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This post has taken me far too long to write and publish. Well, most of it was written on my last day in Singapore – on the rooftop of NTU's Art Design Media building, as I cradled my netbook on my lap protecting it from a drizzling rain with my umbrella. Now, home alone in my new house in Portsmouth – my housemates don't move in until next month – England welcomes me back with the same weather. On the way, this post has been edited in train stations, coffee shops, airports in four different countries and yet I still am not sure whether I'm satisfied with it. Yet Another One that runs into thousands of words.
Many people have asked me why I chose to go to Singapore, of all places, on an exchange programme. (Bear with me or skip the next couple of paragraphs in case you've already heard this bit from me.) When I was informed by my university that I was eligible for an exchange programme, I knew that I wanted to go on for a full year and not just a semester. A single semester sounded like a holiday, a full year would be a life experience.
When you go for exchange for a semester, most universities transfer back credits for courses taken on a pass/fail basis. If, however, you want to go for a year – at least with my university – credits as well as grades are transferred back. This narrowed my choices considerably as it required my university to have bilateral agreements any place I wanted to go for exchange. My choices came down to three: Australia, where the partner universities were two specialising in business; USA, where Surrey has a couple of tie-ups (Cincinnati and NCSU); and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. I wanted a place had a good faculty in digital media and computer engineering. NTU sounded like a good fit, particularly because it had an Information Engineering & Media department.
(Let me take a step back here to talk about what degree I'm pursuing for those interested. Technically, my degree is in 'Electronics and Computer Engineering'. What I was actually interested in though was Digital Media Engineering, offered as a specialisation by the same department. The only catch was the Digital Media Engineering batch was started in 2008 (?) and although it's a recognised degree, it does not yet have professional bodies such as The IET accept it as a path towards becoming a chartered engineer. As the courses are offered by the same department, taking an ECE degree allows me to take the same courses as DME students while still giving me the flexibility to take up other specialisations if I so want to – and get an IET-accredited pathway for chartered engineer status. So there. While degree title doesn't quite match up, what I'm studying resembles the Digital Media Engineering pathway the closest.)
What really swung the deal for me was the reason that drove me to attend that first workshop organised by Surrey University on a December afternoon – I wanted a life experience. I wanted to live long enough in a place to get to know it. I had saved up too and wanted a base that made it cheap and easy for me to travel. (That's right. I paid for all the travelling I have done over the past year from personal savings.) Europe was my first choice (Surrey had many options for exchange within EU) – I won't lie – but it was out of contention already as most European universities don't teach in English for my degree (until final year or masters level). The US didn't present as many opportunities for travel, and the choice of courses I was eligible to take at NTU seemed to be a better fit for my degree.
Done. Flights booked. Shenanigans at Changi Airport = done.
Singapore is a small city, about half the size of two cities I know best: Delhi, the city I grew up in; and London, the (major) city closest to where I live(d) in the UK. People call it 'Asia 101', a place where Westerners can come to experience Asia without suffering culture shock. Singapore helps keep up appearances too; with clean streets, planned out roads, trees planted precisely measured distances apart, shiny malls everywhere with exactly the same stores selling everything at the same prices. This is the impression most people carry away of Singapore: a model city done right – perhaps done a bit too right – with funny signs all over the place and a bit of fetish for cleanliness. Where's the culture, you ask?
See, assimilating foreign cultures without barfing is one thing Singapore has been incredibly successful at. English is spoken so widely, down to the level of the 'uncle' who cleans plates at the hawker centre, that language is never a problem for aliens. Even though the largest ethnic group is of Chinese-origin people, you never are challenged into having to learn Chinese (or Malay or any other language spoken extensively in Singapore). If you landed at New Delhi airport, sooner or later you will run into someone who doesn't understand you – perhaps the cleaner at the airport toilet. Or if you land at Heathrow, sooner or later you will run into a Scot or a Welsh and have no idea what they are saying. Not in Singapore. Whether you are a Western expat, an Indian, a Malay, or a Chinese immigrant you can step into your own little bubble. Live in the country and never feel the need to truly step out of your comfort zone.
This is what amazes me about Singapore. Ethnic bubbles exist everywhere where there are immigrants, sure. Just about any major global city will have a 'Chinatown' or 'brown neighbourhood'. Both the US and the UK have about 5% of population consisting of Asian-origin people (the biggest alien minority in both countries) and already at this level you have political groups like the British Nationalist Party that are rabidly anti-immigration, or the election of a Conservative Party government here in the UK partly on the back of tougher immigration laws. Singapore, on the other hand, has approximately 25% of its population consisting of permanent residents or people of foreign origin. Were it not for the careful policies of the Singapore government, this would be a country simmering with communal violence all the time.
Of course, if you ask foreigners in Singapore they will say, what is Singaporean culture if not an assimilation of individual bits taken from ours? And this is what you as a tourist, an expat, or an alien will miss out if you don't bother leaving your cocoon. Singapore is a young country, having been in existence for barely 50 years. In some sense it is still a country struggling to come to terms with defining what 'being Singaporean' is. In all the time I spent there, I never heard the national anthem once, to the point that I'm not even sure whether one exists. One of my big regrets is not being able to attend the National Day Parade on 9th August as I had to leave early. What I do come across is a dozen beautifully produced and moving songs sponsored by the Singaporean government released on various occasions such as National Day, Total Defence Day et al…but what is the one anthem that everyone rallies behind? The one mascot everyone rallies behind?
Even the Merlion is a manufactured symbol, designed by committee and commissioned by the Singaporean government. I got the feeling that even Singaporeans acknowledge the Merlion as token tourists can get behind – and buy in exquisitely sculpted glass for S$40 only after taking a ride on the Singapore Flyer. Too expensive? Perhaps sir would take a look at these Merlion t-shirts instead, only S$10. Heck, even the most popular beach there (again, only with tourists to be honest) Sentosa is artificially constructed!
And yet. And yet…
There does exist some such thing as a truly Singaporean cultural identity. One that may have loosely borrowed from the melting pot that this country is and still manages to stand on its own. It's maddeningly hard to get your finger on the pulse of this, but once you do will find an infinitely engaging stream of sights and sounds to dip into. Simple things – like having a kaya toast breakfast with runny eggs doused in soya sauce with sweet, sweet kopi made with condensed milk; eating at a hawker centre; heated arguments over whether Hokkien-style or Teochew-style bak kut teh is better; that lilting accent; getting jolted around on SBS buses been driven around recklessly – and yet these little things that make Singapore what it is. I have tried to make the best of the one calendar year to explore this. When I came here, I wanted to know what truly drives people here – their hopes, dreams, fears, aspirations. I cannot say I can even begin to understand that in the one calendar year that I got here but it provides me personal satisfaction, if nothing else, to say that I tried.
It's no secret that I wasn't particularly happy in my first semester in Singapore. (That post was written just as the first semester got over.) I was particularly frustrated by how students hung around in silos of their own ethnic background. Heck, I was confused about my own identity. Was I an exchange student? An Indian? A computer engineer, an electronic engineer, an 'information engineer', a media student? I think most of my frustration was borne out of this identity crisis. I went for the identity that opened up the most doors for me and sounded most coherent – an exchange student studying digital media engineering. (Nobody wants to hear a detailed explanation of what degree I'm studying.) "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" is an idiom that rings very true in Singapore. Go to any office, any event, any club, any gathering, any party – and see how much more welcoming people will be once you mention you're an exchange student. This isn't just a case of trying to make 'guests' comfortable – for a person staying four months on average is nothing more than a guest – but, from what I gathered, a case of the Westerner sheen rubbing off on the 'exchange student' term. What I was going through and felt inside didn't feel much different from Wittman Ah Sing, the protagonist in Maxine Hong Kingston's novel Tripmaster Monkey.
Go to any country in Asia and if you're white, you are guaranteed to be treated as royalty. Sure, you will get harassed by hawkers and beggars more too but ultimately you are worshipped regardless of your financial status. A waiter will take more time to explain the menu to you, a shopkeeper will be nicer to you (although guiding you to the more expensive part of the shop), random people you meet will fall head over heels to ask you how you're doing and help out of pure generosity. You won't get the same treatment if you're black or Arab or Oriental. This is a throwback to the era of the British colonialism in South-East Asia region. The Raj has taught well indeed to worship the White Man, and the lesson lingers on till today.
I won't deny this happens in India or in so many other Asian countries; I just didn't to expect to encounter the same in Singapore. Ang mohs (Singlish for 'white person') are definitely put on a pedestal although also naturally also despised for not truly understanding Singaporean culture. Anyway, the point is being put in the same bracket as all the ang mohs – with regards to what the term 'exchange student' usually applies to – warmed people up immediately to me. Would it have been the same if I had been a full-time student at NTU? I don't know but it doesn't seem so from what I saw.
There is an unmistakable undercurrent of resentment against foreigners from India and China. At some level, Singaporeans feel threatened by the influx of people from these two countries as they come in huge numbers and yet (often) don't bother stepping out of their bubble. They feel that these two ethnic groups which shut out outside influences might some day subsume Singaporean culture, robbing them of their identity. White people on the other hand get less hate directed their way mostly because white people are worshipped (as in the rest of Asia), but also because the majority of them come here on expat contracts and usually don't stay for more than 5-10 years, at the most. Other than that, most students from Singaporean universities often come on scholarship or financial aid schemes which makes the younger Singaporean generation feel betrayed as to why their own government spends on foreigners instead of 'its own people'.
The Singapore government has its own reasons for this of course. Look at the statistics. A birth rate of 0.0085% puts it 217th in the list of nations. Simply put, Singapore isn't growing fast enough to sustain its population, and there is a real danger that its economy could implode in the future if there aren't enough people to live there. When you look at statistics for migration, on this list you find Singapore 20th in the world, with one of the highest net influx immigrants per 1000 population in the world. They are doing this by offering incentives such as scholarships for those wanting to pursue higher education in Singapore, and by offering one of the lowest tax rates (compared to the Western world) – sometimes, practically tax-free income! It isn't hard to fathom why a sizeable section of Singaporeans would resent these incentives.
I know that reading some of the stuff will not please some people. Maybe you'd call me presumptuous to come with this own theory having spent barely a blip of a lifetime in that country. But is it not true that every exchange student is going away with an impression of their own? This is my impression. Every place I travel to, I try and hope to discover something deeper and more meaningful. I made the same effort for Singapore and I am glad I got a year to do so, to try to begin to comprehend. I'm sounding like the guest who sours up the mood of a party when asked to "say a few words" by talking about things people don't want to hear. This is because I didn't want my exchange to be just a laugh, just an extended holiday. So I'm not going to beam in a glossy brochure and be selective about what I'm saying. I'm sure other exchange students, full-time students, expats et al also have their personal views on Singapore which they don't talk about except in their own circles. Still, when I consider my time in Singapore holistically I'm glad I experienced every single minute of it.
If I had to give a single piece of advice to any visitor, expat, foreigner visiting Singapore it would be this: break out of your bubble. Yes, it takes effort. Yes, it's hard to not go for the most-comfortable option in an unfamiliar place. Trust me though, you will be delighted with what you discover of Singaporean culture.
Anyway, my second semester turned out to be far more enjoyable that my first. I had a brilliant roommate once again – just like I did in the first semester – and made some great friends again. My biggest fear after first semester was that most of my friends – exchange students all – had left and I wouldn't have people to hang around with. That fear made me unhappy when I last spoke about all this, so I'm glad I made such good friends again.
