RICE

Singapore Wants More Babies, but to What End? By Anthea Ong Fertility is discussed emotionally and culturally. Immigration is discussed economically and administratively. But are they truly separable? Can we have a meaningful conversation about fertility without also having a conversation about immigration? Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86518

🗣️We're looking for commuters🗣️ RICE is filming a short documentary about how Singaporeans get around through transfers, not straight lines. We're looking to talk to Singaporeans who: 🚶‍♀️Cross a good part of the island to get to work or school — more than an hour, door to door 🚌 Use more than two modes to do it: bus, MRT, LRT, walking, bike-share 📹 Are open to being filmed on their actual route (clearances are on us) If you or anyone you know is keen on contributing: 1. Comment below 2. DM us on IG (http://www.instagram.com/ricemedia.co) 3. Join our WhatsApp Community Chat and DM us personally (https://chat.whatsapp.com/BlwHzX7bZUp6BWKZH2LTfA?mode=gi_t)

"No more Indian tenants." That's what a landlord once told Kerrine. As a former medical social worker, Kerrine wants to bring the same values of empathy and respect she learned into real estate, even when it means having hard conversations. This Racial Harmony Day, Kerrine talks about navigating the conversations most agents avoid—and why she believes everyone deserves a fair chance to find a home. 🎬 WATCH: bit.ly/4b2KcqC 🎬 This story, one of many in this year’s PropertyGuru Agent Awards, shines a light on agents who go beyond the transaction to build a more inclusive Singapore. Learn more about shaping a welcoming property landscape with PropertyGuru: pgru.co/AgentAwards

Faking My Way Through Another World Cup as a ‘Kaki Bangku’ Malay Uncle By Imran Johri To call a Malay boy ‘kaki bangku’ (literally, ‘stool legs’) is to suggest a near-mythological failure of ethnic promise. Imran Johri, 52, jut spent yet another World Cup season pretending to know plenty about football. He reflects on a lifetime failing to live up to the expectation of being good—or even interested—in the beautiful game. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86439

A job at the crossroads of governance and tech would seem like the safest bet in this age, but the recent layoffs at GovTech said otherwise. ⁠ ⁠ When the iron rice bowl starts to crack and shatter, would you still bet your career on holding onto one?⁠ Read more: bit.ly/4f9GNZG

How many of the core memories that shaped us were formed in transit across the island? RICE Media and Land Transport Authority are inviting Singaporeans to an evening of intimate reflection on our commuting culture—how decades of buses, trains, roads, and pathways have subconsciously shaped our identities. Join us for an honest conversation about transportation and where we want things to go in the city we share. 📅 Friday, July 31 ️ 🕒 7 PM - 9:30 PM⁠ 📍 Hustle Singapore - 111 Somerset Rd, #02-12/13, Singapore 238164⁠ 🎟️ Sign up here: bit.ly/gettingthere_ltarice

Young Hawkers and the Exhaustion of Being Compared to the Generation Before Them By Tristan Chan It’s hard enough already to attract young Singaporeans to enter the hawker trade. And when they do, they’re cooking under relentless public scrutiny, where every plate is treated like a national trial judged by people who demand perfection on a cheap budget. So what does impostor syndrome look like for young hawkers? Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86269

I’m a Gen Alpha student. I’m scared of what AI is doing to how we think By Jayvier Chua “Witnessing the state of the classroom, where AI has all but replaced the need for my peers to think, it is difficult to believe that a hyper-intelligent machine of automated thought is generating subpar literature essays for teenage boys.” In this RICE Community Voices piece, 16-year-old Jayvier Chua argues for a critical re-evaluation of… Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86207

In fast-paced Singapore, it’s so unreasonable to expect the people put in charge of culture to partake in current matters of cultural importance. But for those who still want the optics of being cultured, here are some time-saving shortcuts to be perceived as an arts and culture ambassador of Singapore: instagram.com/p/DasCDAnn9Mi

