So today, I managed to be the first in line to get the brand new Galaxy S21 Ultra. I have been using my Huawei P30 Pro for almost 2 years already. I reckoned that I could get this brand new device slightly earlier, and then come 30th April, I'll try to switch from the rather expensive Singtel plan and then switch over to either the Circles life plan or the TPG 8OGB plan.

The Circles Life plan is usually $18 for a 50GB plan, but it has limited outgoing call minutes. The TPG plan gives 80GB for only $18 and it is also rather Generous with free incoming and 300 outgoing minutes.

I don't really use much bandwidth, but I would not turn down more free bandwidth for that matter.
​
Here is a photo taken using the night mode. I think the Huawei P30 Pro camera is better, but let me take a few days to learn all the tricks to use these cameras of the 21 Ultra better.

So I was reading Costanza's post on her Passive Crypto Earnings November 2020 (Lending/Dividends/Staking).
Being able to generate $610 of passive income through a multitude of platforms is a brilliant idea, and it got me thinking about whether I should sign up an account with BlockFi. In any case, I have decided to do some investigation on BlockFi to ascertain their credibility, and I will also embark on my own journey to deposit some crypto assets with BlockFi just to see how it goes. 

If you are planning to also sign up with BlockFi, why not consider signing up via my referral link here. When you sign up and fund your account using my referral code (and deposit at least $100 or more into your BlockFi interest account (BIA), both you and I will earn $10 in BTC! 

BlockFi sets itself apart from other cryptoasset service providers by pairing market-leading rates with institutional-quality benefits. BlockFi's mission is to give liquidity, openness as well as performance to electronic economic markets by developing items that fulfill the needs of customers around the world. They build bridges between standard money and also digital markets that allow growth for all participants. BlockFi's very first product is a USD financing protected by cryptoassets. This offers clients the capability to access liquidity without causing a taxable event or surrendering future benefit. Horizontal development specifies their possibility to naturally broaden BlockFi's present item by using varied maturations, increasing to different nations and also including extra kinds of security beyond Bitcoin and Ether. 

In more simple words, BlockFi is a crypto (and wealth?) management platform focused on the following crypto assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin as well as some of the USD stablecoins. They do also focus on BlockFI interest accounts, Trading accounts as well as Crypto-back loans. See their product page for the full list of details. 

​The BlockFi website supplies 2-factor verification. All assets are not saved with BlockFi. Gemini handles all electronic properties on behalf of BlockFi. They utilize industry-leading cold storage solutions that are guaranteed. BlockFi, along with Gemini Custodianship deal extremely high criteria of protection. Nevertheless, I read an article where BlockFi experienced a backing incident in May 2020. 

"For just under 90 minutes last Thursday, hackers were able to compromise the systems of cryptocurrency lending platform BlockFi, and gain unauthorised access to users’ names, email addresses, dates of birth, address and activity history.

In an incident report published on its website, BlockFi was keen to stress that the hacker’s activity had been logged and as such it was “able to confirm that no funds, passwords, social security numbers, tax identification numbers, passports, licenses, bank account information, nor similar non-public identification information” had been exposed.

That’s obviously a relief, but there are still plenty of bad things that could be done by anyone maliciously-minded who came across the information that was successfully accessed by the hacker."

Fortunately, it seemed that no funds were lost. The advice given by BlockFi is the ensure multi-factor authentication - which I do agree is the baseline of what we all should do. It might take a little more effort but its worth its weight in gold (or your favourite crypto currency, for that matter).

You can track BlockFi's interest rates via their website. It seems pretty decent, considering that I am currently storing my Bitcoin in a wallet without earning any interest. What is also interesting is that the interests are paid out every month, and the interest earned by the account holders are compounded, thereby increase the annual yield. ​

Lately, Zilliqa (ZIL) attains yet another ground-breaking milestone. The public blockchain system has actually crossed its $0.045 cost resistance. According to news records, Zilliqa (ZIL) has actually disclosed that appearing this price level was an outcome of staking on its platform. The general public blockchain, together with the rise in its ZIL price, likewise revealed that concerning 27.457% of its total ZIL supply was presently locked in laying, including that this is the sole factor the ZIL token has recorded an exceptional rate increase. Especially, ZIL has actually been below the $0.030 rate range for a long time currently. In spite of this fantastic increase in price, ZIL token is yet to achieve a leading 50 coin setting on CoinMarketCap (CMC) again.

I was fortunate to invest in ZIL before the rise, but let's face it - it's still rather tempting to invest more in ZIL, especially when we can stake it. 

