New Canon Compact Printer Out This Weekend

Whether it is at home or on the move, Canon’s new SELPHY ES2 and ES20 photo printers deliver high-quality prints while offering a host of exciting and user-friendly photo editing features

WE received a press release the other day from Canon, which is rolling out two new compact photo printers this weekend that, if the company’s publicists are to be believed, could be the next big thing in home accessories. We sure would like to get one as a Christmas gift.

“Finished in cool cappuccino and elegant white,” the press release wrote, “the SELPHY ES2 and ES20 are compact enough to fit on a coffee table or bookshelf and are a must-have addition to any modern living room.”

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Soh Ee Shaun, 26 y.o.

The man behind colour pencils and paintbrushes
By Mavis Ang

Having freelanced his way into collaborations with MTV, National Youth Council, Red Bull, and the Children’s Cancer Foundation, graphic artist Soh Ee Shaun has so much more yet to colour and doodle. 88DB presents to you the man with a sole mission: Brighten up Singapore.

Read more on Soh Ee Shaun.

Avoiding Road Accidents In The Rain

How to drive safely this rainy season, deal with slippery roads and lessen the risks of ‘hydroplaning’
By Samuel Ng

NOTHING can be worse than cruising down the expressway when suddenly a downpour ensues and you find yourself losing control and grip of your vehicle. Panic inevitably erupts. In hindsight, all of that could have been prevented for your driving safety and to avoid a road accident.

That feeling on the slippery road, when your car appears to have taken a life of its own, which in turn could result into a road accident, has nothing to do with engine trouble or paranormal activity. It’s actually a scientific term called hydroplaning.

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Great Italian Food At Miss Clarity Cafe

Run by a French-trained Singaporean chef, this cosy café serves Italian dishes like risotto and ravioli that’ll leave you and your tastebuds awestruck.
By Cheryl Chia

WITH a name like Miss Clarity, you’d be forgiven for mistaking this bright local café for a regular teenage haunt that serves fish and chips, burgers and ice cream. But while it’s true that this place is popular with the young, they’re not the only ones who have been streaming in. Only barely a year old, Miss Clarity Café has already gained a reputation for being a cosy restaurant to go to when you want warm and delicious hearty food at a reasonable price.

Serving Asian fare as well as the typical Western grub like bangers and mash, this Singapore café has added new items to the menu since they first opened. Their head chef, Jonathan Pang, used to be from Raffles Grill. Having apprenticed at Michelin-star restaurants in France and receiving guidance from top chefs, Mr Pang took the liberty of using his creativity to come up with an array of wonderful culinary creations.

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Yeo Siak Goon, 50 y. o.

Former book designer and now full-time painter, this elusive talent shares some of his thoughts on the occasion of his exhibit entitled ‘The Art Of The Offering’
By Mavis Ang

SINGAPOREAN artist Yeo Siak Goon was born in 1957 in a small village in Benut, West Malaysia. At the age of 16, he headed for the bright lights of Singapore to learn watercolour painting and drawing under two local masters, Hua Chai Yong and Leo Hee Tong.

A book designer with a publishing firm, Siak Goon has nevertheless found the time to participate in innumerable shows since 1977, representing Singapore in art exhibitions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, USA, Malaysia, Brunei, the Netherlands, Macau, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Read more on Yeo Siak Goon.

My Ideal Club

Eradicating all the flaws of clubbing in Singapore
By Xin

My ideal club to party at would spin everything from (an eclectic mix of everything from Paul Van Dyk to the retro Madonna to vintage rock!), and also have a ladies-only room so that girls can party to their hearts content without getting preyed upon by leery desperados or worry about letting loose and risk looking wild in front of hunks.

Having come across more than my fair share of unpleasant encounters while clubbing in Singapore, I’d enforce these house rules if I were to book a night at Zouk in celebration of my fabulousness.

Read more on My Ideal Club.

Do Car Spoilers Really Work?

For the rest of us who have to be content with a Mitsubishi Lancer, Honda City or Toyota Vios, spoilers simply aren’t going to pump up the car’s performance
By Samuel Ng

MODIFYING one’s ride is the “in” thing right now, as exemplified by the sale of body kits and side skirts that continue to hit record heights. Car spoilers fall into this same category and while, aesthetically, they add depth to a car’s look, do they really boost a car’s performance and handling?

It’s a commonly held theory that a car spoiler mounted on the car’s rear will help to jack up that vehicle’s handling and performance. Why is that so? Well, it boils down to performance racing circuits like Formula One and NASCAR where we see all these cars that have been fitted with auto spoilers and we drool over the grip and traction their tyres seem to have on the track.

