CNA938 Rewind - Why do Singaporeans love plushies… and reselling them?
CNA938 Rewind
Play
The charms and plushie craze has led to a spike in scalping. Milo's new Breakfast and Breaktime sets had fans flock to supermarkets, with some taking to Carousell to cash in on the hype. And the viral $19.90 Scotch Brite EZ-Link charm is now going for double. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin ask Associate Professor Ang Swee Hoon from NUS Business School why Singaporeans enjoy reselling.
CNA938 Rewind - Why do Singaporeans love plushies… and reselling them?
The charms and plushie craze has led to a spike in scalping. Milo's new Breakfast and Breaktime sets had fans flock to supermarkets, with some taking to Carousell to cash in on the hype. And the viral $19.90 Scotch Brite EZ-Link charm is now going for double. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin ask Associate Professor Ang Swee Hoon from NUS Business School why Singaporeans enjoy reselling.
15 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Penknife attack: do we need regular bag checks in schools?
A Bartley Secondary School student was arrested on Monday after cutting a teacher with a penknife. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak to Associate Professor Jason Tan from the National Institute of Education – Policy, Curriculum, and Leadership to discuss how else we can further improve safety for teachers and students.
17 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Inside the World's Highest Microbrewery at LeVel33
In 'Destination Anywhere' Melanie Oliveiro finds out where, in Singapore, listeners can go to visit the world's highest microbrewery in a building, as recognised by the Guinness World Records. It's at LeVeL33, the rooftop bar-restaurant located on the 33rd floor of Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1. Dr. Martin Bém, LeVeL33's founder and managing director will talk about how the microbrewery came about and how public tours around it are held. LeVeL33's brewmaster Gabriel Garcia will share some facts about making the freshly brewed craft beers like blond lager and India Pale Ale.
19 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Attention all poets & writers – answer to the GPA 2025 Open Call
In 'Culture Club' Melanie Oliveiro finds out more about the GPA or The Golden Point Award, Singapore's premier creative writing competition in the nation's four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Established by the National Arts Council in 1993, GPA is now a significant platform for discovering new writers whose works exhibit literary merit and encourage literary expression in Singapore. GPA 2025 is now receiving submissions via its Open Call exercise which ends on 12 May. Arts House Limited's Geraldine Cheang and creative writer Mohanapriya Chandrasekaran will talk about how they are/were involved in GPA.
30 mins
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AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
40 S'poreans going on 'Single's Inferno' trips to Japan to find love, minus the cameras, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - In a few weeks' time, five women and five men will be flying to a villa in Japan on a trip inspired by South Korean reality television series Single's Inferno. The participants will not have met before going on the four-day, three-night trip, and will share a room with those of the same gender, as in the show. They are paying $1,111 each for a yacht trip, an Osaka day trip and an activity of their choice such as Universal Studios Japan and tea ceremony in Nara, among other things. Around 40 Singaporeans have signed up for three such trips, planned by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts design practice student Leo Ching Ling, 24, and business owner Ric Ang, 50. The pair, who met while Ms Leo was interning at a company Mr Ang was working in, have held around 10 social mixers around the numerology theme since August 2024 under their events brand Until 1111. Their parties offer compatibility readings, tarot card readings and purpose-infused crystal-making. Numerology is a practice that assigns a number to individuals based on their birthdate and name. The belief is that these numbers hold insights into personality, life path and potential. The parties are some of the latest initiatives to help sparks fly among singles, offering an alternative to dating apps. Others include singles pitch nights and dating mixers bringing games seen on platforms like YouTube and TikTok to the public. These events tend to be small-scale, with guests vetted for a more intimate setting. The idea for the trip came when Mr Ang's friend, who owns a villa in Japan, reached out to him to collaborate. Ms Leo said that they shared the idea on TikTok, and many expressed