The Indigo Oracle

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/mountbatten-pavement-art-power-washing-singapore-creativity-6200476 Scold first and ask questions later...is it part of our DNA or is it possible for us to be less reactive and more empathetic?

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSxueeYEA/ From taking territory to taking appointments, stocking munitions to stocking pamphlets, recruiting soldiers to recruiting…interns? This week’s J1 CA also covered the fogginess of who constitutes a terrorist because victors write history. Extremists of a given today who win their wars and survive long enough eventually legitimise and become just another power of a given tomorrow (just ask any revolutionary government). Now we get to see the wackiness of how the Taliban go through this process.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSxaaGnuT/ Yet another domestic terror attack in the US. There has clearly been a marked rise in self-radicalised extremism all across the world, so following along with this week’s CA for the J1s, consider why. What about the world as it is now is driving people to more violence for a cause? (And remember that it’s probably not just one thing either)

CNN on TikTok Public health is a product of not just good science and tech, but also effective policy making, educated citizens, and adaptable cultures. We’ve covered the public distrust and cultural clashes that’ve plagued Ebola policy in Africa before (though the last time these issues arose circa 2015 it was in West Africa, now it’s in Congo, well outside the previous epidemic range). Since then, the same fundamental problems have persisted, a product of how we as a species choose to deal with diseases.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSxBLjaMn/ China so far ahead on public policy they have job placement programs for their stray cats Jokes aside, consider how this serves as an example of the possible intersect between the interests of business / tourism and environmentalism / animal rights. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202601/14/WS696797dfa310d6866eb33bf7.html Unfortunately, reporting on this park is right now still limited to Chinese sources, so it will likely take time for us to get a more comprehensive understanding of the situation on the ground (though preliminarily, giving every visitor treats to feed strays brings up at least some concerns in this reader) but at least at first glance, the idea is sound in principle.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSxRCqGFB/ Modern meritocracy rewards and promotes efficiency, profit margins, KPIs - after all, how else would we determine objectively, fairly, and comprehensively who among us is worthy of reward? Unfortunately, this system also tends to select against method and pursuits that don’t prioritise or that are not the most efficient, profitable, or KPI-maximised. The subindustry of stop-motion animation died the day the 3D modelling arms race took off - meritocratic-capitalistic competition between individual animators and whole studios selecting against a slower more labour-intensive (some may say wasteful even) art form. But it survives in the space where efficiency, margins and KPIs don’t matter - sponsored and practiced by the rich, by the nepo babies who don’t have to worry about a boss hounding them for results. Reflect on what this tells us about the inherent tensions that exist in the artistic space when it comes to how we value and reward talent.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSHwUvHuq/ Equitable differentiation and discrimination are just one blurry cultural and/or technical line away from each other. You giving your seat to a frail grandma on the train but refusing to do so for a healthy adult - probably not discrimination (right?). You giving your seat to a frail grandma of one race but not another - probably discrimination (right?). Now, how does this work for a government and how it should allocate funds?

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSHqau7Yg/ Humanity’s latest moon mission, the Artemis II, just touched down safely yesterday, and if you were on a particular part of the internet you might’ve seen people reminiscing (with both sadness and joy) of previous space missions and how they contributed to the current one (either scientifically or spiritually). With this in mind, what does Artemis II tell us about space’s (and more generally, science’s) potential to inspire exploration and wonder and unity? (And no I did not ugly cry over the art and the comments in the tiktok)

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/what-do-reactions-to-peregrine-falcons-tapirs-crows-and-cicadas-tell-us-about-our-links-to-nature Singapore's complex relationship with wild animals. Do we only like them at a distance? The ones who look cute or have human expressions? And do we resent those that encroach into our space and then we try and stomp on them or demand their culling? #singapore #animals

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVWznSD10_/?img_index=17&igsh=NnF0MDhianhoNXY2 Maybe you've heard all this before but maybe you'll hear it more because it's on IG. Or maybe you'll hear it better because it's not coming from your teachers. But whatever it is, a worthwhile thought to ruminate over. #thearts #humanities #singapore

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/15/learning/why-singapores-ugly-buildings-should-be-conserved.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VlA.kBZX.V3IBwKo8Y0hH&smid=nytcore-android-share A 17yo's take on Singapore's brutalist architecture of the 70s. For art can always be educational even if that was not its intention. #art #singapore

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8dlpr074q3o For a poetically comedic parallel that probably has something to tell us about the importance of forgetting AND forgiving - I present you: TRUMP (AGAIN)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/japan-history-forge-mutually-beneficial-relationship-pm-wong-6002256 Forgiving not forgetting and not being trapped by history, an important way to see countries and relationships with them. #history #diplomacy #singapore

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/27/teddies-toys-and-friendship-bracelets-the-film-about-the-empty-bedrooms-of-school-shooting-victims Using photography to remember the past and to learn from it but to also shake people out of paralysis and indifference. #responsibility #empathy #change #art

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/14/inside-abandoned-scam-centre-cambodia-thai-border An insight into what happens at the other end of our scam calls. At every level, it's abuse driven by greed. #exploitation #crime #tech #laws

Forum: What ‘Welcome home’ meant to a Singaporean on board an RSAF evacuation flight https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-what-welcome-home-means-to-a-singaporean-on-board-an-rsaf-evacuation-flight When we say the government is responsible for the people and its responsibility is provide care and protect its citizens, this is what it looks like. #responsibility #government #war #singapore

https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2026/03/blind-boxes/index.html Who loves blindboxes? Yet another devious method of entrenching us in consumerism and contributing significantly to waste, especially when you tire of them labubus. #consciousconsumerism #environment #business

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSud1B6oc/ Thought this was a series of interesting observations on how we view responsibility. In terms of applicability to your syllabus, hopefully this commentator’s explanations and analogies provide some inspiration as to the perspectives we can take on responsibility and responsible stakeholders in different problems.

https://unu.edu/inweh/news/world-enters-era-of-global-water-bankruptcy The next time you want to fire up Chatgpt, think of the water bankruptcy it is causing. We survived without AI before, we can do it again. Have we been able to ever survive without water? #environment #tech

Understanding what is happening with the US and Iran. Understanding that it is unconstitutional. Think about this together with the essay to do with arms trade and heater international cooperation. #responsibility #leadership #laws