Friday, 6 March 2026

Humour

They say the most wasted of all days is that which one has not laughed. So, don’t waste a single day of your life. Laugh, and be merry.

Humour and laughter is the antidote to this stressful life. When possible, where possible, laugh. It may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years.

If you are having one of those days where you are finding it hard to laugh, have a look at the following imges - courtesy of friends’ WhatsApp messages and images from the internet. Maybe they will bring on a chuckle, or a smile at least.

May your days be filled with laughter.

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Thursday, 5 March 2026

Food / Health

The benefits of consuming the following food/fruits. The information is taken from Facebook posts by ‘Food IQ’. 👉 HERE I do not know how true, or accurate they are. But I do know that consumed in moderation, they will not do you any harm.

When rice is cooked and then cooled (even for just a few hours), the molecular structure changes into Resistant Starch Type 3. This starch acts as a "shield" because it doesn't turn into glucose in your blood. Instead, it travels to your large intestine where it ferments and produces Butyrate—a fatty acid that heals your gut lining and tells your body to burn fat for energy instead of storing it. When rice is cooked and then cooled (even for just a few hours), the molecular structure changes into Resistant Starch Type 3. This starch acts as a "shield" because it doesn't turn into glucose in your blood. Instead, it travels to your large intestine where it ferments and produces Butyrate—a fatty acid that heals your gut lining and tells your body to burn fat for energy instead of storing it. – A Facebook post by ‘Fruit IQ’
Most people discard the hard core, but that is where the highest concentration of Bromelain lives. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks down proteins and is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. In sports medicine, it's used to reduce swelling and muscle soreness. Instead of tossing it, chop the core finely into smoothies or salads to get a pharmaceutical-grade dose of joint protection that you can't get from the soft flesh. – A Facebook post by ‘Fruit IQ’
Commercial cucumbers are coated in a food-grade petroleum-based wax to prevent moisture loss. This wax doesn't just sit on top; it acts as a solvent that "locks" pesticides into the skin of the vegetable. No amount of scrubbing or vinegar-soaking can remove what's trapped under the wax. Unless you’re buying organic or home-grown, peeling the cucumber is the only way to reduce your pesticide exposure by up to 80%. – A Facebook post by ‘Fruit IQ’
When you eat sugar on an empty stomach, your blood glucose spikes instantly. However, if you eat dessert right after protein, the protein triggers the release of GLP-1 and Peptide YY (satiety hormones). These hormones physically slow down "gastric emptying"—the speed at which food leaves your stomach. This forces the dessert to wait in line, releasing its sugar into your blood in a slow drip rather than a flood, preventing the insulin spike that triggers fat storage. – A Facebook post by ‘Fruit IQ’
2026 gut health data shows that the number of different plant species you eat is the single greatest predictor of gut microbial diversity. Each plant (grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, fruits, veggies) contains unique fibers and polyphenols that feed different "specialist" bacteria. Most people eat the same 5-10 plants. By hitting 30, you diversify your gut flora so much that your immune system becomes significantly more resilient to inflammation and pathogens. – A Facebook post by ‘Fruit IQ’

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Wednesday, 4 March 2026

The World of Our Feathered Friends

You live and learn. Or you don't live long. - Robert A. Heinlein

Today, we take a peek into the world of our feathered friends.

Some interesting fun facts about birds – courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, ‘Science and Facts’, ‘Crazy Creatures’, ‘The Knowledge Factory’, ‘The Study Secrets’ etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

Kiwi chicks really do hatch with an enormous yolk sac (up to ~40–50% of their body weight), which fuels them for about 7–10 days without eating. They’re fully feathered at birth, largely independent, hide during the day, roam at night, and receive little to no parental care—a super rare strategy among birds. – A Facebook post by ‘Strangest Facts’
Tiny, fearless, and built for cold forests—this Golden-crowned Kinglet is moments away from flight.

Despite its delicate size, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is one of North America’s toughest little birds. Weighing barely more than a few coins, it survives freezing winters that seem far too harsh for such a small body. Its secret is not strength, but strategy. As night falls and temperatures drop, these birds gather together and snuggle tightly, sharing body heat to conserve energy and stay alive through the coldest hours.

During the day, kinglets are in constant motion. They flit rapidly from branch to branch, searching bark and needles for tiny insects and eggs. Their fast metabolism demands near-constant feeding, which is why you often see them pausing only briefly before launching again. The bright yellow stripe on the crown, bordered by black, gives the species its name and is especially vivid in good light.

