In Singapore, it seems like art is at every turn. Look closely and you'll discover masterpieces in front of an office building, a walkway, and even on a rooftop garden, where everyone can appreciate them up close. In order to further promote art, festivals are held throughout the year. Here are some of the biggest art draws to come.
ARTWALK When: January
An annual public art festival, Artwalk takes place in the culturally rich neighborhoods of Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat. Visitors can learn about the food, stories and history of two of Singapore's most distinct communities on guided walking tours. They can even experience art and culture up close with hands-on workshops with local artists, storytellers and cultural experts.
ART SG When: March
During the biggest art fair in Southeast Asia, more than 150 of the world's best galleries will showcase their collection of more than 1,000 artists. The film sector will feature panel discussions, experimental films, and new film-making practices. Some galleries will also present digital technology artworks like AR, VR, and NFTs.
SINGAPORE NIGHT When: August
During this party-like night festival, the Bras Basah-Bugis business street lights up for this multi-dimensional art festival with diverse light installations (装置). Building walls provide larger-than-life canvases (画布) for shows; underground tunnels are brilliant with lights. Art and creativity blossom through a passion for experiments.
SINGAPORE BIENNALE When: October-February
Lasting five months, the Singapore Biennale is a dynamic event that encourages folks to see art in a new light through interactive installations and exhibitions. The highlights include art tours, air performances, a film installation and various exhibitions.
Today, I've been recording an audiobook. I am excited that I have realized my life-long dream.
I will never forget at primary school I used to wait with breathless anticipation to take my turn reading out a paragraph of great works in front. At my secondary school, when students were encouraged to select and present a reading at "morning talk", I often added my name to the list.
This was all handy background for my career in broadcasting. But, much as I enjoy hosting shows and interviewing people, I often find myself missing the simple pleasures of reading out loud. I'd thought about putting myself forward as a narrator (朗读者) for audiobooks. But I'm not an actor. I can't do regional accents or play female voice. Non-fiction, then, seemed the obvious target, but I felt that such books were best read by their authors. If it were authors' own voice, their stories would touch me.
Recently, delivering my son's nightly bedtime story has reawakened my love for reading out loud—highlights so far have included Charlotte's Web. But I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do it professionally.
Then, last month, I was contacted by James Plunkett, author of End State, a forthcoming book about political ideas. He had no desire to read his book out loud, but as a fan of my program, he thought I might do a reasonable job.
So, I've spent this week in a studio, simply reading stuff out loud. And I'm LOVING IT!
Mind you, it's an entirely unexpected experience. It's disheartening when the recording needs to be stopped because I've just carelessly skipped over a 'the', or had to clear my throat, or catch my breath. I've also learned how many words I've been mispronouncing my entire life: behavioural is BE-HAYVE-YOU-RAL, not BE-HAYVE-EE-AH-RUL.
Though tackling this 339-page book doesn't turn out to be that easy, I've found the whole process awesome, and hope this becomes the first of many.
People who give, live longer, studies have shown. Now, a new study by University of Michigan researchers shows that why people volunteer — not whether they volunteer — is what really counts.
For the study, Konrath and colleagues analyzed data collected in 2008 and 2012 aiming at the same random samples of 3,376 people. Overall, they found that just 2.3 percent of those who once worked as volunteers had died, compared to 4.3 percent of non-volunteers. They further found that how much people volunteered mattered as well — only 1.8 percent of regular volunteers died, compared with 2.5 percent of occasional volunteers.
But what really made a difference were people's motives for volunteering. The researchers asked people to rate how important they found various reasons for volunteering, and they found that the more important people rated reasons such as feeling pity for people in need, the more likely they were to be alive. Those who rated motives related to personal benefit as more important were more likely to have died, and just as likely to die as those who didn't volunteer at all. These reasons included volunteering because they enjoyed the social contact, to escape their own problems, or to explore their own strengths.
Konrath says the current findings suggest it may be a poor idea to encourage people to volunteer because it's good for them. "Volunteering is increasingly being encouraged in schools and organizations. Some groups say that it's okay to want benefits for yourself, and encourage people to think of volunteering as an exchange for personal interests. Some groups emphasize the health benefits received through volunteering." Konrath added, "Of course, it's reasonable for volunteers to expect benefits for themselves. But the potential health benefits of volunteering are significantly reduced if self-benefit becomes a person's main motive."
Swot satellite is scheduled to be launched Thursday morning to conduct a comprehensive survey of Earth's vital resource. By using advanced microwave radar technology it will collect height-surface measurements of oceans, lakes and rivers in high-definition detail over 90% of the globe. It's rally the first time to observe nearly all water on the planet's surface.
The major mission is to explore how oceans absorb atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide in a natural process that adjusts climate change. Oceans are estimated to have absorbed more than 90%, of the extra heat trapped in the Earth's atmosphere by human-caused greenhouse gases. Swot will scan, the seas and precisely measure fine differences in surface elevations (高度) around smaller currents and eddies (漩涡), where much of the oceans' decrease of heat and carbon is believed to occur. "Studying the mechanism will help climate scientists answer a key question: What is the turning point at which oceans start releasing, rather than absorbing, huge amounts of heat back into the atmosphere and speed up global warming, rather than limiting it," said NadyaShiffer, Swot's program scientist.
By comparison, earlier studies of water bodies relied on data of rivers or oceans taken at specific, points, or from satellites that can only track measurements along a one-dimensional line, requiring scientists to fill in data gaps through extrapolation (外推法). Thanks to the radar instrument, Swot can scan through cloud cover and darkness over wide ranges of the Earth. This enables scientists to accurately map their observations in two dimensions regardless of weather or time of day and to cover large geographic areas far more quickly than was previously possible.