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How To Avoid Salmonella

Avoid eating raw eggs, which may be unrecognised in some foods such as salad dressings, cakes ice creams and cookie dough
By Kelly Paal

IN 1885, an American veterinary pathologist discovered a bacteria from pigs that, when ingested by humans, can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours.

The bacteria was called Salmonella, named after its discoverer Daniel Edward Salmon. These days, salmonella are more commonly seen in poultry and raw eggs, and from food that has been cooked or frozen and not eaten straight away.

Read more on How To Avoid Salmonella.

Cheap Learning Courses In Singapore

‘Modern Living’ workshops can teach you many things — including what to cook for Christmas and New Year’s
By Jae Tan

SO YOU think you have a knack for mixing it up at the turntables and getting the crowd pumpin’ at the mercy of your beats?

Or maybe you prefer to groove on the dance floor? How about sharpening those moves while picking up new ones to help you stand out from the pulsating crowd?

Or would you like to learn what and how to prepare a sumptuous Christmas feast?

Look no further than your nearby community centre or club for “Modern Living” — a series of training workshops designed with the urban city dweller in mind.

Read more on Cheap Learning Courses in Singapore.

Understanding Dyslexia

Children with dyslexia may appear to be bright and articulate, but they fall way behind their same-aged peers in terms of reading, writing and/or spelling.
By Jae Tan

MAKE a guess. What do Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Bill Gates have in common? Apart from being leaders in their respective fields, these people have also prevented dyslexia from hindering them in their personal success.

Probably the most common of all learning disabilities, dyslexia affects the reading, writing and spelling skills of individuals that suffer from it.

Read more on Understanding Dyslexia.

Hundreds Of Recipes At Cold Rock Ice Creamery

Choose from 30 ice cream flavours and 40 mixes at this Australian concept store
By Mavis Ang

WALKING into Cold Rock at Holland Village was a bit like entering Willy Wonka’s refrigerator. This ice cream parlor’s bright walls, futuristic furniture, colourful desserts, and blue floor tiles did an excellent job at uncovering my childlike fantasy of an ice cream heaven. As I stuck my face close to the counter in wide-eyed marvel at the multi-coloured ice creams and toppings, I proceeded to the toughest part — deciding on the best combination.

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Men And Orgasm: Can You Have Too Much Of It?

Tantric Sex coach Christina Low thinks so and wants men to keep it on hold — why, she’ll even teach you how to do it!
By James P.Ong

WHEN Christina Low speaks, men listen. For three years now, she’s been holding sex courses on something that men over 13 years old tend to take for granted: the Big O. “Women have enormous difficulties in reaching any kind of satisfying orgasm,” explains the 30-something sex and intimacy coach who’s founded the company Tantra Path. “Ironically, men face the completely opposite problem — orgasm or, rather, ejaculation, is uncontrollable.”

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How Can You Attract A Positive Relationship?

Meet Carrie York, 88DB Lifestyle’s love and relationship expert who believes there are no stupid questions when it comes to love — so don’t be shy, ask anything.

RELATIONSHIPS in the year 2007: What's it like for singles living in a fast-paced, first-world country where people spend most of their time working. How can you attract a positive relationship into your life?

In today’s world of faced-paced jobs, deadlines, work commitments and everything else busy professionals have to deal with, it’s no wonder so many are dissatisfied with their romantic life.
There seems to be little time to devote to, look for, or even think about what one actually wants in terms of a romantic relationship.

Read more on How Can You Attract A Positive Relationship.

Ginette Chittick, 30 y. o.

She sings, teaches, designs, and DJs. Just who is this superwoman?
By Mavis Ang
Photos courtesy of FrüFrü & Tigerlily

BEST known for fronting the local indie band Astreal, Ginette Chittick has much more up her creative pockets. She also lectures communication design at LASALLE College of the Arts, is co-owner of fashion label FrüFrü & Tigerlily, and resident DJ at Home Club. Just who is this 30-year-old pint pint-sized rocker?

Get to know more of Ginette Chittick.

More Than Brownies At Melvados

Tucked away in a quiet residential area, this restaurant used to be serve just brownies — but its menu has now expanded to offer specialities like Italian pizza, pasta and lasagna
Photos and story by Mavis Ang

LOCATED amidst schools and residential districts in Bukit Timah, Melvados is often heard of, but not easily found. You can hardly notice this Singapore restaurant even if you drive past it, as the building hides behind overgrown roadside flora. “We get lunch and dinner crowds, but it’s the hours in-between which get a little too quiet,” says owner Richard Ng.

