Internet has myriad of benefits but we cannot deny the fact that the internet is increasingly moving us away from traditional conducts of staying in touch. As a result, friendship in the digital age has totally transformed. There is a study conducted by Oxford University and BT Mobile that revealed a clear picture of English people in terms of digital exposure.

The study included 2,000 adults and it revealed that a person in United Kingdom devotes 4 hours and 12 minutes every day socializing online. These people have at least 178 circle of social media friends, send about 31 text messages, post 13 Facebook comments, tweet 6 times and email 11 times. Furthermore, the average person sends first message (of the day) at 9:04 AM and last at 9:29 PM.

Although there are no studies about how Singaporeans conduct their activities on social media, this can give us a clear picture. With this, the researchers came up with rules of digital etiquettes. These etiquettes should be lived by in this digital age. Here are some digital etiquettes that you should know about:

Do not private message someone you do not know

Unless you do not want to be ridiculed by someone, do not private message him/her especially if you do not know him/her. If you have something important to say, at least introduce yourself.

Never hide viewing history from thy partner

To avoid trust issues, do not hide your viewing history from your partner. If you do not have anything to hide, why conceal it in the first place?

Do not overshare on Facebook

There is nothing wrong if you share few good books, movies and some pictures but you have to be careful so as not to overshare it. For example, do not divulge your address and say that you are alone. It can be the opportunity of other people to do something bad.

Never look through your partner’s phone

In a relationship, trust is the very foundation. If you do not trust your partner that much, you try to sneak through their phone and eventually their social media accounts. That is not good. Let your partner have his/her privacy.

Do not post to social media when you are emotional

When you are emotional, you tend to say lots of things – some you do not mean. Once you click or post something, it will be out in the public and it is not easy to retract. When you are emotional, deal with it privately and do not let the whole world know. If you cannot handle everything on your own, at least divulge it to your closest friends.

Do not send text messages when angry

When you are angry, you want to vent out but social media is not the right platform to do that. If you are angry, be angry to one person and not the whole crowd.

Humans, by nature, are social beings. Our enjoyments are linked to other people and it is not a surprise that we invest much effort and time into keeping in touch with acquaintances and friends. There is nothing wrong with the digital age but we have to learn few etiquettes so as not to hurt many people.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That is true and we should include cereals in our meal. A bowl of cereal can actually help us to jump start our day. Cereals are famous for its variety and nutrition – it is indeed a humble breakfast staple. Cereals proved to be appealing and convenient but millennials find corn flakes boring and soggy.    

Many Singaporeans consider cereals but there is a recent study published in New York Times that says cereals have declined in terms of sales. Sales of cereals in 2000 were about $13.9 billion but in the last year, it declined to $10 billion. According to reports, the main culprit for this sudden change is millennials.

According to Mintel, a market research firm, millennials see cereals as an inconvenient breakfast choice because it involves washing the dishes after. Millennials instead consider smoothies, yogurts and sandwiches. They do not eat it at home but take it outside. This gives us a good picture of the shift of breakfast choice. However it is not too late to let our children appreciate cereals. Cereals have many health benefits.

Here are the top health benefits of cereals:

• Prevents constipation: If your child suffers from constipation, it is time that you prepare cereals. You have to know that cereals are rich source of fibre. Fibre facilitates stool and their passing in the digestive system. It makes the stool bulkier. The bulkier the stools, the more regular are the intervals. Preventing constipation is a good move in preventing haemorrhoids.
• Aids digestion: Cereals are wholegrain. Wholegrain is a perfect source of fibre. Aside from preventing constipation, it seeks to aid digestion. Cereals provide good bacteria that contain probiotics which is basically god for the digestive tract.
• Maintains healthy weight: Now you know that cereals are wholegrain. Wholegrain can in fact help maintain healthy weight. Cereals take longer to chew thereby sending signals to the brain that we are full.

• Provides good source of calorie: Cereals are good source of calories. As you know, calories are capable of boosting energy. In other words, calories help us move, breathe, think and perform all sorts of mental and physical activities.
• Offers vitamins and minerals: Cereals (unprocessed) contain tons of vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, phosphorus and many more. Once consumed, these vitamins and minerals are then absorbed, released to our bloodstream and go where the body needs it particularly. For example, magnesium goes to the muscles to help it make stronger.
• Satiates hunger: Not all people know this but cereals can satiate hunger. This means that the calorie and the fibre can keep us full longer than any other food. It does not end there because cereals can make us calmer.

