TBR (To Be Read): Doomscrolling? Try short forms
SINGAPORE – The modern unit of attention is the reel. The longest book everyone has read is written on the infinite scroll. I am trying to give up doomscrolling by picking up a fat, immersive novel, but my fingers falter for quick dopamine.
Not my smartphone, decimator of attention, but the shortest forms of literature, which thrive in extreme compression. Palm-of-the-hand stories, smoke-long narratives, postcard fiction, lunch poems, koans, the hedgehog of an aphorism – minimal acreage, maximal harvest.
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Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
TBR (To Be Read): Doomscrolling? Try short forms
SINGAPORE – The modern unit of attention is the reel. The longest book everyone has read is written on the infinite scroll. I am trying to give up doomscrolling by picking up a fat, immersive novel, but my fingers falter for quick dopamine. Not my smartphone, decimator of attention, but the shortest forms of literature, which thrive in extreme compression. Palm-of-the-hand stories, smoke-long narratives, postcard fiction, lunch poems, koans, the hedgehog of an aphorism – minimal acreage, maximal harvest. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Indonesian rescuers recover body of Brazilian tourist who fell off volcano cliff
Ms Juliana Marins' body was recovered in a retrieval process that took six hours. PHOTO: AFP Indonesian rescuers recover body of Brazilian tourist who fell off volcano cliff JAKARTA - Indonesian rescuers have recovered the body of a Brazilian woman who died after falling off a cliff while hiking on Indonesia's second-highest volcano, rescue officials said. Ms Juliana Marins, 27, was hiking with five friends on Mount Rinjani on June 21 when she slipped and fell off a cliff on the side of the 3,726m mountain. She was found dead on June 24 , Indonesian rescuers said. Rescuers had been attempting to retrieve the body since but the effort was hampered by thick fog and the steep terrain. The body was recovered on J une 25 in a retrieval process that took six hours, Mr Mohammad Syafii, the head of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency said late on June 25 . After being lifted from the cliff, Ms Marins' body was carried on a stretcher to the rescuers' nearest post where an ambulance took it to a hospital. 'Initially, we (wanted) to use a helicopter in the evacuation but it was not possible due to the weather condition,' he said. 'So, we had to evacuate the victim on stretcher, which took quite a long time.' Footage shared by the agency showed rescuers attempting to lift the body from the cliff using ropes, overshadowed by thick fog. Indonesia's rescue agency had met with the family of Ms Marin to explain the evacuation process, Mr Syafii said, adding the family 'can accept the situation'. Located in West Nusa Tenggara province, Mount Rinjani is an active volcano and popular tourist site in the South-east Asian archipelago. Several tourists, including foreigners, have died in accidents while hiking the volcano over the past few years, local media reported, including a Malaysian tourist who also fell off a cliff i n May . REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Forum: Nursing rooms could do with better design
As an architectural designer and mother, I was heartened to see the updated Building and Construction Authority Accessibility Code give long-overdue attention to lactation rooms. One welcome improvement was the inclusion of better directional signage. When you are holding a hungry, crying baby, trying to find the nursing room in a big mall can feel like a wild goose chase. Clear, visible signs would save so many of us from that mild panic. However, a few things could still be better. Many nursing rooms remain too cramped for a stroller, forcing parents to juggle babies, bags and everything else in hand. A little more space goes a long way. Lighting can also be a problem. I once also grappled with an auto sensor in a nursing room where the lights switched off in the midst of feeding. Trying to wave at a sensor while nursing the hungry baby in the dark was a real challenge. Manually dimmable lights could be more user-friendly. And then there's the sign 'Nursing Mothers Only'. While privacy is important, this sends the wrong message to partners. My husband wants to help, but the sign (and often the cramped space) keeps him outside. It's another quiet way mothers get left to do it alone. Thoughtful, small changes can make a huge difference in supporting parents. Shireen Yeo Shi Yun More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Get the ST Smart Parenting newsletter for expert advice. Visit the microsite for more
