, the club will sponsor your participation in a run.

Previous runs that the Fit Rebel Runners have participated in include the Malaysian Women’s Marathon and Bloodrunner 2015. The running team will decide together the distance or the level, and fret not, as the goal is to have fun and enjoy the experience in a non-competitive manner.

Besides members will also be given a 50% discount to shop at fitrebel.com.

Image Credit: Metro The Star

That being said, the Fit Rebel Runs will take  place every first and third Sunday of the month, in conjunction with KL Car Free Morning, an initiative supported by DBKL (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur) when major roads in downtown Kuala Lumpur are closed from morning 7 am until 9 am.

For more information, you can visit fitrebel.com.

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