Aside from the inconvenience of cereals, millennials think that cereals are boring. Cereals can be fun and healthy at the same time. To make it more appealing, you only need to add dried or fresh fruits for more minerals and vitamins. You can also top it with seeds and buts for more fibre or eat it with plain yogurt.

Aloe Vera, which is also popularly known as the plant of immortality, contains 75 naturally active substances like amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Apart from those active substances, aloe Vera is also rich in saponins – a natural cleanser that helps in getting rid of skin problems, making it an excellent skincare product. So before you start thinking twice about adding in aloe Vera gel in your beauty regimen, here are some of the proven benefits of adding the plant on your skincare regimen.

1. Protects From the Sun’s Harmful Rays. One of the known skincare benefits of aloe Vera is sun protection. The gel forms a layer on the skin that serves as a protective layer and helps in refilling its moisture. Choline, a moisturizing compound found in aloe plants, works by healing sun burns faster, while the Choline salicylate reduces the inflammation, redness and swelling of the burn.

2. Destroys Acne-Causing Bacteria. Unlike in other plants, aloe Vera contains Gibberellins (plant hormone) and Polysaccharides (plant chemical compound) that protects the skin from the acne-causing bacteria. A research conducted among 60 Singapore men and women with mild acne showed a drastic acne reduction when aloe vera by forever living products from Singapore, mixed with retinoid cream, was used. As per the researchers, it may be due to the fact that aloe Vera can penetrate deeper into the skin to wipe out the bacteria trapped in the clogged skin pores.

3. Moisturizes the Skin. Another good thing about aloe Vera Singapore is that it moisturizes the skin without making it look oily. For men, the gel can be used and applied as an after-shave product as aloe Vera includes natural healing properties that heals almost any small cut.

4. Removes Scars. While it may not look like it, aloe Vera gel actually helps in removing scars including acne marks. A research shows that the plant aids in maintaining collagen production during the injury recovery process, thus keeping scars from forming. Other than that, aloe gel can also be used as a defensive coat over the scar to speed up its healing process.

5. Lessens Stretch Marks and Wrinkles. As you get old, getting wrinkles becomes normal and yet, everyone starts feeling anxious about their look when a wrinkle line appears. Luckily, you can already use aloe gel to lessen those unwanted marks and lines. Aloe Vera contains a good amount of antioxidants including beta carotene, and vitamins C and E that aids in improving the skin’s natural elasticity while keeping it hydrated. Other than that, the antioxidant properties of aloe Vera Singapore also helps in healing and reducing stretch marks.

6. Reduces Itchiness and Skin Inflammation. Apart from healing stretch marks and preventing appearance of wrinkles, aloe Vera can also be used to reduce itchiness and skin inflammation. Aloe Vera gel contains a soothing essence known as choline that aids in lessening itchiness and skin inflammation. In fact, even Ayurveda uses aloe Vera compounds to cure skin problems like acne, eczema and psoriasis.

7. Aids in Treating Skin Pigmentation. Brown spots can be a real cause of stress for some of us, but with aloe Vera, this doesn’t have to be the case. Our skin colour often depends on the pigments called melanin that are created by melanocytes. The pigment often appears in the form of brown patches in areas like the forehead, nose, cheeks, upper lip and the chin – and since aloe Vera Singapore contains substances like polysaccharides and mucilaginous, it can help in lightening the pesky brown spots.

8. Minimizes Excessive Oil Production of Skin. Excessive oil production combined with dirt and dust is what often causes skin problems like acne, inflammation, pimples, and black- and whiteheads. Luckily, all this can be prevented or treated with the help of the aloe gel. The plant contains choline salicylate, which aids in minimizing the skin’s excessive oil secretion, thus maintaining the oil level on the skin.

9. Treats Blemishes. Blemishes are the dark spots or skin discoloration caused by acne, aging, hormonal imbalance or excessive sun exposure. Fortunately, aloe Vera contains anti-inflammatory properties that can be used to treat or keep your skin from getting any blemishes.

DIY Aloe Vera Gel Uses

• For Glowing Skin. To get the glowing skin that you’ve always wanted, simply mix your aloe Vera gel with a teaspoon of milk and a little amount of turmeric powder. Once you’re done mixing, apply the mixture all over your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. After that, rinse the pack with clean water, pat your face dry with a soft towel and you now have a glowing skin.