Something snapped and fell into place in the second semester, something that made it all feel different. Suddenly, I was an exchange student…but I had been there for a while. Out of nowhere, I cropped as one of the team members with the most experience at the student TV station where I spent so much time. I was the go-to person for other exchange students for queries they had. I 'understood' the full-time students 'better'; a lot of them expected me to be gone after the first semester and were pleasantly surprised to see me back. Perhaps I got brownie points for this choice I made. I also started to understand better what Singaporean culture was and what made the people here tick, very fulfilling for me at a personal level. I felt that I was having meaningful conversations, not just "Here I am in front of the Merlion let's take a picture!". Perhaps I had been naïve to think I'd have gained this within the first six months there.
I came prepared to pack my bags and leave in May this year, to say final goodbyes just like the other exchange students were doing. That changed when I got a research internship at the Department of Information Engineering for the summer. Once again, I was the exchange student who chose to stick around longer, and for my incoming fellow researchers around the world on the same programme 'one of them' who had been here for a long while. Even though we knew each other for a mere eight weeks, once again I made good friends to hang out with. I got to work on an interesting research project and had supportive professors and mentors guiding me. I couldn't have asked for a better way to extend my stay.
Travel over the past year has affected my outlook in life a lot too. "Travel broadens the mind, but only if you go in expecting it to be broadened" – something a friend from Surrey who came visiting Singapore said – has become a mantra for me. There are fun moments, like beach parties in Phuket one week and in Bintan the other, eating frog meat from a street vendor, being a pretentious fucker and not enjoying The Hangover 2 in Bangkok, firing an AK47. And there are moments which make you think about life: the hostel officer in NTU who had family blown apart by landmines; eating lunch with a prisoner of Pol Pot's regime, who only escaped torture because he was a painter; a woman trying to sell her kids to me; meeting people surviving on less than a dollar a day and still proud of their job; finding out that Amir Khan is fucking huge in Taiwan and 3 Idiots was a big hit there…because the message resonates so well as many Asian countries face the same problem with their education system, listening to the story of Vietnam-American War from another perspective (and actually meeting people affected by Agent Orange)…
What I have learnt from travel has been humbling, a reminder of how good I have it in life. I have seen and heard about how evil people can be and yet how much humanity still exists. How I could be, and should be, doing more to help those less privileged than me. Seen really how much a fraction of a dollar can mean so much to so many people. It is a reminder of how much of a privileged life I have led, and I am ever grateful to my parents for it. This is a note to self that I will continue to donate to Doctors Without Borders, Kiva, Teach For India, SOS Children Villages – much more if I can this year, now that I have a healthy pay cheque. I wish I get to take time off in the future to volunteer for one of these causes. (If you have some time yourself, I urge you to look at the missions these organisations are trying to carry out.)
Was I trying to prove a point, showing that I could get in to NTU even though attending it as my full-time university didn't work out? (Let's not pretend quite a few of you have been not been thinking that. I have much respect for friends who actually put this question to me.) Perhaps. I guess at a subconscious level it might have played a part. What matters is that through design or destiny – whatever you want to call it – I chose to attend University of Surrey, a choice that I am immensely happy with. Surrey (the county) is a delightfully pleasant place to live in; not particularly anything to set it apart in a tourist guidebook by the way of places to visit but generally a lovely place with lovely weather. Lovely people, really good friends I made through clubs and coursemates. Why did I leave it all then for Singapore?
I sort of touched upon this last time. I don't know why but I have lived as a social nomad – changing schools, shifting houses, jumping friend circles, moving to the UK, taking a gap year…I realise I haven't stuck around at one place for long. I don't know what I'm running from or whether I'm even running. Here's the thing (and I'm not boasting here – or maybe I am, I can't be a good judge of that): I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at all the different places and all the different people I have had the pleasure to call my friends. Through sheer arrogance, dumb luck, talent – people give it different names – I have been a person who is remembered. I'm not the person who is forgotten in a metaphorical yearbook, so to speak.
And yet I keep moving on. Given the choice of potentially weakening friendships with my university friends or going to Singapore, I chose the latter. Given a choice between sacrificing a relationship or staying on longer in Singapore, I chose the latter. When I got my placement offer here in England with a week to spare, without blinking I booked flights to Taiwan; I didn't even give a second thought to spending more time with my parents or friends. I rationalised it away saying I may never get such as 'easy' chance to visit Taiwan again. I think it has gotten to the point of a pathological impulse. I must be somewhere new, doing something new. To borrow a line from Inception as I did my previous post, it has become the only way I can dream.
Singapore is the first time in my life I stopped and started questioning myself: why am I doing this? Perhaps it's the accumulated baggage of nostalgia hitting me at once. I think it's because for the first time, I am not sure whether I will ever get a chance to go back to Singapore again. Whether I will ever again meet all the friends I made – and if do, then whether it will ever be for longer than over coffee or lunch, or a weekend in the same city.
I fear this introspection will only last until the end of this month, when my new housemates – all students of University of Portsmouth – join me from their holidays and I go off again creating yet another circle of friends that I completely feel comfortable belonging to. The first thing I did after checking into the hotel I was staying at on my first day back in UK was to look for cheap flights for Christmas break. And guess what – I've already booked flights to Morocco! I had the chance to go back to India, meet friends in the UK, meet my parents – and I shunned all those options.
And yet, I want to stop now. I get this feeling…that throughout my life although I might be thinking I'm at the right place at the right time and enjoying myself, I may always have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. It makes a catchy line on a poster when Bruce Willis is yipee-ki-yay punching villains, but it's killing me on the inside. I have lost touch with far too many people who were close to me. Some of that is expected, of course; you cannot reasonably expect to hang around with your school(s) (plural, for me) friends forever. I can't help thinking though that some of the decisions I have taken played a fair share in drifting apart. Losing touch with so many friends is tearing me apart.
I didn't wait to hear back from friends either whether they wanted to accompany me on my Morocco trip. Just couldn't wait! I cannot stand indecisiveness. I don't care if the plan is not to have a plan, as long as I know that's the plan. That's usually how I function. The Plan is Not To Have A Plan. This could be going off travelling, or at smaller scales, even when to sleep on a day. As long as I get tasks that I need to get done by their deadline, I don't sweat the smaller details.
I say this, but I was plagued with indecisiveness in my last month in Singapore. I couldn't decide how to spend my last weeks there, gave up on trying to find a placement, couldn't form day-to-day schedules…I just locked up and didn't want to disturb the status quo in any aspect of my life. I didn't know what was in store for me next and for the first time in my life, I was scared shitless of the unknown. I usually like not knowing what's next. Yet, there I was stuck…unable to take charge.
My philosophy in life has been to do what I like, when I like it. It's because I believe that throughout our life, we fret about things such as the decisions we make or what other people think of it. But when I'm on my deathbed, I think it will be things I left untried, unheard, unthunk, unspoken that I will come to regret. Time will tell whether racing from one checkpost to another 'just for the experience' will hold me in good stead. At least I hope to have a story to tell. This is why I wanted to take this opportunity to be completely honest, no punches pulled.
I have this to say though: I will undoubtedly look back at Singapore as an important milestone in my life. I loved the experience, the place, the culture, the people I met there. The people. When you look back at a place in a time in your life, it's probably the people you met you are really looking back at. I have no siblings, so you cannot possibly imagine how much my close friends mean to me. I admit I am not always good at expressing this or being as nice a friend as I should be, but I sure am grateful to have friends who are there whenever we need each other – and to have made many more such friends in Singapore.
"It's the conversations that make it worthwhile". Thank you, my friends in Singapore, for all those conversations. I have walked away with more questions than answers about myself. But I'm glad I have realised those questions exist and what they are.
I mentioned how I try to truly understand what the culture of a place is. In some ways, nothing brings that out more than election season. I was fortunate to visit Singapore in an election year, because topics of discussion usually swept aside – and probably not discovered by short-term visitors – got a lot of publicity. Singapore has been ruled by the same political party – the People's Action Party (PAP) for more than four decades now. Lee Hsien Loong, the son of the first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has been in charge for the better part of last ten years or so. Singapore has often been criticised for not having enough political freedom of speech (you need a license from the government to write about politics, to hold demonstrations; most of print and broadcast media is owned by government-backed companies, etc). Until now, PAP enjoyed practically unanimous control of the legislature with 98% of all elected seats. To the point that in the run-up to elections, PM Lee was brazen enough to essentially threaten voters in a historically opposition-friendly constituency that they would suffer if they didn't vote for PAP.
This year's general election was different for so many reasons. For the first time in years, PAP took a hit in the support that it saw from electorate. People genuinely want change and more political freedom, and even PM Lee realised that after elections. What was fascinating to see is how public reactions were. In no small measure, various Internet channels provided, for the first time, a vocal outlet against particular government policies.
I must say that during elections, I felt quite outraged by what I heard about political restrictions in Singapore. For instance, voting is compulsory in elections and if you don't vote, you are struck off electoral rolls forever. And yet, there are no laws in place to ensure that employees and workers get time off during election day to go vote. I couldn't help thinking especially of how thousands of hawker centre workers, wage staff, taxi drivers et al – some of the less economically privileged sections of Singaporean society who really needed to make their voice heard on government policies might not get to have a say at all, since they would be forced to choose between making a living and choosing to vote. More importantly, because of the rule which strikes people off electoral rolls for missing even one election, people who might not have voted previously because they didn't consider it worth it (near unanimous victories for PAP in the past) would have been disenfranchised during current elections when opposition parties genuinely had a chance.
I didn't realise it back then, but over two months of internship I got a better understanding – through interactions with academia, industry people, and government officials – how Singapore's economy is being shaped skilfully by its government. A tiny nation with next to no resources has built a vast empire around the world, become a financial powerhouse in the region. When other countries were facing a recession, Singapore had billions of dollars in cash reserves and actually increased spending to stimulate economic growth. Singapore realises it's a 'knowledge-based economy' and that's why it spends so much money and effort in attracting the best talent from around the world, especially in research-related industry sectors to ensure Singapore remains a key part of the food chain in today's economy through owning intellectual capital.
You have to marvel at how for environmental issues, Lee Kuan Yew (the first PM) thought of projects like Marina Barrage (a water conservation project to secure Singapore's freshwater supply in the future) thirty years ago and planned to fruition in current years – when other countries are only starting to think of what their ecological conversation strategy should be.
Much of the economy is controlled directly through government agencies, none of them appear to be bogged down by bureaucracy! Even in the US or the UK, government-led agencies and projects don't have the best track record of cutting through red tape and yet in Singapore, government agencies run efficiently right down to 'common man' level interactions. This is something that should probably be a textbook case around the world on governance done right.
So I don't agree with restrictions in freedom of speech in Singapore. I don't agree when Singaporean youth say, as they did during elections, "We should not be pointing flaws in what PAP has done because they have made Singapore what it is today" – for elections should be fought on what a party stands for now, and not what it did ten years ago. I don't agree with strong-arm tactics used to restrict opposition parties from campaigning effectively. And yet, I have much respect for how Singapore's politicians are logically and rationally leading public spending to ensure its long-term economic growth in the 21st century. I am even proud that it is doing all this ethically and while caring for basic human rights, unlike other places like Dubai which just seems to be throwing cash at trying to 'solve 'its future. (I highly recommend this news feature story The Dark Side of Dubai by Johann Hari on human rights atrocities that are swept under the carpet; in my opinion one of the best journalistic pieces ever published in the past few years.)
I may never get to call Singapore "home", but it will always hold a special place in my heart.