interest. "A trip together would be a good chance to create a core memory with each other, as well as a potentially long-lasting relationship." Participants asked to see photos of one another before the trip, but Ms Leo refused, wanting to keep the "surprise element" and not have them judge one another based on physical looks before meeting. Held every month, their mixers are attended by 20 to more than 40 guests bonding over speed dating, tarot readings and other activities. For some singles, signing up for such mixers is a way to expand their social circle and boost their odds of finding a partner after leaving school. Ms Lim Yun Qian and Ms Lynette Kee started a series of Plus One dating mixers in February as an answer to dating app fatigue, under their Footnotes initiative, which offers hosted experiences. "I think the idea of a 'meet cute' or meeting in a real life situation is something that everyone wants," said Ms Lim. "We want to make people comfortable," she added, likening their role to hosting a house party. Nearly 1,000 signed up for the three mixers, but each session was capped at 48 participants. Participants were chosen based on a form outlining their goals for the event, with online profiles reviewed to curate a more compatible group, said Ms Kee. Participants, who were aged 24 to 35, came with a friend as their "plus one" to put them at ease. Ms Lim and Ms Kee, who are both 29, tapped their expertise as full-time creative producers to create experiences usually seen on dating shows on TV and YouTube. The mixers' activities included doing a pitch for the single friend, helping to pass on messages to someone their friend was eyeing, or going around doing challenges on a Bingo card. The prize for the winning pitch was a 10-minute speed date with someone of the winner's choice, set up by the organisers. Proving that Singaporeans are not boring: Meet the people making dating fun again Falling out of love with dating apps? Young singles switch to events, other algorithms, old tricks The meticulous curation of guests paid off for one attendee, who said: "The selection of people was quite well put together. Everyone was friendly and willing to meet people. The activities made things a little less awkward." Added the 30-year-old content strategist, who declined to be named: "App interactions are fleeting, so an in-person event feels like you get to know people a bit more before you cast judgment." Although he is not dating anyone from the two Plus One mixers he attended, he has made friends who he has gone bouldering with. Ms Joell Tee, who founded Dinner with Strangers in 2022, started co-hosting singles pitch nights called Fishbowl, inspired by American reality TV show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs make business pitches to investors. "The premise feels quite low stakes, friendly and safe. Signing up with your friends kind of takes the edge off a dating event, because even if nothing comes out of it, it's still something that you were able to do with your friends, and it's still fun," said the 28-year-old, who works as a project manager in a bank. Around 160 people in their early 20s to late 30s have attended the three pitch nights held since August 2024. Attendee Denise Ong, 27, said going through the motions on dating apps has turned into "a numbers game where everyone starts to treat each other as disposable". "While the main objective (of going to Fishbowl) is to find a partner, I think it was nice to be reminded of everyone's humanity and individuality," said the marketing executive. It was her first time being pitched to a crowd. "I was a bit nervous, naturally. But I saw the deck beforehand, plus she's my best friend and knows me inside out, so overall I was enjoying it, even though I was a little 'paiseh'." Still, some singles have reservations about attending newfangled dating events, which may not meet expectations. Ms Ong went for a social mixer by Never Strangers, run by entertainment company Unfiltered, where she was drawn to a participant but later found out that he was not looking to date. She added: "There were even people who signed up together, and just didn't talk to anyone the entire night." "I think the more 'mass' these events are, the more superficial and unlikely it is to have good conversations, and I really do feel like that's what it's all about." Another participant Khor Kai Xiang, 29, who went for the same event, said he was matched with a man due to male participants outnumbering females. One Fishbowl participant, 29-year-old Nick, said he and his friend put together more "haphazard" presentations than the other participants who took the pitch more seriously. Nick, who works in finance and declined to give his full name, said: "We were slightly taken aback that some participants went straight to