• For Treating Blemishes. A good way to use aloe Vera gel to treat blemishes is to mix it with rose water and use the mixture as a facial pack for 20 minutes then wash it off. Use this method twice a week to completely treat blemishes and get the results that you want.

• For Getting Rid of Skin Pigmentation. Simply use the aloe gel on the pigmented areas of your body and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. Do this every other day to help you deal with your skin pigmentation problems.

• For Refreshing, Clean Face. Aloe Vera gel isn’t just perfect for preventing and treating skin problems, it can also work as an excellent facial scrub alternative. All you’ve got to do is add two tablespoons of oatmeal and a tablespoon of honey in the gel to create a paste. After that, apply the mixture all over your face then gently massage it before rinsing off with water. You’ll surely be amazed with how clean and refreshed your skin looks after using this facial scrub.

Experiencing certain skin problems can be really depressing. So start using homemade aloe Vera gels or the ones found in the Singapore market now to get rid of your skin problems and ease your anxiety associated with the problem.

Sometimes living in an urban area doesn’t mean the best of everything. Sometimes it means getting just more accustomed to the traffic and the daily hustle and bustle of urban living. Singapore envisions a car-light society where its citizens can freely and safely walk on pedestrian lanes and travel light by biking. The creation of cycling lanes gives proof to this vision. The history of cycling goes way back in the 19^th century but its popularity has never waned. Recent times created only more useful purposes and different designs that make bicycles even better. But when it comes to the bicycle manufacturing companies, nothing beats those companies who have been there even in the early times and still continues to exist. These companies were able to develop new types of bicycles and enhanced the older models. They also are well-known for the list of many famous professional cyclists who are titleholders in the world of biking. Get to know the names of these bicycle manufacturing companies:

Bianchi Bicycles

This is the top on the list because Bianchi Bicycles is the world’s oldest manufacturing company to date. The Italian company was founded in 1885 when the owner, Edoardo Bianchi, was only 21 years old. It started as a bicycle business and the success spurred a motorcycle production from 1897 to 1967. It then entered the car production business as a joint venture with Fiat and Perilli with Fiat buying the entire ownershio in 1969. Bianchi Bicycles was the one to introduc the use of equal-size wheels with pneumatic rubber tires. They also became more famous when the company name became attached to a list of popular bicycle championship titleholders.

The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation

This American company specializes in aluminum bike frames and introduced the carbon fiber frames. It was first started in 1971 by Jim Catrambone, Joe Montgomery and Ron Davis for their business production in camping bags and backpacks and later on the bicycle trailers for bicycle touring. Unfortunately, the company’s venture into motorsport business led to their bankruptcy in 2003. It is now owned by Dorel Industries, a Canadian conglomerate for bicycle supplies.

Fuji Bikes

The name for this company is taken from Japan’s Mt Fuji which is Japan’s symbolic icon for strength and endurance. This now American-owned Japanese brand was first founded in 1899 and became the most popular bicycle brand in Japan in the 1920s. This company also organized a national stage race between Osaka and Tokyo in the 1930s – this race remains to be a premier race in Asia. In 1951, a Japanese biker in Fuji bicycle won the first ever Asian games that were set in New Delhi. Fuji contributed to the bicycle boom in the 1970s and developed the 12-speed bicycles, touring bicycles, and titanium frame bikes. Their bankruptcy in the 1990s led to several changes of ownership and it is now owned by Advanced Sports International of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Kona Bicycle Company

This Canadian company was first founded in 1988 and is still owned by Dan Gerhard and Jacob Heilbron. The company is popular for its long-standing tradition of bicycle racing and cycling advocacy. It also has a Kona Factory Team that is composed of elite professional riders from all over the world winning 200 National and World Champion competitions. The company specializes in mountain bikes but also produces and develops other types of bikes.

There are many photographers in Singapore – both professional and hobbyists – who are slowly turning in their DSLRs for a Mirrorless Camera. A Mirrorless Camera also known as Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC) is as its name suggests a camera that has no mirror. It also features lens interchangeability. Mirrorless Cameras have only been introduced in the market eight years ago but this type of camera is definitely drawing some attention. Generally, these cameras are smaller in build and cheaper than your typical DSLR but they also come with a lot of fascinating features that pushes a new bar of competition against its higher end counterparts. But before you decide to replace your DSLR with a Mirrorless Camera, let me share some things you need to know about this type – what makes them great and what makes them not so.