The Singapore-based public blockchain system officially introduced staking on its system in June 2020. Considering that its laying launch in June, the system has actually had various other amazing updates. For one, Zilliqa currently uses stakers APY as high as 17.72%. Additionally, a tremendous 27.457% of its total ZIL distributing supply is presently secured laying. The blockchain platform also takes pride in 20,320 delegates as well as a total of 11 staked seed nodes. 
Zilliqa's (ZIL) non-custodial staking system is called Zillion. Interestingly, Zillion is just one of the first-ever staking systems improved a sharded blockchain. This vital function truncates the need for a third-party throughout staking on the platform. Interested individuals can conveniently deposit their symbols right into clever agreements, providing the general public blockchain with an easier to use, seamless platform.

I have some ZIL staked as well. As I am residing in Singapore, I purchased my ZIL via Coinhako. Coinhako is known for being the easiest platform to buy Bitcoin and Digital Assets in Singapore, and Asia. I then made a transfer to two staking sites, namely Atomic Wallet and ZilPay. ​

I had some leftover Japanese radish "daikon" from my Oden dinner a few nights ago, and wanted to finish the remaining half of it. Hence decided to do yet another simple Japanese dish. If you have some radish and leftover carrots or potatoes, you can all of them into the stew for a hearty home-cooked meal with that awesome Japanese flavour. 

Read on for the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

• 4 chicken drumsticks, skinned
• ½ cup sake
• ¼ cup mirin
• 2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock (I used a hicken stock cube)
• 1/2 a daikon, cut into 1-inch rounds)
• 1/2 a carrot, cut into 1-inch halves
• 2 potatoes, cut into cubes
• (optional) 150 grams silken tofu, diced into 1-inch cubes
• Chopped spring onion, for garnish

METHOD

1. Combine everything except tofu in a pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. In my case I used a pressure cooker as it's much faster. Just set to "soup" mode. 
2. Stir in tofu to heat through.
3. Ladle into individual serving bowls, garnish with chopped spring onion (I used coriander in this case) and serve with rice.

​In the culinary world, there are always constantly changing tendencies in tastes and styles. As the public's openness to new and special flavors widens, so to must the dishes and chefs who produce them change also. But, despite all of the changes, some things always stay the same. The use of quality ingredients such as. Listed below are five new strategies to use aged balsamic vinegar.

​A good green vinegar may be utilised in various ways. One of that will please nearly everyone- in a delicious cocktail. With its sweet flavors, it may be mixed with soda water to produce the foundation for some quite sophisticated and flavorful cocktails. Paired with a solid whiskey, the mix can create a very unique taste palette for new and traditional cocktails alike. Try it in your next bourbon or rye whiskey established drink.

​Creating your own marinade does not need to be a hassle. Start with a tasty green vinegar plus you can concoct your own personal family recipe marinade in no time in any way. Simply using a delicious mustard and a superior balsamic can give you a great jump off stage. Use it to marinate red meat, portabella mushrooms, and even tofu.

This works well with a high quality aged item. Reduce it down into a sweet and complex flavoured syrup that can be used to sweeten dessert or to add sauces to various savoury dishes alike. The syrup can be drizzled over ice cream or utilised as a loaf, pies, or pastries. The sky is your limit with reductions.

​Sprinkle some on your next dish that requires a broth and you will notice the complexity it adds. A profound and intriguing sweetness can be added to braised dishes such as baked chicken, spare ribs, brisket, and even pork-belly. Sprinkle a discount to the salad and you've got the perfect side as well.

​Try adding a good green vinegar as the base for your routine soup recipe. You will find that a top quality product will include a strong flavor that can bring out the sweetness from the vegetables and yet enhance the salty savoury taste of whatever dish you are making. Rather than using just bullion, replace balsamic or throw in raw vegetables marinated beforehand. There are a multitude of ways in which you can increase your taste profile to the next level.

Who knew that this fixing was so essential and versatile. Use it to enhance all your future meals and also to impress your friends at your next dinner party.

I've been shopping at Sheng Siong of late, especially during the Circuit Breaker period. Sheng Siong is well-known for their fresh seafood section, and every supermarket visit I would pass by the section, taking a cursory glance at the great selection of fish for sale. I have always wanted to do cook a fish dish. So, yesterday, while doing my grocery shopping, I decided to get a piece of fish for the Thai steamed Fish with Lime and Garlic. (ปลากะพงนึ่งมะนาว)

It turned out that it was not too difficult to cook this dish (which is often what you order at any Thai restaurants). Very simple and not too complicated. On my first attempt I got the taste all correct - here's the recipe in case you are keen to try it too. 