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James can build a mean bike.... with a little help from Campagnolo Super Record 11, Zero-G Brakes and some Fulcrum wheels.
A little sterling silver on the front never hurts.
As you can see, James is a big fan of the little rubber doughnuts on the cables, his ride must be silent.
By clicking on the image you can zoom in on the sweet welds.... you know you want to.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Embrocation SSR: 02
Posted by Indy Fab at 4:19 PM
Labels: Embrocation, SSR
2 comments:
Just read that James Morrison soloed to a win at the Union Vale Road Race in Union Vale, NY... I'm guessing he won astride this beautiful SSR. He must be very pleased with the ride.
Beautiful bike!
- July 13, 2009 at 11:21 PM
- Smallp said...
Hello IF,
May I know which color this bike is?
is it 15. midnight blue?
- August 11, 2009 at 7:20 AM
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subset: commoncrawl


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As the media pushes its picture of a world sunk in consumption, all too often artists fall into the role of mediators for the sale. This is nothing new, the roots of popular blues, jazz and country music spend some time in the muddy waters of the traveling Medicine Shows, and artists have always been called upon to provide the motivation for the populace to interact with their controlling interests. What has changed is the technology that makes this possible, and the reach these messages are able to achieve.
Within this there is still the subtle relationship that exists between the true artist and their art. For all of the throwaways created with the speed of today's mass culture there are still those who spend time with the more delicate aspects of their craft. James Blackshaw has emerged as a guitarist of considerable dexterity and intimacy; coming from punk rock roots he has turned his musical aptitude towards longer, more meditative modes with great success.
Thinking about what is necessary to bring the power of art into the creation of a more sustainable society we must come to understand the craftsmanship that underlies true expression. Blackshaw is part of a growing circle of artists whose appreciation for this relationship is bringing a brighter light to the creative scene and providing hope that the darkness on the horizon can give way to the sublimity of a well played song.