The Camera is Compact

As already mentioned, a Mirrorless Camera is generally small in size. The camera has reduced one main factor which is the mirror. This then allows the lens to be mounted closer to the sensors. The lens is also built in small sizes in order to match the size of the sensors which explains why most of these cameras are small. On top of this, a Mirrorless Camera is also light-weight.

The Camera’s Autofocus

The hybrid autofocus system turned everything around by turning this well-known area of weakness for Mirrorless Cameras. The autofocus used to be so bad but now they’re the camera’s main asset. The hybrid autofocus system enabled the Mirrorless Camera to produce outputs that are more consistent and accurate even when compared to other cameras like DSLRs.

The Camera’s Video Quality

This is something that advocates of Mirrorless Cameras are proud of. This type of camera is proven to be able to produce photographic tricks that most photographers would want to have. The Mirrorless Camera is also known to produce better (if not the best) quality for videos.

The Camera Is Your Investment

Usually it’s the lenses that photographers spend much money on. A lens can do a lot and there are many classes to choose from. What’s great about Mirrorless Cameras is that with the use of an adapter, it is possible to use different kinds of DSLR and non-DSLR lenses on Mirrorless Cameras. So what this really means is you can enjoy all the lenses you have in just one body of camera. That makes this type of camera an investment in itself.

The Camera’s Limitations

Again, it’s only been 8 years since Mirrorless Cameras entered the market scene so it’s really the newest type of camera. What this means is you can expect a lot of inconsistencies on the camera manufacturers’ market and product performance for the Mirrorless Camera. These cameras have also a shorter battery life as compared to DSLRs – that’s a blow. They also don’t have an optical viewfinder which causes noticeable lag time in live footages. This puts the Mirrorless Camera at a disadvantage when capturing photos of moving objects.

Whether you want an additional lighting in each of your condominium unit or repair a faulty electrical line in the lobby of your building, do-it-yourself electrical rewiring can be really intimidating, and dangerous if not done correctly. A small mistake can jeopardize the safety of your tenants, as well as your business operations.

Often, the best solution for this is to contract with a licensed electrical contractor. You can ask your colleagues or your property management company for recommendations of reliable electrical contractors.

Compare Project Bids

Before hiring a contractor, you’ll need to evaluate the cost of the project. Consider getting bids for the overall project cost and an evaluation of how the work will be performed.

You and your managing agent should find out if everything needed for the project, such as the electrical materials and service fees, are included in the quote or whether additional charges are required. Also, consider that prices of materials may increase due to the time difference between the time the estimation was made and the time the operation is started. If you have a good condo estate manager in Singapore, when comparing bids between two or more electrical contractors, make sure that each contractor gives a close estimation and not something like “around a hundred bucks.”

Find Out Timeframe of Work

After evaluation, the contractor will now have a clearer idea of how much work is needed for the project. You and your managing agent can then ask him for a projected date of accomplish, which may be in as little as a week or a month-long contract. The electrical project may interrupt your business operations so knowing when the project will be completed is extremely beneficial.

Ask for Complete Price List

Ask your contractor for a detailed price sheet that contains the breakdown of material and labor costs. This is highly recommended by property management companies as it allows property owners to evaluate whether the contractor is charging their clients with overly marked up material prices. But keep in mind that some contractors mark up on some materials to cover the expenses for delivering items to the site. Make sure that every single item is checked and the prices are agreed on before starting the work.

Clarify Any Questions

Avoid the most common mistake that many Singapore business owners commit when hiring professional services. Bring up all questions you have in mind that may be bothering you about the electrical project. The electrician will likely know the answers to all your electrical questions and can give you peace of mind. Also, remember that your contractor is a professional who has troubleshoot the exact same problem countless of times.

Put Things in Writing

For this type of agreement, never count on a handshake or verbal agreement. Make sure that everything agreed upon are stipulated in the contract. It should include a list of materials to be purchased by the contractor, description of work, number of workers, labor costs, payment terms, guarantees, and start and completion date. Read and understand everything written and never forget to read the fine prints.

The key to a safe and successful electrical works of your property is to look for an experienced and certified electrical contractor. Though their services cost much more than those with no certifications and licenses, the safety of your building, business, and tenants is hundred percent guaranteed.