Pla kapong neung manao (ปลากะพงนึ่งมะนาว), or Thai steamed barramundi fish with lime sauce, is a favorite seafood dish for many Thais. Make this recipe at home and you're in for a real steamed fish!

For the fish:

• 1 whole barramundi, about 1 - 2 kilos (or whatever size you can get), guts and gills already removed (I got a white snapper instead and it was totally delicious) 
• 5 stalks lemongrass, bottom half only, smashed, and cut into chunks

For the sauce / soup:

• 1 cup good chicken stock or fish stock (fresh or canned)
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped palm sugar
• 8 Tbsp lime juice
• 6 Tbsp fish sauce (here's my preferred fish sauce)
• 2 heads of garlic, chopped
• Thai chillies to taste, finely chopped
• 20 - 25 sprigs cilantro, chopped
• 1- 2 stalks Chinese celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

1. Make sure your fish is scaled and gutted, and then score the fish with 3 diagonal incisions on each side of the fish. Cut off the top halves of the lemongrass, bruise, and stuff the lemongrass into the cavity of the fish. Steam the fish over high boiling water for about 10 - 15 minutes depending on the size of your fish.
2. In a saucepan, heat the chicken stock until it comes to a boil, and then toss in the sugar, reduce heat, and boil until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
3. Mince the garlic, chillies, and cilantro, and mix into the chicken stock soup, along with fish sauce and lime juice. Stir gently and then taste test. Make sure it's sour, and balanced with a hint of sweetness.
4. When the fish is fully steamed, transfer it to a serving platter (with edges to keep in the soup), garnish with a bed of Chinese celery, and place the fish on the platter. Gently scoop on all the sauce over the fish, putting most of the garlic and chilies on the top of the fish.
5. Make sure you eat with steamed rice!

Winding mountain roads, flower-laden valleys and refreshing sea breezes might be calling your name as spring comes to life. But if you are staying home to curb the spread of COVID-19 and can’t get outside anytime soon, nature can still provide you with some much-needed respite from the doldrums of social distancing as well as the stresses of working at home and having children from school. See some amazing live feeds that will connect you with nature. See the world close-up in the comfort of your home.

Take comfort in the magic of character in your TV or laptop with scintillating footage from such livestreams and webcam feeds, many of these powered by Explore.org. Go ahead and bookmark them to have a live feed operating for soothing background sounds as you work.

Airports and train stations are vacant, restaurants and pubs are closed, and major events are postponed, but Mother Nature marches on. New leaves emerge, tulips and daffodils brighten yards, and birdsong fills the air. Throughout our national parks and forests, animals begin their spring migrations, gushing waterfalls put to a show, bears come out of hibernation, and it’s business as usual from the organic world.

Social distancing introduces a challenge to psychological health, as it disturbs people who might become lonely when separated from loved ones and friends. While addressing mental health within this time is an issue in itself, melancholy, anxiety, and stress can lead to facial breakouts and premature ageing. Taking care of your mental health first is a fantastic way to start your skincare clinics.
Rather than relying on medication, your aim should be to maximise your relaxation before going to sleep. Make sure that your bedroom is a tranquil oasis with no reminders of the things that cause you stress. Avoid caffeine during the evening, as well as excessive alcohol if you know that this leads to disturbed sleep. Stop doing any mentally demanding work several hours before going to bed so that you give your brain time to calm down. Try taking a warm bath or reading a calming, undemanding book for a few minutes to relax your body, tire your eyes and help you forget about the things that worry you.

The Wolong Grove live cam at the Shenshuping Gengda Panda Center in China’s Wolong Valley Nature Reserve provides views into 11 different panda yards. Watch as these giant pandas go about their day in this lush bamboo oasis. China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda conducts research on panda ecology and population dynamics. The organisation is responsible for artificial breeding, genetics, disease prevention, conservation training and release of giant pandas from captivity. The Research Centre also assists in the development of cooperation between other panda organisations in China and abroad.
The giant panda, also known as the panda bear or simply the panda, is a bear native to south central China. It is characterised by large, black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. The name “giant panda” is sometimes used to distinguish it from the red panda, a neighbouring musteloid.

Welcome to the watering hole at Mpala Research Centre in the highlands of central Kenya! Watch elephants, hippos, giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, gazelles, crocodiles, leopards and many other species take a drink (or a quick dip). The Mpala Research Centre (MRC) receives hundreds of students, educators, and scientists from around the globe each year, conducting research on everything from parasites to elephants. The unique set up of Mpala allows for researchers to use the land as a ‘living laboratory’ in which to conduct experiments and answer pressing questions on conservation and wildlife.Mpala is also strongly committed to using this research to benefit the surrounding communities, the nation of Kenya, and global conservation efforts as a whole. Mpala hosts multiple educational outreach programs in order to tackle issues of human-wildlife conflict and thus ensure that both conservation and human-livelihood goals are met.