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General Dentist at Oasis Dental Care Dundee

Private Associate Dentist required to join our well-established practice in Dundee.

What we do matters. Our customers trust our dentists with one of their most important assets, their smile. Patient care is our passion and we believe everyone deserves a happy and healthy smile, which is why we thrive on having the very best dentists in the industry working with us to ensure we all keep on smiling.

Here at Oasis Dental Care (now part of Bupa) our people are at the heart of everything we do, because we care. We have created environments where people can look forward to coming to work, feel empowered and benefit from working collaboratively with brilliant & talented experts. So working with us isn't just a job, but continuous professional development.

As an Associate Dentist you'll be benefiting from a supportive practice team, a well-managed appointment book, exceptional development and opportunities to take you as far as you want to go; and that's just to mention a few.

This exciting opportunity also offers:

Up to five days per week

Great Private earning potential

Additional discount for utilising Oasis Labs

Continuous Professional Development

Associate Dentist required with Private and Implant work experience only. Sedation qualification would be an advantage. As part of the recruitment process candidates will be required to provide a Portfolio of previous Implant cases.

Experience of working within the Private sector in the UK is essential.

The Practice: Fully Private established with 5 surgeries, modern working environment, fully computerised, SOE Software, OPG, digital x-ray, Cerec Machine, Rotary Endo, Intra Oral Camera and Apex Locator. Experienced longstanding associates, supported by dedicated Dental Hygienists and a team of qualified professional support staff. The practice offers Implants, Sedation and a full range of private dentistry.

Location highlights: This stunning practice is located in the heart of Broughty Ferry andjust four miles east of Dundee. With the best of all worlds right at your feet, Scotland's other main cities Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeenare all within 90 minutes by rail or road. The Angus Glens are a stone's throw away, offering stunning hills and lochs. Championship golf courses are within easy reach, with Carnoustieand St. Andrews both less than 30 minutes away, and several other top quality courses even closer.

Why join Oasis? Here's a selection of the fantastic incentives we have to offer:

Excellent Working facilities and the latest equipment

Highest standards of clinical governance & expert support

On-boarding and Induction process

Oasis Indemnity that offers you full cover, bespoke to Oasis

Sponsored Education

Career Mobility

If you or someone you know would be interested in working with a dynamic and expanding healthcare business we would love to hear from you!