listing their expectations or requirements. The subjects ranged from marriage, number of children, to the infamous BTO (Build-To-Order flats)." Less crowd, more chemistry Meanwhile, Mr Lim, a 26-year-old financial adviser who did not give his full name, said his friends questioned why he was going to an Until 1111 mixer, pointing to a stigma attached to dating events. Little did he know he would meet a girl at the party's speed dating segment - though their brief conversation went "terribly". She was not interested in him at first, as he was a year younger than her and shared the same name as her former boyfriend. But he slipped her a note to say he enjoyed talking to her and hoped to keep in touch. They went out with a group of friends from the event a few weeks later, and he succeeded in asking her out after. "I was really lucky. These things are really hit or miss," said Mr Lim, adding that both his girlfriend and himself are introverts. "She's funny in her own way. She's a bit weird, but I'm also weird, and I just feel like she just complements me, and I can talk to her about anything. She's sort of like my safe place." Yet others have found love in interest group communities. Mr Luqman Rahamat, 33, met his girlfriend Elise Tan, 28, at non-fiction book club, The Saturday Book Club. Mr Luqman, a maths tutor, and Ms Tan, a pre-school teacher, first chatted about decluttering, and Ms Tan lent him a book on minimalism called Love People, Use Things. They then went to check out the social enterprise bookshop Books Beyond Borders. She was intrigued by his blog posts detailing his travels and analysing dating apps and other topics using mathematical concepts. The couple made it official over a year ago. "It feels like the universe planned it for me. I was in a phase of self-improvement and didn't have any expectations on finding a long-term partner," said Mr Luqman. "She made me feel like I am enough and also taught me how to love myself more and accept my flaws." To romantic hopefuls, he has this advice: "If dating apps don't work, move to communities where you can meet people, be yourself and find someone who can appreciate and accept you for who you are." This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Why businesses target the elderly?
CNA938 Rewind - Coffee clubbing in the daytime: Are more youths looking for a sober clubbing experience? Day parties have been gaining popularity in Singapore, as more young people look for alternatives to traditional nightlife options. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin learn more from Aden Low and Matteo Lie, Co-Founders, Beans and Beats - one joint offering such experiences. 15 mins CNA938 Rewind - Why businesses target the elderly? What sort of unscrupulous tactics are some businesses using here and are employees being encouraged to use these tactics to trick seniors? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin find out more from Associate Professor Lau Kong Cheen, Head of Marketing Programme at Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Business. 15 mins CNA938 Rewind - Kebabs, Bazaars, Yurt-life & More - Travels in Uzbekistan In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro catches up with foodie traveller and globetrotter, Nithia Devan, who'll talk about her adventures in Uzbekistan, the landlocked country in Central Asia. Devan describes her travels to its capital Tashkent, as well as the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. She'll talk about how she visited historical sites, mosques, madrasahs, bazaars, and squares – the most notable of which was Registan Square in Samarkand. 16 mins CNA938 Rewind - Dads and their sons – the immense importance of their relationship In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro explores the topic, 'The Importance of the Father-Son Relationship' with Anita Krishnan-Shankar, a therapist at Alliance Counselling. A survey conducted by charity, Focus on the Family, found that fathers confessed they could be a better parent, and even gave themselves a lukewarm rating on how well they play their roles. Krishnan-Shankar will discuss these findings as well as talk about what she notices about typical father-son relationships in Singapore – why some fail to connect with each other; what guidance a son needs from his Dad; and the challenges that come with raising a teenage son. 31 mins
New Paper
02-06-2025
- New Paper
Thosai-eating Machine: 36 thosais and more in 68 minutes
