The Singapore Prize for Literature and History

The Singapore Prize awards authors and works that have contributed to Singapore’s story in a meaningful way. The prizes are administered by the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of History and are given out every three years with a cash award of S$50,000 for the winner.

This year’s prize has a theme of resonance, focusing on how literature can trigger emotions and memories in readers. Organizers say it’s an idea that resonates with the recent experience of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in the country, which continues to ravage communities.

Besides the prize, NUS also offers scholarships and fellowships to help aspiring writers to produce work. These include the prestigious Lauriston Sharp Prize, established in memory of SEAP founder Lauriston Sharp (1907-1993), and the Liu Family Fellowships, which award up to SGD30,000 for post-doctoral research.

There are also a variety of other prizes, ranging from short-term and long-term residency grants to fellowships at international literary conferences. Some of these scholarships are sponsored by organizations, while others are funded by the Singapore government.

The NUS Singapore History Prize, which was introduced in 2014 to support the programmes to celebrate SG50, is open to both fiction and non-fiction works on local history. This is the first time a prize dedicated to the nation’s history has been offered in this way and was created to stimulate engagement with Singapore’s past broadly understood, NUS stated in a press release.

“Nations are ‘imagined communities’, and their shared imagination is essential for them to function effectively,” the press release notes. This prize aims to promote and stimulate a deeper understanding of Singapore’s historical context among citizens, and to increase a sense of belonging.

It is one of the few awards that recognise both academic and fictional works on Singapore’s history, according to NUS. This is an attempt to counterbalance the traditional approach to history in which big names are revered and lauded, with the stories of ordinary Singaporeans playing a more prominent role in a more accessible format.

Kamaladevi Aravindan’s novel, Sembawang (2020, available here), which follows life in the estate of the same name across five decades, is a contender for the prize. She is one of six writers shortlisted for the NUS History Prize, which will be awarded to a book that has made a lasting impact on Singaporeans’ understanding of the city-state’s history.

Other writers on the shortlist include Kwa Chong Guan, Tan Tai Yong and Peter Borschberg, who have all written historical tomes. The list includes novels and non-fiction that have a personal touch, NUS stated in a press release.

This year’s award also recognizes the contributions of writers who have published in both English and Chinese. The winners of the SG Prize’s Chinese and English poetry prizes will receive SGD15,000 each, while the SG Prize for Asian Creative Nonfiction will be awarded SGD10,000.

The prize, which has a total of seven categories, will be awarded at the NUS Library’s annual book fair in October. The jury is composed of members from academia, the arts and the civil service.

Using Dominoes in Architecture and Sculpture

Dominoes are a type of board game that has many variants. They are usually rectangular with a line down the middle to divide them into two squares, called ends. Each end may be blank or have a number of spots, called pips. In the most common variant, a double-six set, each end has six pips. Other sets can be extended by introducing more ends with pips, such as double-nine, double-12, and double-15.

In addition to playing games, dominoes can be used in architecture and sculpture. The pieces can be made from a variety of materials, including wood and ceramics. They can be painted or etched, and they are often decorated with geometric patterns.

Some of these designs make dominoes look like books, blocks, or other objects. They can also be placed in patterns or stacked up in a way that makes them look like they are falling down.

When creating one of Hevesh’s installations, she follows an engineering-design process that starts with a theme or purpose and then evolves into an intricate display. She begins by brainstorming images or words she might want to use in the design, then works to figure out how much of each type of dominoes she’ll need. She also takes into account the laws of physics, including gravity, which helps her to create mind-blowing arrangements.

She combines her knowledge of math with a thorough understanding of physics and chemistry to design domino displays that are beautiful and exciting to watch. She explains that she tries to balance the strength of each domino with the weight of each piece in the structure, so that she can create an overall feeling of movement.

Her displays include grids of dominoes that form pictures when they fall, stacked domino walls, and 3-D structures like domino towers or pyramids. She uses a system that calculates how many dominoes she’ll need for each type of arrangement.

As Hevesh’s installations grow bigger, she also uses a tool called an accelerometer to measure how much force is exerted by the dominoes. She can then adjust the height of her dominoes accordingly to ensure that they fall evenly and in a controlled manner.

This method helps her to create an amazing installation that’s also a work of art, as well as an educational experience. Ultimately, she’s trying to teach people about the science of gravity and how it can be applied to their lives.

She also teaches children about the laws of physics and how they can be used to help them learn about math, science, and art. She says that learning about the laws of physics can help children understand how objects move, and it can encourage them to ask questions about the world around them.

Ultimately, Hevesh hopes her domino displays will help students to understand the power of their actions and to think more clearly about their world. She wants to inspire them to take risks, and she aims to provide them with an experience that will have lasting impact on their lives.

MMA Betting Tips

MMA betting is becoming increasingly popular among sports fans, and it’s a good way to make a little extra money. But, before you start betting on MMA, it’s important to understand the different types of bets and how they work. Fortunately, there are several tips and strategies that you can use to help you bet smarter on your favorite fights.

Choosing a winning strategy

Regardless of your skill level, MMA bets can be profitable, especially if you have a solid strategy behind you. Some of the most popular bet types are moneyline/match bets, over/under bets on the number of rounds a fight will last, and parlays.

Younger Fighters Win More Often

The age gap between two fighters can be an important factor in determining the winner of an MMA fight. In fact, younger fighters have won more than six out of every seven matches in the past eight years. This is especially true when the fights are between fighters who are five or more years apart, and it can be a great strategy to back younger fighters over older ones.

Knowing the fighter’s strengths and weaknesses can also be helpful when deciding how to bet. For example, if a fighter has a high reach, they’ll be able to keep their opponent at distance and take advantage of the low pace they usually have.

Line shopping

The ability to shop around for the best odds is an important part of sports betting, and MMA is no exception to this rule. Taking the time to shop around can lead to big returns and can save you money over the long run.

Weight cut

Most MMA fighters undergo weight cuts before they compete in a tournament. The amount of time that these fighters spend on the weight cut can have a huge impact on their performance and can be one of the biggest factors in determining who wins.

Understanding the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses can also make a difference in predicting how well a fighter will perform in an MMA matchup. For instance, a fighter who is very fast might be able to outpace an opponent and take control of the fight.

Early-onset injury

In MMA, early-onset injury is common, so it’s a good idea to be aware of any potential injuries that could affect a fighter during their training or during the competition itself. A fighter who has been injured prior to a matchup can sometimes be given a poor rating by bookmakers.

Late-onset injury

Having a late-onset injury can also affect the outcome of a fight. If a fighter’s injury is severe, they may be unable to fight and will need to withdraw from the competition. This isn’t always a bad thing, as the loss can give them some time to recover and prepare for their next fight.

A late-onset injury can also happen during a fight, so it’s worth watching the matchup closely to see how a fighter is recovering. This will be reflected in the betting odds, as well as the fight’s performance.