Tina Louise Thomas, Regional Recruitment Partner
Mobile: 07552 166680
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.oasisdentalcare.co.uk


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Verifying Lawful Presence
In 2011, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents implemented a new policy requiring all USG institutions to verify the lawful U.S. presence for each applicant applying for in-state tuition. This change was necessary in order to respond to the state law that requires all students unlawfully present in the U.S. to be charged out-of-state tuition rates. According to USG policy:
"Each University System institution shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted person applying for resident tuition status, as defined in Section 7.3 of this Policy Manual, and of every person admitted to an institution referenced in Section 4.1.6 of this Policy Manual."
Below is a list of acceptable documentation to prove lawful presence in Georgia:
- A current driver's license issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008. A limited term license or a license issued for a period of less than four years is not acceptable.
- A certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory (must be delivered to a GHC campus – fax or photocopy is unacceptable).
- A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
- A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
- A U.S Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)/
- A current U.S. Passport.
- A current ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008. A limited term ID or an ID issued for a period of less than four years is not acceptable.
- Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551).
Applicants who are not United States citizens must provide one of the following:
- A current copy of the applicant's visa and I-94 form;
- A copy (front and back) of the applicant's permanent resident card.
Applicants who have no legal documentation to be in the U.S. are eligible to attend GHC but will be charged out-of-state tuition rates.
Effective Fall 2011, all applicants who are accepted for admission or readmission to Georgia Highlands and who seek to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes, will be required to provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the State of Georgia and the United States. Questions or need for additional assistance should be directed to a representative at one of our campus locations.


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Well, it's that time of year again…with just eight days to go in 2012 we genealogy bloggers sometimes
brag write about what a great job we did in meeting our goals for the year. Then we usually come up with another list of genealogy-related fun things to do next year. I'm no exception…I've been doing the same for the last few years myself. But if I spell out this year's goals and talk about how well – or not – I did at meeting them, I'd feel a bit ridiculous since, well…I didn't quite get to most of them. Let's just say my priorities changed throughout the year. But hey, it's that time of year, so let me at least provide you with my TOP 12 REASONS I DIDN'T MEET ALL OF MY 12 GENEALOGY GOALS FOR 2012!
12. The world was supposed to be over by now…
11. Uh, some of my lofty goals were a bit too hard. I mean, what was I thinking? Twelve goals?
10. Several of my most inspirational long-time genealogy blogging friends (you all know who you are) took a blogging leave of absence and left me uninspired as a result. (Please come back!!!!!)
9. I was distracted by shiny things and spent too much of my free time reading my Pointer sister's voluminous tweets.
8. I introduced the next generation to the wonder that is Star Wars.
7. I cheated on Facebook by having an actual real live social network.
6. I spent a whole lot of time watching all 77 episodes of Leverage multiple times with great delight.
5. I was too stressed trying to complete the weekly Family History Through the Alphabet Challenge.
4. I still give up on translating Polish records that are written in Russian in under five minutes.
3. I bribed my genealogy-goal buddy, Lisa Alzo, with a case of slivovitz to stop bugging me about my progress.
2. I found out a lot of other great genealogy facts this year that weren't on my 2012 wish list.
1. Occasionally hanging out with live relatives is more fun that looking for dead ones.


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Indian Govt on hunt for 31 'wanted'
Centre has shared an updated dossier of 31 most wanted terrorists — including 19 of IM and 12 of the other Lashkar-SIMI front, Jama-i-tul Ansarul Muslimeen (JIAM) — with states, asking them to launch a manhunt for them. Security agencies believe that 10 terrorists may be hiding somewhere in the country.
With a majority of them suspected to be in West Asian countries like the UAE and Qatar on Pakistani passports, India has sought help from these nations in the wake of the Varanasi blast.
"A list, comprising 17 top IM terrorists, including Bhatkal brothers — Riyaz and Iqbal — the outfit's bombmaker Yasin Bhatkal, financer Mohsin Chaudhary and technical expert Abdus Subhan Usman Qureshi alias Tauqeer, has also been with Pakistan for over nine months," said a senior home ministry official. New Delhi had shared these details with Islamabad during foreign secretary-level talks in February. (Post-Varanasi, govt on hunt for 31 'wanted' – The Times of India).
Small numbers …big problem
31 terrorists is India's problem. The answer to these 31 operatives is dedicated teams for each terrorist. Teams drawn from the 10 affected states, with 2 specialists from each state, dedicated to the task of booking these 31 terrorists. 620 in all. 30 support staff. 6 in information technology; 12 in accounts & admin another twelve in documentation and secretarial section. Another 50 experts in language, cipher, psychology, intelligence, politics and culture can support this group. 700 people in all. To hunt down these 31.
Replacing these 31 operatives will be tough for any organization.
Let's do the numbers
Indian police has a superb network of 'humint.' But, they need more than that – for neutralizing terror.
There are finally less than 1000 SIMI + HuJI activists who could be future terrorists. There are a similar 1000 Kashmiri terrorists. What India needs to do, is to set up a national database on these 2000 suspects – allot (say) teams of 5 policemen to these 1000 suspects.
Monitoring the activities of the 2000 suspects cannot be a national pastime. With neural networks and similar 'intelligent' systems, India police should be able to improve their 'intelligence.'
2ndlook plan for terrorism
2ndlook has been working on a plan to tackle terrorism for 30 months now – resting on an intel-based theme. Not on more – computers, policemen, organizations.
The first output in this plan was the answer to counterfeit currency problem. 2ndlook analyzed this problem (in September 2008) down to a handful of Western companies, their Governments and proprietors who supply Pakistan with the paraphernalia to make fake currency notes. India needs to tackle these 12 companies and about 4 Governments.
The second stage in this plan was 50 days before 26/11 Mumbai attacks – on October 3rd 2008. Specialist teams to tackle identified, confirmed, proven terrorist candidates – DAT Teams (Dedicated Anti-Terrorist Teams). Instead of Western-style Draconian laws, which depend on mass jails, kills, hanging, State Terrorism, torture, India must depend on a targetted alternative.
For numbers will set you free
After 26/11, came a bigger 2ndlook anti-terrorism plan. Without demonizing Pakistan, or Pakistanis. Further development of better data came in December 2009, when specific numbers were revealed by Army Chief Deepak Kapoor. 42 terrorist camps is what the Indian intelligence agencies had estimated. Instead of putting a full army on alert, is it not possible to lob grenades into these 42 army camps every month for six months. With such sustained attacks comings in, how long will this structure-of-terrorism hold up.
Indian Government has taken action on some of these proposed points. The FCN issue was taken up with the necessary Euro-zone countries. India also decided to make its own security paper, instead of depending on unreliable-and-unethical European companies.
Related Articles
- Collusion or collaboration? The Think Tank Initiative (quicktake.wordpress.com)
- 26/11 – The Maldives Connection (quicktake.wordpress.com)
- Mujahedin Attack Shows India Still Terror-Prone (newsweek.com)
- The IPI-TAPI Story (quicktake.wordpress.com)


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Black Chalkboard Paint | 250ml
This 250ml of chalkboard paint will cover approximately three meters squared (two coats).
Apply the paint onto a kitchen cupboard as a 'menu' or 'shopping list' or on a bedroom wall for children-for hours of creative fun. It can even be used in an office or innovation room, or as part of decor at a wedding or function. The possibilities are endless…
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Additional information
Lime, Cherry


text:
Pump me up wrote:Ok, ok, I didn't think it was possible, but "200 pages" is definitely within range.
I'm back in!
"Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
You got to have a dream (200 pages),
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?"
(With thanks to Rogers & Hammerstein and the BS artists at Epic)
Pumpy ........................................
....... back ..... .......................