This image captures more than a bird—it shows resilience in miniature form. In a world where survival often favors size and power, the Golden-crowned Kinglet proves that cooperation, efficiency, and adaptation can be just as powerful. – A Facebook post by ‘Knowledge Bytes’

Even the fastest hunter stops to prepare first. The peregrine falcon can dive at over 240 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal on Earth. Yet sheer speed is only part of its success. Before each hunt, the falcon meticulously grooms its talons, checking every claw with intense focus. These talons are not just sharp, they are essential tools for survival. One misstep at top speed could mean serious injury or missing a meal.

The talons are engineered to strike with crushing precision, often locking prey instantly in mid-air. Grooming keeps them clean, removes debris, and repairs minor wear that could reduce grip. But preparation doesn’t stop there. Falcons carefully realign feathers, clean their beaks, and ensure their body is perfectly primed for the hunt.

Every small action adds up to a single, flawless strike. In the world of the peregrine, preparation and precision are just as critical as speed. – A Facebook post by Patrick Barnes

This is the Kakapo, what many call the "world's dumbest bird." It's entire existence is a parade of evolutionary miscalculations.

It’s the world's only parrot that cannot fly, but nobody told the Kakapo that. It constantly climbs trees and jumps off, only to plummet straight to the ground like a feathery rock.

But the real comedy is its love life. When it wants to find a mate, the male digs a hole in the dirt, sits inside it, and just screams for hours. It makes a booming noise that sounds like a foghorn, hoping a female will hear it from miles away.

Now that rarely works, we’re talking like once every 5 years they’ll find success, so when they’re unsuccessful they waddle off to find a nice rock to get busy with.

The males have been also been known to attempt to seduce a falling leaf or more famously, a human head. - A Facebook post by ‘The Feed Ski’

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Tuesday, 3 March 2026

‘Yuan Xiao Jie’

👉 Source

Happy ‘Yuan Xiao Jie’

Today is Yuan Xiao Jie. This festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month (March the 3rd) this year, marks the first full moon of the year and the end of the Chinese New Year. In China, it is also known as the Lantern Festival, and Chinese Valentine’s Day. The festival dates back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty.

I don’t know what it is like in China now, but according to history, in the olden days, young people took to the streets, enjoying the colourful and beautifully designed lanterns on display, and hoped for a chance to meet their potential partner. Games like solving riddles, and vibrant dragon dances add to the vibrant atmosphere of the occasion.

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People eat ‘tangyuan’ (sweet rice balls), with various fillings, symbolizing family reunion and happiness.

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Outside of China, the festival is not as popularly celebrated. In Singapore, grassroot leaders in each housing estate might organise an event to mark the end of the Chinese New Year. Families might gather for a meal in the evening, but the meal is not as elaborate, or as important as the reunion dinner.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Monday, 2 March 2026

Wacky Humour

Laughter is our reflex to something that tickles our funny bone; it is our reflex to something which we find amusing. It is when we find, or see the humour – in a joke, an action or a situation. And it doesn’t matter if you revel in the coarsest puns or the raunchiest jokes.

Whatever humour works for you, it is great. The important thing is to have a sense of humour. And not to lose your sense of humour no matter how tough life gets.

Enjoy this week’s selection of humour! May you days be filled with laughter!

Sometimes, when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." - Jack Handy

It's actually not too difficult to get a dog to bring a ball back to you once you learn how. It helps to start by understanding that dogs are just trying to teach you to play their game while you're trying to teach them yours. Who ends up training whom first depends on you. Keep in mind that dogs are naturals as animal trainers, while humans aren't, so you'd better be on your toes when you start to try out "fetch" with a new dog. - Patricia McConnel

Stealing, of course, is a crime, and a very impolite thing to do. But like most impolite things, it is excusable under certain circumstances. Stealing is not excusable if, for instance, you are in a museum and you decide that a certain painting would look better in your house, and you simply grab the painting and take it there. But if you were very, very hungry, and you had no way of obtaining money, it would be excusable to grab the painting, take it to your house, and eat it. - Daniel Handler

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Sunday, 1 March 2026

Chinese New Year Dinner

Officially, Chinese New Year is a two days celebration. Unofficially, it goes on until the 15th day of the first lunar month.