On a humid Friday afternoon, under the warm lights of the iconic MTR restaurant in Little India, Singapore's most famous food gladiator, Zermatt Neo, did something utterly jaw-dropping. He polished off a staggering 36 thosais in 68 minutes, along with an avalanche of other South Indian dishes. And I was there to witness it, surrounded by the clatter of cameras, the gasps of onlookers and the hum of disbelief. Zermatt, the 37-year-old Singaporean competitive eater and social media sensation, is no stranger to viral food challenges. But even by his sky-high standards, this was something special. Wearing his trademark quiet focus and a hungry grin, Zermatt attacked the feast with surgical precision: 10 podi masala thosais 10 masala thosais 5 set thosais 1 godhi thosai 2 plates of podi idli 3 plates of chilli bhaji 2 bowls of bisibele bath 1 curd rice And a selection of chutneys, sagoos, raitas, lassis and lemonades. That's more than 7kg of food, drenched in 1.6kg of ghee, consumed in just over an hour. "I chose MTR because so many of my Indian followers kept recommending it," Zermatt told me post-feast, still glowing - not from sweat, but what can only be described as thosai bliss. "They said this was the place to try real South Indian food. I went for it on my own free will, and they were right." Indeed, MTR, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary globally and 12th in Singapore, is no average restaurant. Known for its no-shortcut approach - no preservatives, no chemicals just good-old freshly ground masalas and batters - it draws loyalists from across cultures. "About 30 per cent of our podi thosais are eaten by Chinese customers," said MTR manager Srinivasa Satish Rao. "But this is the first time I've seen anyone eat 36 thosais in one go. Zermatt was smiling throughout. Incredible." It wasn't just thosais. Zermatt had never tried some of these varieties before. "I've had thosai before," he said, "but not like this. The spices, the ghee, the textures - buttery, crispy, hot. It's an experience. You can tell there's love in every fold of the thosai." And yet, watching him eat was hypnotic. Calm, composed, surgical. I couldn't help but ask: How does one even do this? Zermatt laughed and told me: "It's years of training. I started off with a 2kg capacity. I've worked up to 9kg now. Before and after each challenge, I fast for 24 hours to reset my body." What about health? "I go for full health checks every six months. My biomarkers are top 2 to 5 per cent. My doctor says I'm healthier than 90 per cent of Singaporeans." If it all sounds impossible, you should know this: Zermatt is not your average mukbanger (someone who consumes copious amounts of food on camera). With a ripped physique, a Tesla parked outside, and more than 2.2 million YouTube subscribers and a total of 4.5 million TikTok, Instagram and Facebook followers, he's a brand. He juggles nutrition knowledge, gym routines and travel schedules to pursue what he calls "performative gastronomy". At MTR, the audience of about 15 - including three camera operators, restaurant staff and curious patrons like me, drawn to the spectacle by the manager's invitation - watched with rapt attention as he gulped down thosai after thosai, mixing technique with pure willpower. What happens when you hit your limit? "You feel the flavours start to repeat, so I use tricks - mango lassi to cleanse the palate, honey lemon to lighten things. That helps reset the taste buds," he said. MTR's famed masala podi thosai was his favourite. "Perfect balance. The crispy exterior, the fluffy interior, the spicy potatoes - chef's kiss," he said. Zermatt's eating prowess is no fluke. He holds world records for devouring 92 chicken wings in eight minutes, 7kg of beef noodles in 15 minutes and 9.5kg of laksa. His recent stint with butter chicken - 4kg chicken, 3kg rice, 1kg naan - went viral. Indian food, he says, is the heaviest among cuisines. "The ghee, the spices - it hits different. But it's also the most delicious." So, is this the most thosais anyone has ever eaten in a single sitting? "I don't know," he said with a chuckle. "But if it is, I'd be happy to break my own record next time." Spectator and MTR regular Raj Nainani, who claims to have eaten there daily for years, was in awe: "Zermatt did something extraordinary. I Googled it - I think it is a world record." Behind the gluttony lies a mind of discipline. Zermatt adheres to intermittent fasting, stacks his post-challenge meals with fibre and probiotics and works out six times a week, focusing on cardio and compound lifts. "I don't binge every day. It's planned. It's science," he said. There's also deep respect for culture. "My Indian viewers love when I eat with my hands," he said. "It makes them feel connected. That connection means everything to me." Zermatt might be a global Internet phenomenon, but on May 23 at MTR Singapore, he was simply a man who loved eating thosais. The watchers clapped. The chefs peeked from the kitchen, stunned. He stood, wiped his hands, and flashed a grin. "I'm full," he said. Full of food, yes. But also full of joy. And for those of us lucky enough to watch, full of wonder.