text:
Pre-Owned Machinery & Brokerage Services
For Woodworking, Non-Ferrous Metals, Plastics & Composites
JKL Machinery offers a wide variety of used equipment. Our used machinery inventory is located either in our facility and is consigned at our customer's plant. All equipment is inspected and all specifications are deemed to be accurate.
Find The Equipment You Need
Browse our current inventory by clicking here for machinery categories, or use the search tool at the top right of the page. We often take used machinery into inventory that doesn't make it to the online list. It's always best to give us a call with what you're looking for.
Used Equipment Brokerage Services


text: A private seller of domain names since 2007, I am known for reasonable prices on quality end-user domain names. No hidden prices and offer/counter-offer games here—just a fair, fixed price. I began selling on undeveloped.com this year because they stand out in the industry with their secure platform, fast transactions, buyer protection and great customer service. You can feel 100% secure purchasing here.


text:
Looking for design inspiration? Browse our curated collections!
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The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
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Our tote bags are made from soft, durable, poly-poplin fabric and include a 1" black strap for easy carrying on your shoulder. All seams are double-stitched for added durability. Each tote bag is machine-washable in cold water and is printed on both sides using the same image.
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Watercolor of a mallard duck atop a waterfall.
Born in Los Angeles, raised in Orange County and residing in the City of Orange. I had art classes in school but didn't find time for formal training, raising 3 children and working as a 9-1-1 Operator. Maybe someday! The old saying 'Jack of all trades, master of none'...that's me. I don't have a particular 'style' and I envy the artist who does.� For tshirts, mugs, totes, etc., see my store at Zazzle. also at RedBubble for tshirts and iPhone cases. Popular Prints:
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status of the projectmaeste Mar 23, 2009 5:10 PM
Hi all,
a long silence here. Sorry for that, but I've been very very busy in last weeks.
But what is the status of the project? What have I done for Wise in last weeks?
Well I was working on 1.0.1 version to integrate it in ESB 4.5, but I realized during this development (thanks to Kevin for that) that Wise-core version >=0.9 have 2 big issues to be well integrated in ESB:
1) Dependencies from JBoss Micro Kenel: ESB have its own configuration APIs and it have to used. Users don't have to put configurations in multiple places.
2) Class loading issues caused by our cache system. Caching Dynamiclient instances and smooks drive to class loading issues.
3) Moreover our synchronized solution to avoid 3ad safety problem of JBossWS-native Port is not acceptable in an high concurrent environment like ESB.
Another point that would be achieved is a better test coverage. I've worked a lot on this last point and (apart some classes that are under refactoring to remove smooks cache) we now have a great coverage (more or less 70%). Anyway I'll open soon (hopefully tonight) a 3ad about Wise's test because we need not only a good unit test coverage, but also some stress and integration tests.
I've worked also on point 1 and partially 2 and 3:
1) I have modified a bit our API to make possible to pass a WiseConfig instance during dynamic client creation. Code should be clear than any explanation here: start from this sample http://fisheye.jboss.org/browse/Wise/core/trunk/samples/AddressingAndSecurityNoMK and have a look to my last commits. A look to unit tests should help too. Javadoc is a bit out of synch or at least incomplete, but I'll try to fix that very soon (hopefully tonight)
2) I have worked partially on that. I have made optional dynamicClientCache. The same should be done on smooks cache. I'll take care soon
3) I have a git branch on my laptop with an almost complete solution based on a 3ad pool. It needs few refinement. Expect a commit on a branch next week or so.
I'm writing here mainly to ask your opinion on my changes, and in particular your opinion about the opportunity to totally remove MK dependency. Just to recall let me remark we are using to inject right implementation of various component (depending i.e. JAX-WS stack, reflection vs javaassist access to generated class, various kind of WS-*).
I still love our IOC pluggable approach, but it's a matter of fact that having 2 different kind of configuration (MK one and new code base one) could be a bit confusing for users and eventually also for new contributors.
Your opinion?
I'll look forward for your feedbacks.
PS: Another news about current development: JimMa is working on project mavenization


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This hand-pulled dust-grain photogravure is printed by master photogravure printer Jon Goodman with an overlay signed by Hazel Strand, wife of the late Paul Strand. It is accompanied by a slipcased copy of Paul Strand: Time in New England, also signed by Hazel Strand.
Paul Strand (born in New York, 1890; died in Orgeval, France, 1976) is one of the great photographers of the twentieth century. As a youth, he studied under Lewis Hine at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, going on to draw acclaim from such illustrious sources as Alfred Stieglitz. After World War II, Strand traveled around the world—from New England to Ghana, France to the Outer Hebrides—to photograph, and in the process created a dynamic and significant body of work.
You may also be interested in:
Near Saltillo, Mexico, 1933
Paul Strand$600.00
Paul Strand: The Garden at Orgeval
Photographs by Paul Strand
Regular Price: $45.00
Special Price $36.00
Paul Strand: Portfolio Four$18,000.00


text:
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Brigham Young University has reportedly taken delivery of more than 130 pieces of strength training and cardio equipment from FreeMotion Fitness for two athletic department weight rooms on the Provo, UT campus.
The equipment has been placed in two main training facilities of the athletic department: the Student Athlete Building and the Smith Field House. The men's football and basketball and women's basketball and soccer teams have already started training on the new equipment.


text: I've pointed out digital newspaper collections before, but those largely featured publications from northern or western states. A great resource for southern papers is available from the University of Richmond's Digital Initiatives, which has over a thousand issues of the Richmond Daily Dispatch published between 1860-1865. One can learn more about Richmond during the Civil War from an essay written by historian Robert C. Kenzer. The project also provides full text access of related primary sources, such as a diary from someone who lived in Richmond in 1865.


text:
SBDC Internet Marketing Seminar, March 4Friday, February 27th, 2009
CANTON – The SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center will be holding an Internet marketing seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center's Woodcock Conference Suite Room 212.
"Many businesses have augmented their regional sales by selling online," noted SBDC Director Dale Rice. "We see it as a viable low-cost way to increase business and have several innovative ways for area entrepreneurs to utilize web-based resources."
Among the topics covered during the day-long seminar will be:
· The uniqueness of Internet marketing using both creative and technical elements
· How the Internet has changed the buying process
· Expectations of Internet shoppers
· Determining a business' online marketing potential
· Internet marketing in a recession
· Search engine optimization
· Web analytics
· Social Media marketing
The event costs $20 per person and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information, or to register, contact the SBDC at 315-764-0683, or email email@example.com.
SUNY Canton offers a wide variety of career-driven bachelor's, associate, and certificate programs, as well as three master's degrees in conjunction with SUNYIT, Utica. Most of SUNY Canton's new four-year programs are designed so students can take them on-campus, online, or both. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 100 courses online each semester. The college's athletic teams belong to the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, enabling students to compete in their respective sports for four years.
Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7528.