"Rather than giving us a line of elevations, it's giving us a map of elevations, and that's just a total game changer," said Tamlin Pavelsky, Swot freshwater science leader.
Many people think you're either a creative person or you're not. While I agree that some people may be slightly more creative than others, I think creativity is a muscle that can be exercised and improved upon.
Consume content outside your comfort zone.
We all love reading about stuff in our industry. If you want to get your creative juices flowing, start consuming content you wouldn't normally consume. Read blogs outside of your industry. Read books outside of your normal choice. Or grab lunch with a complete stranger.
Do the "No Bad Ideas Brainstorming" exercise.
Get at least one other person to join you for a 45-60 minute brainstorm. No technology and no criticism. Bring a topic or idea to the table and write down all your ideas (on actual paper). It's important to do this in person and to make absolutely sure you don't have any negative energy or feedback throughout the process. You may end up with 100 horrible ideas, but I bet you'll have one or two good ones.
There are studies upon studies that discuss how our diet affects the way we think. Want to start thinking differently? Start giving your body different (and healthier) fuel. You'd be shocked how much more creatively you can think and act when you eat a healthier diet.
See a movie in a theater.
Movies on the big scene are one of the last few places you can enjoy a complete sensory experience. The giant bright screen. The thundering surround sound. The smell and taste of fresh popcorn. The somewhat uncomfortable seat with plastic armrests that don't move.
A. Eat differently.
B. It may help with motivation.
C. And don't comment on a single idea.
D. Reward yourself for every little gain.
E. But typically this doesn't boost creativity.
F. The key is how to get your creativity strengthened.
G. Whenever you leave the theatre, your mind will be filled with numerous ideas.
Making a family
For years, Dad had avoided getting a dog. Whenever the 1 came up, Dad complained, "Dogs are a pain. I don't want to be 2." Despite his strong opposition, Mom brought home a puppy named Chip, a cute ball that 3 us all.
For me, at age thirteen, Chip brought out my 4 side. I fed, brushed and walked him every day. I also learned that when we take care of what is important to us, we 5 the benefits. And this 6 stayed with me as I grew. At that time, Chip meant a loyal (忠诚的) companion, someone to 7 me at the door when I returned, and someone to kiss my face when I was sad.
Chip even 8 Dad. It was nearly a month before Chip's 9 personality won him over. Dad was the first to 10 him to sit on the sofa. He even made chew toys for Chip to play with.
Most 11, Chip brought us together as a family. After dinner, instead of escaping to our bedrooms as before, we all 12 Chip into the family room. We'd teach him new 13 or perfect his old ones. We'd recall stories of the cute things he'd done that day. The key is that we'd do this together.
People sometimes complain that dog lovers are 14 humanity; rather, their pets stimulate the 15 of their humanity.
In Fujian province, over 3,000 Tulou scatter (散落) in the mountains, more than any other province in China. Some of them are circular, while others are rectangular (方形的). They also vary size and height.
A Tulou usually has 3 to 5 floors, covering area of around 5,000 square meters. A Tulou can accommodate hundreds of people, who live and work together, (share) the public areas, as well as the public (facility) such as the well and the stairs. So, a Tulou (function) as a village unit. It brings unity to all the villagers, passing down the traditional culture.
The (early) Tulou was built in the 13th century, when the Hakka people moved to Fujian during the war. (settle) here permanently, the Hakka people built the Tulou based on the local geographical environment, for both living and defense purposes. Featuring mud walls are over one meter thick, a specially-designed entrance, high windows and secret tunnels (地道), the Tulou can defend against enemies effectively.
In 2008, the Fujian Tulou were on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. Nowadays, the Tulou are no longer defensive buildings, they still reflect the ideas of harmony and cooperation while living together.
When you get a chance, why not visit Fujian Tulou and take a look at these (impress) earthen buildings?
I feared going into my room after school. Every day it was something different. The hours away at school were long enough to cause a terrible change to my private room. Today can be no different.
As I entered the house, Mom greeted me with a smile. It seemed like nothing was wrong. Still, I wouldn't believe. Yesterday, I discovered a chocolate cookie spread around the mouth of my angel statue. Its pink lips were covered in chocolate. Obviously, Callie had shared her cookie with my angel.
I looked around for my little sister, Callie, who had just turned three. I didn't see her. As I checked the sitting room, I noticed it was pretty messy. There were toys all around. There were a few headless dolls, some blocks, the remains of a grape stuck into the carpet. I searched around and there she was, sitting on the sofa with the TV remote in her sticky hands. She looked up and saw me. A huge smile broke out on her face, and she laughed, clapping her hands. I was surprised that they didn't stick together.
"Sissy (sister)!" She jumped off the sofa and ran to me, hugging my knees and almost tipping me over. "Hi, Callie," I said, with the slightest smile. I ruffled (抚弄) her long thick hair, and some white crumbs (残渣) fell to the carpet. "Cheese, sissy", Callie said, pointing at the crumbs that had settled onto the carpet. I found a strong smell of cheese from them. Had Callie focused on destroying only the sitting room? A voice raced across my mind. No way. Not my sister, the destroyer. Not my sister, the three-year-old terror. I turned around and started the scared climb to my room.
注意：
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I pushed the door open and saw a complete mess again!
……
Seeing the tears in her eyes, I bent down and lifted her up gently.