Although the location of this Singapore cafe is a bit out of the way, I liked the fact that it’s hidden from the crowd. It provides me, and others who seek refuge from congested fast food restaurants, a tranquil eating experience.

Read more on this food review, More Than Brownies At Melvados.

10 Ways To Enjoy S’pore On Weekend

There’s always something to do in the island, whether you’re a local or just here for the weekend
By Ronald Wan

YOU have fed Ah Meng at the Zoo and swam with dolphins in Sentosa. Heck, you even shook your booty with kids half your age at the trendy dance club called Zouk. You seem to have explored the entire island-state in just two days over the weekend. Yeah, right.

That’s what the Singapore Tourism Board would have you believe (it’s true, they came up with the weekend stay promotion for tourists in the region). But hey, extend your stay. There’s more to Singapore than just orangutans and underwater world creatures.

We present 10 Do’s and Don’ts for tourists to get an entirely and uniquely Singaporean experience. No, we won’t suggest queuing for Hello Kitties or Toto. We’re serious about you having fun.

Read more on the 10 Ways To Enjoy Singapore on Weekend.

Buy Andy Warhol Art? He Sold Out Long Ago, Baby!

What would Warhol be doing if he lived in Singapore? On the face of it, and for a whole host of reasons, one might think that he and Singapore would be a very bad match. I disagree.
By David Nugent

SO ANDY'S in town and you’re wondering whether it’s worth all the hype? You’re wondering if the man who created reality TV decades before it existed, who memorialised the concept of pop culture as true art (in as much as Toulouse Lautrec did in the 19 th century), and at whose estate auction shortly after his death brought in thousands of dollars for just one ceramic cookie jar, would be a good investment?

Stop asking stupid questions!

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How To Improve Your Car’s Audio

Install a capacitor and electronic crossover — they allow you to maximise the potential of car stereo without compromising on clarity
By Samuel Ng

AS WITH car detailing, car modifications and the buying of car accessories, getting the best audio system one’s budget can allow for should be part of the priority list for any self-respecting car enthusiast.

We all want our cars to be fitted with the latest top-of-the-line audio system and the bigger the wattage, the better it is.

Read more on How To Improve Your Car's Audio.

Succeed In A Freelance Writing Job

Students cum writers share invaluable tips based on their own experience
By Mavis Ang

Brand Yourself
Just like any company, begin by branding yourself. Set up a blog that highlights your freelance services, or be a little more creative and upload a video promoting your part-time business.

A professional looking website can impress a potential client, and it’s also easier for interested companies to understand more about you, and your works. A website is an excellent space to compile your portfolio, and you can buy a domain with APC at a rate of only $30 per year. Even a well-written (and well read) blog can attract potential employers. Juliana Lau, currently a first year student at Murdoch University in Perth, keeps a personal blog which gets around 300 hits a day. Although she receives offers from media firms from time to time, she thinks it’s not a medium to be counted on if one is considering serious employment.

Read more on how to Succeed In A Freelance Writing Job.

How To Structure And Write A Resume

By Fayola Peters

After a thirty (30) second glance lots of resumes get thrown into the wastebasket. One of the reasons this happens is because the resume writer has failed to use the appropriate resume format.

Each individual has different work experiences and objectives. You may have gaps in your work history. You may be changing careers or have had jobs progressively in the same field. You need to choose a resume format that is to your advantage and shows you as the best candidate for the job.

Read more on How To Structure And Write A Resume.

How To Choose The Best Credit Cards

By John Mussi

CHANCES are, you have received your share of “pre-approved” credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other special perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept 'before the offer expires.' Before you accept, shop around to get the best deal.

A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves charges. Credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost. So it's wise to compare terms and fees before you agree to open a credit or charge card account. The following are some important terms to consider that generally must be disclosed in credit card applications or in solicitations that require no application.

Read more on How To Choose The Best Credit Cards.

8 Ways To Advance Your Career

You must stand out from the crowd — be memorable, impressive, credible, trusted and liked
By John Mussi

TO SURVIVE and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is not just what you know. You also need to be competent.

Read more on the 8 Ways To Advance Your Career.

8 Methods To Shoot Professional-Looking Digital Photos

Better Photos with your Digital Camera
By Kelly Paal

Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees coming out of your father’s head, mom has red eye, and your beloved pet is never facing the camera then here are some tips on how to take better photos.

Read more on the 8 Methods To Shoot Professional-Looking Digital Photos.