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Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ("Title IX") provides that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. 20 U.S.C. §1681.
Title IX provides that discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment of students, as well as sexual violence.
Title 20 U.S.C. Sections 1681-1688:
Title IX Legal Manual
34 CFR 106—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance:


text: The Good Morning Magnolia Stamp Set is a versatile floral stamp set featuring a gorgeous magnolia for your wow projects! Also available in French.Stampin' Up!'s cling stamps * Are premium rubber stamps.* Have deeply etched images so you get a superior stamped impression each time. * Are precut so you don't have to trim.* Are repositionable; temporarily mount them on clear blocks for stamping, then remove them for storage.* Save space—you need only one set of blocks for all your cling stamps (blocks sold separately). * Come packaged in cases with images on the spine for easy storage and quick reference.Quantity: 10 cling stampsSuggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, f, h


text:
Yaaaaaaaargh!" The breathless magic of Lionel Messi's goal scoring often leaves Ray Hudson, the motormouth commentator for Gol TV, grasping for words. It happened again on Jan. 21 as Messi scored a brilliant hat trick in FC Barcelona's 4-1 win at Malaga in Spain's La Liga. His first, a textbook header, had Hudson declaring that "his talent would light up the national grid." After his second, Hudson described the diminutive Argentine as a "colossus bestriding the earth." But Messi's third a slaloming run from the halfway line past three Malaga defenders, culminating in a soft, left-footed tap past the goalkeeper's...
Lionel Messi's Final Goal
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text:
Roads groomed for snowmobiles and snowcoaches in Yellowstone National Park are not the key factor influencing bison distribution and numbers in the park, a researcher said.
BILLINGS, Mont. Roads groomed for snowmobiles and snowcoaches in Yellowstone National Park are not the key factor influencing bison distribution and numbers in the park, a researcher said Friday.
"The roads very definitely make it easier for bison to move along the landscape, but we didn't see an overall effect on distribution or population increases," said Cormack Gates, director of the Environmental Science Program in the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary.
Gates, an expert in bison ecology and management, said bison distribution seems to be driven by density, or bison numbers. More bison use more space, and their quest for food -- particularly in heavy snow years -- helps push them to the park boundaries, he said.
The study looked at the effects of groomed roads on bison in Yellowstone. Some environmentalists and others have contended groomed trails facilitate bison movement in the park and contribute to bison being killed as they leave the boundaries and enter Montana, where ranchers worry bison could transmit brucellosis to cattle. Brucellosis can cause cows to abort.
A joint state-federal plan allows for the hazing and capture of bison that wander from the park, and testing of the animals for brucellosis. Bison testing positive are slaughtered.
D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with The Humane Society of the United States, said late Friday he hadn't yet read the full report. But he said he believes there would be a very different situation for bison in the park now if roads had never been groomed.
"Ending road packing in all or most of the park is a sensible step to addressing this ongoing brucellosis crisis," he said.
The report makes several recommendations, including that the park implement a bison population monitoring program and define a minimum viable population for the northern range. It also suggests an experiment to test the effect of snow conditions on a section of road connecting the central and northern parts of the park, he said.
Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews said the report will be taken into account by National Park Service officials as they prepare a long-term plan for winter use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
Source: Associated Press