As with the previous years, the ‘Motley Crew’ organised a Lunar New Year get together. Due to some not being available during the weekend, the gathering was held on a Friday – the 27th of February, two days ago.

Dinner was at 7pm. The venue was at our artist and chef friend, Ernest’s house. He had once again welcomed us to his home and volunteered to cook for us.

On this occasion, there were eight of us (including the host). Those who were free went a bit earlier, and those who were working joined us after work.

For starter, we had ‘Yu Sheng’, also known as raw fish salad. The dish contains raw fish (could be salmon, mackerel, or abalone), shredded radishes, carrots, cucumbers, ginger, pomelo, roasted peanuts, and fried crackers, dressed with plum sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.

There is a ritual before consuming this dish that is only served during Chinese New Year. Diners gather around the platter and toss the ingredients high in the air with chopsticks while shouting auspicious phrases, believing the higher the tosses, the greater the fortune.

Sharks fin soup
Before you berate us for being cruel to the sharks and not being environmentally friendly, the can of shark’s fin soup was a gift to one of the members in the group, who thought to share it with us. We did not set out to have the dish on purpose.
Claypot rice – rice cooked in a claypot with a mixture of ingredients like salted fish, chicken, sausages...
Claypot rice after a good stir
Braised pork
Claypot seafood with tong hoon (glass noodles)
Long cabbage with abalone
There was another dish of meat and prawn ‘cake’ which I forgot to take a photo of.

As usual, there were generous portions of food, snacks and fruits. We all had our fill washed down with a couple of bottles of wine.

We all had a lovely evening. In October this year we would have known each other for 40 years, albeit some missing years in between before Facebook reunited us. It was suggested that when the time comes – in October, we should all go for a long trip together. We shall see.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Saturday, 28 February 2026

The World of Animals

We live and Learn. It is good to learn sonething about this amazing, wonder-ful world everyday.

Today, we take a peek into the world of animals that share our wonder-ful world.

Here are some trivia, fun facts about animals, courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, ‘Science and Facts’, ‘Crazy Creatures’, ‘The Knowledge Factory’, ‘The Study Secrets’ etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

Terrifying at first glance… but secretly one of nature’s greatest helpers.

A single bat can devour thousands of mosquitoes every night, protecting humans from bites and harmful diseases. When a bat accidentally enters your home, it isn’t aggressive or dangerous. It’s disoriented, frightened, and desperately trying to find a way back outside.

These misunderstood creatures play a vital role in balancing ecosystems, silently working while we sleep. Instead of fear, they deserve understanding — because that tiny visitor isn’t a threat, but an exhausted guardian looking for an escape route. – A Facebook post by ‘Knowledge Factory’

A serval cat slips through the tall grass as the sky lightens. It is dawn on the African plains and the air is cool and soft. The world wakes slowly, and the serval moves with care. Its coat blends with the brown and gold of the grass, making it look like a living shadow.

It springs and pauses, every motion quick and sure. Long legs coil like a spring, then push off in a smooth jump. Ears prick up at every tiny sound. Eyes lock on a rustle in the grass. It moves quietly but with fierce purpose, a small hunter in a wide, quiet land.

As the sun rises, the serval melts back into the grass after the hunt, calm and ready for the next moment. Watching it feels like watching a secret of the wild unfold. The scene is simple and strong: a lone cat, the open grasslands, and the soft light of a new day. – A Facebook post by ‘Amazing World’

Cheetahs are unique among big cats because they lack the aggressive instinct toward humans seen in lions or tigers, leading to a history where there are no documented cases of a wild cheetah killing a human being. This docile nature stems partly from their evolution as specialized sprinters rather than ambush brawlers, making them naturally more cautious and prone to fleeing from potential threats rather than attacking. While they are still formidable predators with sharp claws and incredible speed, they often display chirping vocalizations and purring behaviors remarkably similar to domestic felines, which has earned them their reputation as the world's most oversized house cats. – A Facebook post by ‘Scientist Facts’

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Friday, 27 February 2026

Trivia and Fun Facts

You live and learn. Or you don't live long. - Robert A. Heinlein

What an amazing world we live in. Here are some interesting fun facts, trivias about this wonder-ful world – courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, ‘Science and Facts’, ‘Crazy Creatures’, ‘The Knowledge Factory’, ‘The Study Secrets’ etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

A power plant in the Netherlands uses poultry manure as fuel. Instead of throwing the waste away, the plant burns it to make heat and electricity. That power is enough to light up about 70,000 homes. This idea turns a smelly problem into useful energy for many people.

