Sly and Retiring

It’s the end of an era. After three decades in the game, two titans of their game are stepping down. In one corner we have Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager of Manchester United and a legend in his own lifetime. In the other, we have… Singa the Courtesy Lion, Manager of Manners and erstwhile mane man.

Both parties have talked about being exhausted after years of struggling to make people see things their way; and said they need a break. Between us? We’re just waiting for them to admit that they’ve simply decided to switch roles.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 May 24 - 00:00

Many Questions

It’s that time again! That time when we run out of time to prepare a proper editorial and so revert to a multiple choice news quiz! Pencils at the ready…

1) In this year’s May Day Speech, PM Lee assured us he was strengthening what?

a. His glutes, in time for the Sundown Marathon
b. Social safety nets
c. The bullet-proof, gold-plated toilet door at the Istana

2) How did the owner of a $1M Ferrari discover that valets at RWS had taken his car for an hour-long joyride last week?

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 May 10 - 00:00

Moving On Out

Redacted draft of a letter intercepted on a bumboat somewhere off the coast of Changi, April 2013

Dear Resident,

We, the Office for Relocation, Fiendishness and Utter Lunacy (ORFUL), are sending you this letter to reassure you that, contrary to recent reports in the press, under no circumstances will you be forced to leave your sorry excuse for a home on the backward, wild pig-infested island of Pulau Ubin.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Apr 26 - 00:00

Gini in a Champagne Bottle

Regrettably, we didn’t get around to writing anything for this column this week. That’s because we were too busy snorting diamonds and setting Louis Vuitton bags on fire at Pangaea. Haven’t you heard? Everyone’s at it! If the Wall Street Journal was to be believed a few weeks back, most of Singapore is busy chalking up six-figure bar bills, mopping the Cristal stains off their Lanvin suits and—sorry, “the sound of a Ferrari zooming past” distracted our train of thought there.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Apr 12 - 00:00

Eye, Eye

Applications to be among the first to get your hands on Google’s groundbreaking new Glass, the awesome/creepy augmented reality eyewear that displays all kinds of interesting info just above your sightline, are now closed. Hopefuls were invited to submit their most creative ideas for how they’d use the new product, using the hashtag #ifihadglass. Here we hazard a guess at some of the submissions they might have received from Singapore.

#ifihadglass I would have a bullshit monitor to tell me what percentage of the newspaper story I’m reading is propaganda

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Mar 22 - 00:00

Pass the Parcel

It’s time for your roundup of entertaining employment news! Whether you’re a CEO, HR Manager or lowly employee here’s what you need to know about the multitude of newly-introduced work passes.

The H Pass. Horses! Ensure you’re properly registered to avoid accidentally ending up in an Ikea meatball.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Mar 8 - 00:00

Seven Steps to the Perfect Party Protest

1) Chope your spot well ahead of time! Even if you’re protesting third world injustice, there’s no point wasting valuable minutes you could spend at a nearby café drinking $10 coffees.

2) Picking a theme you care about is passé. Instead, pick one that marks you out as a trendsetter. Workers’ rights are a bit 2012. Over-population is about as subtle as the Harlem Shake. Protest in favor of free-range kopi luwak for a subtle contemporary look that says ‘I care about animal rights and good coffee’.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Feb 25 - 00:00

Two is company, 6.9 million is a crowd

How does the government plan to accommodate the extra 1.6 million people it anticipates living here by 2030? Ignore the talk of repurposed golf courses and moved military bases; some redacted sections of their controversial White Paper reveal the real story…

1) Relocate people to the Jurong Rock Caverns. For years we’ve been building some 150 acres worth of mysterious storage space beneath the seabed. Let’s admit it’s not for storing oil, it’s for holding people.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Feb 8 - 00:00

Reinventing the Wheel

In an astonishing, unexpected and entirely imaginary turnaround this week, the founding father of a made-up Southeast Asian nation appeared on primetime television dressed as Lance Armstrong. In candid terms he spoke to Oprah Winfrey about his checkered past.

Let’s get straight to it. Did you ever take banned substances to enhance your… performance?

Yes. I chewed gum for years. I’m ashamed to say I had a hook-up with a Wrigleys supplier. Everything else I took was legal, if distasteful to the rest of the world.

Topics: 
city living
Author: 
Page3
Issue Date: 
2013 Jan 25 - 00:00