So you have decided to give it a go and try hair removal in Singapore. After reading about the various kinds of hair removal, you have settled on SHR hair removal as it is a newer form of hair removal technology and more effective and less painful than IPL hair removal. A quick search on Google brought you to Wellaholic as one of the leading SHR hair removal treatment chains in Singapore. Congratulations! We look forward to helping you with your hair removal objectives. Nevertheless, how can you fully maximise your SHR hair removal treatment to achieve the best possible results? Based on various scientific journals on SHR hair removal technology and expert panel discussions, we share with you 7 expert tips for getting the best results from your SHR hair removal treatment, including some unique to Wellaholic. ​

Contrary to what your friends might have told you, you actually need to shave before your SHR treatment. By shaving, you allow the SHR energy to be fully absorbed by the hair follicles, thereby improving the effectiveness of the treatment. Ideally, shaving a day before treatment (most customers do that in the evening prior to their treatment). Nevertheless, there are always difficult-to-reach areas such as the back and the private areas. At Wellaholic, we have our bestseller WellaSmooth Ultimate Plan which includes not only unlimited full body SHR treatment, but also unlimited shaving and post-treatment whitening or hydration with AfterGlow. ​

This is one of the most common misconception about hair removal. We do have many customers thinking that after their first session, their hairs will stop growing. This is actually not the case.  This is because what happens is that when one follicle dies, there might be another one next to it that may regenerate itself. Hair grows in different cycles so at any time, 30 to 60 percent of the hair is in the anagen growth cycle stage. The laser is targeting the hairs in the growth stage. The dead ones that are dead will shed after a few weeks. By the time you go for your next appointment (recommended 28 days later, to time with the hair growth cycle), the hairs that were in their growth stage will now by in their dormant or dying stage. This is also why we always advise customers to stick to a strict 28-day treatment schedule to see the best results. ​

Lasers work differently on light and dark skins. People with fair skin will fall under Type 1, 2 and 3 and responds best to shorter wavelength (755 nanometers), which is easy on the skin and also effective on light hair. On the other hand, people with dark skin will fall under Type 4, 5 and 6 (where Type 4 is Indian, and Type 5 and 6 being African American). In this case, we will use a wavelength that bypasses the epidermis and has a long pulse like the 1064 nanometers and safe on their type of skin. In short, always sharing with our consultant your hair type and colour, as well as your skin type and colour to allow the consultant to adjust the setting that's best suited for you. ​

Laser hair removal is a procedure where a specific beam of light bypasses the epidermis and targets the follicle. This disables the reproductive cycle of the hair without hurting the skin. As laser hair removal destroys the follicle, the hair shaft becomes weak and limp, and with repeated treatments - about 6 to 12 treatments - the follicle dies and no hair grows. For areas with a dense hair follicles, there are more hair follicles to treat, and hence more treatments are necessary to target all hair follicles with varying hair growth cycles. Based on our experience, facial hair and hair at the private areas require 12 or more treatments to fully stop hair growth. 

While SHR helps to permanently remove hair after 8 to 12 sessions, we have a small number of customers that see hair growth in specific areas after some time has passed. This could be due to their genetics (specifically hair gene Lhx2). We felt that it is not fair for customers to pay a full price again to treat the area again. Our proposed solution: a LIFETIME MAINTAIN MODE for these customers. This Lifetime plan is unique to Wellaholic, and we have not seen any other providers able to offer this to their customers. 

If you qualify for Lifetime Maintain Mode, you get to enjoy >50% discount off per-session SHR hair removal treatment rates for the rest of your lifetime! This is our way to taking care of customers who might have completed the SHR hair removal regime but find hairs growing back again some time in the future. With this Lifetime Maintain Mode, you will never have to pay full retail prices for maintenance treatments with Wellaholic! ​

Beneath the colorful facade
I stood, flanked by two sides of the dark
With a sliver of effulgent light
Shining the way in the day of night
Was this the passage that I should take
Was this the choice that I should make
But yet there was nowhere to go
Just a cul-de-sac of sunlit glow
I paused, pondered and pursed my lips
Into the darkness I made my leap
For I have awaken; samadhi exists
In the midst of darkness, light persists
to edit.

Hence, if you are an avid wanton mee lover, or if you are seeking out the best of the best wanton noodles in Singapore, you might want to check out Makanholic. They also have the rankings for the best Chicken Rice, the Best Roti Prata and several other rankings too. Check them out!!