After burning the manure, the plant is left with ash. The operators don’t just dump this ash. They clean and process it so it can be used again. The ash contains nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, which plants need to grow. By treating the ash, the plant makes a type of fertilizer that farmers can use on their fields.

This system closes a loop: waste becomes energy, and the leftovers help grow more food. It cuts down on the amount of manure that would otherwise be a polluting mess and reduces the need for some mined fertilizers. Overall, the plant shows a simple, practical way to turn waste into useful things while helping the environment. – A Facebook post by 'Colours of Nature'

Only 100 people on Earth are known to have this condition.

A rare case of "mental time travel" reveals how the human brain can organize a lifetime of memories into a vivid, navigable mental architecture.

Imagine stepping into a mental "white room" where every moment of your life is cataloged on shelves or hung like photographs.

For a teenager known as TL, this is not a metaphor but a daily reality. TL is one of fewer than 100 people diagnosed with hyperthymesia, a condition of highly superior autobiographical memory that allows her to mentally time travel to her past. Unlike others with this condition, she possesses a structured mental architecture that organizes memories by space, emotion, and time. She can voluntarily "re-experience" events with total sensory clarity, even choosing to seal away painful memories in a mental chest while shifting to different "rooms" to manage her focus and anger.

What makes TL’s case truly remarkable is her ability to "pre-experience" the future with the same vividness as her past, a phenomenon known as episodic future thinking. By observing her structured memory system, researchers are gaining a rare window into how the brain constructs our sense of identity and time. This study, published in the journal Neurocase, suggests that memory is far more than a simple recording; it is a complex, navigable landscape that allows us to map our lives. TL’s unique cognitive architecture provides a profound look at the mechanics of human consciousness and the ways we anchor ourselves within our own history. – A Facebook post by Hashem Al-Gaili

Each year, winds sweep massive clouds of dust from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic Ocean to the Amazon rainforest.

That dust carries roughly 22,000 tons of phosphorus—almost exactly enough to replace the nutrients the rainforest loses through constant rain and flooding. In a quiet, invisible cycle, one of the driest places on Earth helps fertilize one of the wettest, sustaining one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. – A Facebook post

Your fingers do not actually contain muscles. Instead, they operate like a sophisticated pulley system powered by your forearms and palms.

It may come as a surprise, but the fingers themselves are devoid of muscle tissue, with the exception of the tiny arrector pili responsible for goosebumps. Instead, our manual dexterity relies on a remote control mechanism. Major muscles in the forearm, known as extrinsic muscles, provide the power for grip and mass action, while smaller intrinsic muscles within the palm handle fine motor tasks like typing or playing an instrument. These muscles are connected to the finger bones by tendons—tough, fibrous bridges that transmit force to create movement.

Because our hands are so dependent on this tendon-unit system, maintaining their health is vital for daily function. Experts warn that tendons are susceptible to inflammation, tears, and repetitive strain injuries, particularly in an era of constant screen use. While minor injuries often respond well to rest and physical therapy, severe damage may require surgical intervention to restore mobility. Protecting these essential structures through regular stretching and proper ergonomics ensures that this biological pulley system continues to function smoothly. – A Facebook post

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Thursday, 26 February 2026

The World of Insects

Live to learn and you will really learn to live. - John C. Maxwell

Knowledge is like a rare gem; the more facets it has, the greater its brilliance. - Validivar

Today, we take a peek into the world of insects. These are some interesting fun facts about insects – courtesy of Facebook pages ‘Colours of Nature’, ‘Ancestral Stories’, ‘Weird Facts’, ‘Unbelievable Facts’, ‘Today I Learned’, ‘Science and Facts’, ‘Crazy Creatures, ‘The Knowledge Factory’, ‘The Study Secrets’ etc… However, I do not know if they are true. Some of them sound really incredible.

Nature really does have a sense of humor.

Hidden deep within Hawaii’s forests lives the rare “happy face” spider, a tiny species found nowhere else on Earth. Its cheerful, face-like patterns aren’t painted or altered—they’re completely natural pigments formed by genetics.

What makes this spider even more fascinating is that no two look the same. Each individual carries a unique design, like a living fingerprint crafted by nature itself. Scientists believe these patterns may help with camouflage or survival. Proof that even the smallest creatures can carry the biggest surprises—and a smile to match. – A Facebook post

Male mosquitoes locate females by sensing the frequency of their wingbeats rather than by sight. Their antennae are highly sensitive to air vibrations and act like finely tuned sensors that pick up the distinctive flight tone produced by a female’s wings. When a male detects this sound, he adjusts his own wingbeat to match it.