Microdramas overtook our screens almost overnight. With Chinese studios and Hollywood both getting in on it, Singapore has become a testing ground for whether this mobile-first format actually sticks. Is this something to embrace, or something to be wary of? See more: https://www.instagram.com/p/DanC1fuH16H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Last week, a 59-year-old caregiver was sentenced to jail for strangling his chronically ill brother to death. A psychiatric evaluation reduced the murder charge. He had been the sole, self-appointed caregiver for his three siblings since 2010.⁠ ⁠ What does guilt and pressure look like for a caregiver, right before the breaking point?⁠ ⁠ Read more: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dakg0IPmUiO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Youth Radicalisation in the Age of ‘Fast-Food Terrorism’ By Noor Huda Ismail In the era of fast-food extremism, radicalisation is often driven less by specific singular ideologies. Many young people are not actively searching for extremist beliefs. Instead, radicalisation often begins with personal vulnerabilities like loneliness and the need to feel seen. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86137

Over a thousand self-tapes, one minute to impress, and zero places to hide from the public eye. Jack Neo’s open casting call for the newest instalment of his ‘Ah Boys to Men’ franchise— creatively titled ‘Ah Boys to Firemen’—drew plenty of attention, particularly for the unconventional requirement that all entries had to be publicly posted on social media. Putting aside that wanting to be in a Jack Neo movie is its own small mystery, what drives these everyday Singaporeans to put themselves out there and brave the heat of internet mockery? Read more: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaU9uFBH2n0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Over a thousand self-tapes, one minute to impress, and zero places to hide from the public eye. Jack Neo’s open casting call for the newest instalment of his ‘Ah Boys to Men’ franchise— creatively titled ‘Ah Boys to Firemen’—drew plenty of attention, particularly for the unconventional requirement that all entries had to be publicly posted on social media. Putting aside that wanting to be in a Jack Neo movie is its own small mystery, what drives these everyday Singaporeans to put themselves out there and brave the heat of internet mockery? Read more: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaU9uFBH2n0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Have We Forgotten the Art of Casual Hangs? By Natalie Tan “The older we get, the more spontaneity always comes at a cost. It’s almost like casual hangs are a relic—and we’re now trying to buy back the time.” In this RICE Community Voices piece, Natalie Tan mourns the dying art of spontaneous, agenda-less hangouts and makes the case for building our own third spaces. Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=86082

🗣 We're looking for profiles! 🗣 RICE is hoping to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be a caregiver to family members. It's a role many Singaporeans quietly take on, often without much support or recognition. We want to hear what that experience is actually like. We're looking for people who: 👉 Are the primary caregiver for a family member managing chronic ailments or age-related illness Note: Your story can be kept strictly anonymous if preferred! If you or anyone you know is keen on contributing: 1. Comment below 2. DM us on IG (http://www.instagram.com/ricemedia.co) 3. Join our WhatsApp Community Chat and DM us personally (https://chat.whatsapp.com/BlwHzX7bZUp6BWKZH2LTfA?mode=gi_t)

Real estate agents live by the mantra of ABC: Always Be Closing. So what happens when the ABC playbook gets in the way of inclusivity? Damon Chua, a property agent and PropertyGuru Agent Awardee, navigates an honest conversation with his friend, Kes, about landlord preferences and LGBTQ+ concerns, making the case that everyone deserves a safe space to call home. Watch: bit.ly/4wbMeN8 This story, one of many in this year’s PropertyGuru Agent Awards, shines a light on agents who go beyond the transaction to build a more inclusive Singapore. Learn more about shaping a welcoming property landscape with PropertyGuru: pgru.co/AgentAwards

The Questions Left Unasked When Over 400 Migrant Workers Went Unpaid for Months By Ilyas Sholihyn “We need systems that effectively prevent such violations and protect workers when they occur—not only when a case becomes large or public enough.” The question remains: will all these workers ever get the full amount of what they were owed? Read more https://www.ricemedia.co/?p=85988

For decades, Singapore's legal profession has known that lawyers were burning out and leaving. Even with wellness programmes, flexible work policies, and mental health resources, none of it really worked. The Legal Profession Sustainability Study, commissioned by the late Law Society President Adrian Tan, finally has evidence for why: the problem has always been systemic. It also calls out the strawberry generation cliché. When every generation of seniors says the same thing about the juniors under them, it points to persistent structural flaws instead of character failings. How many more will leave before something changes? Read more bit.ly/4xUm57u