This synchronized interaction, known as harmonic convergence, allows both mosquitoes to confirm they are the same species and suitable mates. The process happens mid-air, enabling accurate recognition and successful mating even in dark or crowded environments. – A Facebook post

Spittlebug, also called froghopper, nymphs are tiny young insects that live on plants. They make a frothy foam known as cuckoo spit. To make it, the nymphs suck plant sap and mix it with air, turning the liquid into a bubbly foam that looks like soft spit on stems and leaves.

The foam acts like a little bubble shield around each nymph. It keeps them from drying out by holding in moisture, so the insects do not lose water while they feed. The soft, wet foam also helps keep the nymph warm and comfortable in changing weather.

The cuckoo spit also protects the nymphs from danger. Predators like birds, ants, or spiders find it hard to see or grab the insect inside the foam. The taste and smell of the foam can also put some attackers off. Because of this clever foam, spittlebug nymphs can stay hidden and safe until they grow into adult froghoppers. – A Facebook post by ‘Fantastic World’

The Cockchafer Beetle might just have the best “eyelashes” in the insect world. Those striking feathery structures aren’t for show, they’re highly specialized antennae that detect scents in the air with incredible precision, helping the beetle navigate its environment and find mates.

Male cockchafers can fan out these antennae to sense pheromones released by females from remarkable distances, essentially using them as biological radar. When flying or moving through dense vegetation, the antennae fold back to avoid damage, showing how form and function go hand in hand. Interestingly, most of a cockchafer’s life is spent underground as a larva, feeding on roots for several years, with its adult phase dedicated almost entirely to reproduction.

The bigger and more feathered the antennae, the sharper the beetle’s sense of smell. These tiny “eyelashes” are a perfect example of evolution fine-tuning an organism for survival and connection in the hidden corners of the world. – A Facebook post by Patrick Barnes

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Wednesday, 25 February 2026

My Most Expensive Meal

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I had my most expensive meal in my lifetime the other day. As they say, there is a first for everything.

The 23rd of February was the seventh day of the first lunar month this year. In the Chinese Calendar, it is also called Renri (人日), or "Human Day". The day is celebrated as the common birthday of all human beings. It is a traditional day for celebrating life, humanity, and growth.

Coincidentally, a group of my friends and I decided to gather for a meal on that day. It was sort of our ‘reunion dinner’ – a meeting of long time friends, some of them from overseas who were back for the Chinese New Year. Because it was a ‘Human day', most restaurants were fully booked. We managed to find one who has a table for us – the Peach Garden Chinese restaurant.

We were recommended, and got sold on the restaurant’s Chinese New Year set menu - $168++ per person. Together with the bits and pieces, the total bill for eight diners came to $1733.35. Divide that by eight, each person paid about $220/-. Ouch!

These were the dishes

Signature Yu Sheng with Salmon and Golden Abalone – a raw fish (salmon and abalone) salad

Peach Garden Nine Treasures Thick Soup. This consists of Superior Shark’s Fin, Sea Cucumber, Fish Maw, Sliced Abalone, Braised Mushroom, Bamboo Pith, Bamboo Shoots, Compoy and Black Fungus
Steamed Fillet of Sea Perch with Superior Soya Sauce
Pan-fried Pork Chop with Black Truffle Sesame Sauce
Stewed Ee-fu Noodle with Baby Lobster and Garlic in Superior Stock
I forgot to take photos of the desserts.

Peanut Glutinous Rice Ball with Peach Gum and Red Date. The one we had was a slight variation of the one in the photo.

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Black Glutinous Rice Nian Gao The Nian Gao was similar to the one in the photo

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Nian gao (年糕) is a traditional, sticky, and sweet Chinese glutinous rice cake, often called ‘New Year Cake or ‘Year Cake’. It is primarily consumed during the Lunar New Year as a symbol of prosperity, as its name sounds like "higher year" (年高), signifying growth, improvement, and success.

Overall, the meal was nice enough, but not so nice that I tell myself I need to have them again.

What do you think? Is the meal worth $220/- SGD ($170 USD)? For someone who eats to live, this is an extravagance I don’t need.
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You can click on the picture for a better view.

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