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Simulators add new dimension of training to aviation program
Liberty University School of Aeronautics has invested in several simulators, ranging from paper mock-ups of the aircraft control panels and desktop instrument trainers to full motion and state-of-the art simulators.
The university recently made a million-dollar upgrade to the program with the purchase of three new flight simulators: a Cessna C-172 Skyhawk simulator, the program's primary training aircraft; a Piper PA-28 Arrow simulator, which is used for advanced training; and a Canadair CRJ-200 simulator, used for jet training.
"The new state-of-the-art simulators raise the excellence of our program to rival that of any university flight training in the U.S.," said Brig. Gen. USAF (Ret.) Dave Young, dean of the School of Aeronautics.
He said the simulators allow instructors to replicate situations that cannot be performed in an actual airplane and give students a lower risk, cost-effective means for flight training. Other advantages include the ability to pause while in flight to assess situations, training for emergency operations, and training for all types of weather.
The CRJ-200 simulator is also proving useful in securing jobs for graduates. It is being used in conjunction with Liberty's partnership with ExpressJet Airlines, the biggest regional airline in the world. The partnership, which began in August, guarantees a job with ExpressJet for every qualified graduate. Students will use the jet training simulator as part of their qualification process.
- Read the full story.
Forensics team earns top tournament honors
Liberty University's Forensics team won several first-place honors at a two-day competition held at the University of Pennsylvania, Nov. 10-11.
Overall, the team earned second place, competing with teams from George Mason University, West Chester University, Cedar Crest College, James Madison University, Binghamton University, Drexel University, and Haverford College.
Individual overall honors went to team captain Josh Wade who took third place in cumulative points out of more than 100 competitors on the second day of competition. Kenny Lau won second place in overall points.
On the first day of competition, first-place honors went to Josh Wade for after dinner speaking, the team of Wade and Laurin Elliott for duo interpretation, Kenny Lau for informative speaking and poetry interpretation, and Shadrach Hicks for dramatic interpretation.
The next day, Wade and Elliott again placed first in duo interpretation, Yemisi Egbewole won first place in dramatic interpretation, and Lau took first in informative speaking and prose interpretation.
Six members of Liberty's team have now qualified for the national competition in April 2013.
- Read the full story.
Adventure, drama, magic continue at Tower Theater
As the Spring 2013 semester gets under way, more magic, drama, adventure, laughs, and sensational melodies are still to come as the Liberty University Department of Theatre Arts presents the second half of its mainstage season.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel" comes to Tower Theater for the first time ever Feb. 15-23, replacing "The Man Who Came to Dinner" in the original lineup.
Next up will be "All My Sons" beginning March 1. The powerful, post WWII drama will run for eight performances.
Disney's "Tarzan" swings to the stage April 12-May 12 as the much-anticipated follow-up to Alluvion Stage Company's inaugural production, "Peter Pan." Alluvion, the professional division of Liberty's theater department, brings the epic, family-friendly musical to Central Virginia for the first time ever, including flying stunts never before performed at Tower Theater.
Quiz Bowl posts wins against Virginia Tech, University of Virginia
Liberty University's Quiz Bowl team won its sixth Big South Conference championship in seven years and finished 9-2 in the sectional tournament last year. After a strong showing in fall competitions, including several victories over three different Atlantic Coast Conference programs, the team will defend its crown at the BSC tournament at Gardner-Webb University on Jan. 26.
Liberty University's novice Quiz Bowl team posted victories over two ACC schools — Virginia Tech (320-145) and the University of Virginia (365-205) — in its first tournament of the season Saturday, Sept. 29, at Virginia Tech.
Liberty's novice A-team finished the tournament in sixth position with a record of 4-5, including two wins over Virginia Tech and their first-ever win over UVA. Two Liberty players, Doug Stephens and Jon Bateman, finished in the top 10 for individual scoring.
- Read the full story.
The novice team continued its success against ACC schools at the University of Maryland Tournament Oct. 14, beating the host school 350-25. Liberty's varsity team also beat Maryland 195-175 in that tournament.
On Nov. 3 at the UVA Tournament, the Flames Quiz Bowl team defeated Virginia Tech once again, this time on the varsity level by a score of 230-90. Liberty also beat another in-state opponent, Virginia Commonwealth University, four times (varsity 170-165; JV 260-85, 195-75; novice 290-40) in the UVA tourney.
Magazine names Liberty's worship program 'Best of the Best'
In its October 2012 issue, Worship Leader Magazine awarded the Liberty University Center for Music and Worship its editor's choice award for "Best of the Best in Higher Education." This is the second year in a row Liberty's worship program has received the honor.
The magazine also named Liberty's worship program the "Top College Program," as selected by its readers.
"Worship Leader" surveys worship leaders and media teams around the world for the annual "Best of the Best" issue, which includes the top picks in music, software, books, and other worship resources.
Since its 2005 reorganization, the Center for Music and Worship, now housed within the School of Music, has experienced unprecedented growth, with nearly 1,000 students enrolled in its undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.
- Read the full story.
Nursing department earns highest-ever exam pass rate
May 2012 graduates of the Liberty University Department of Nursing earned a 97 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination to become Registered Nurses. This is Liberty's highest passing rate to date.
The department has been striving to see its scores improve every year, and recently implemented a semester-long NCLEX review course that students take their final semester. Liberty had 94 test takers in the May graduating class.
"This really shows that our curriculum is where it needs to be and our review course is working — students are getting what they need to become professional nurses once they leave," said Dr. Deanna Britt, chair of the nursing department.
- Read the full story.
Report showing academic progress displayed at annual SACS meeting
Liberty University recently received a glowing review from its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. In December, its report was among the documents on display at the agency's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas.
Liberty University was notified in August 2012 that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges fully accepted its Fifth-Year Interim Report with "no additional reporting" requested, which is considered to be a notable accomplishment for any university.
On the heels of that glowing review, SACS requested that Liberty's complete report be included in the Resource Room at its annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, Dec. 8-11, 2012, where other institutions could study best practices.
Several hundred schools from the SACS region (Virginia to Kentucky to Texas) were represented at the meeting. Liberty sent representatives from its Office of Institutional Effectiveness, which compiled the data for the 201-page report.
- Read the full story.
Flight team wins regional competition
The Liberty University School of Aeronautics flight competition team won the National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) Region 10 Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) air meet for the eighth consecutive year.
The competition, hosted by Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, N.C., was held Oct. 10-13 on the ECSU campus and at Elizabeth City Regional Airport.
Liberty flight instructor Nathan Edwards ('10) earned the Top Pilot award; Melanie Evans ('11), also a flight instructor, was named the Top Scoring Female Contestant.
The team placed first overall, first in the overall flying category, first in the overall ground category, and first in five of the nine events. They will go on to compete at nationals, to be held at the Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, May 6-11.
- Read the full story.
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society earns national recognition
Liberty University's Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society chapter earned the 2012 National Order of the Torch Award last fall, ranking it among a select group of elite institutions nationwide.
Only five other universities received the award last year, including Duke University, the University of Maryland, the University of Texas (Austin), Georgia State University, and the University of Texas (El Paso). There are more than 235 chapters nationwide.
The award requires the club to submit a comprehensive report to show it meets all 13 rigorous standards. Liberty's chapter was recognized especially for its engagement in community outreach, including its work with the Lynchburg Jubilee Center for at-risk youths, gathering Thanksgiving baskets for families in need, coordinating a Teddy Bear Drive for the pediatric unit at the local hospital, donating care packages for Hope for the Homestead to aid area families at Christmastime, and supporting Liberty's Students Behind Our Soldiers program.
In addition to the Order of the Torch, Brian Mauldin, Liberty's 2011-12 chapter president, received a $1,000 2012 National ALD Trow Scholarship Award and Dr. Marilyn Gadomski, a professor of psychology and a chapter faculty advisor, received one of five Executive Director's Awards at the National ALD Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 19-21.
- Read the full story.
Accreditation efforts move forward
Liberty University is dedicated to academic excellence. Its most rigorous programs have or are seeking accreditation from the top accreditation boards in their respective fields.
The Liberty University School of Engineering and Computational Sciences recently received accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology for its Electrical Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering programs. ABET is the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. The School of Engineering and Computational Sciences strives to maintain a standard of excellence and continues to seek accreditation for its programs as they become eligible.
Liberty continues on the path toward accreditation through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for its College of Osteopathic Medicine, anticipating its first class of osteopathic medical students in Fall 2014.
The School of Business is pursuing accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs for its M.B.A. and M.S.A. degree programs, expecting to have full accreditation for those programs by mid-2014. ACBSP is a specialized accrediting organization that reviews the quality and integrity of business degree programs.
Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC) to award degrees at associate, bachelor's, master's, education specialist, and doctoral levels.
Accreditation ensures that Liberty University has met strict standards with regard to degree programs, faculty, administration, student support and services. Accreditation also ensures that courses taken and degrees earned through Liberty University will be accepted by other accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Liberty University was first accredited by SACS in 1980. In 2009, it received Level VI accreditation, the highest classification from SACS that is reserved for colleges and universities that offer four or more doctoral degrees.
In addition to regional accreditation, many Liberty programs are accredited by specialized professional and accrediting agencies, including the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.
Newt Gingrich visits campus, aids in government course development
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich visited Liberty University Oct. 18-19 to present a lecture at the Helms School of Government and to sign copies of his books at the Liberty University Barnes & Noble Bookstore along with his wife, Callista, who was promoting her new children's book, "Land of the Pilgrim's Pride."
Callista Gingrich held a special story time at the bookstore to present her book, which teaches children about America's heritage.
The couple said they were drawn to Liberty because of its strong stance on upholding America's core values and Christian ethics.
Newt Gingrich arrived at Liberty on Friday, Oct. 19, to present a special one-hour lecture on what it means to be an American, focusing on the country's rich heritage, distinguishing principles, and bountiful opportunities.
The lecture was recorded and will be used in future course development. Newt Gingrich has already helped the university create a course called "American Exceptionalism," which is available through Liberty University Online.
- Read the full story.
Earlier in the fall semester, he delivered a simulcast lecture to resident and online government students. Utilizing WebEx technology, Gingrich spoke from an office in Atlanta, Ga., and answered questions afterward. This was his first experience as a visiting professor, though he has visited Liberty several times, including delivering the May 2007 Commencement address.
- Read the full story.
Newt Gingrich said he enjoys visiting Liberty, calling it a "remarkable institution" with a "depth of commitment to America," and citing its desire "to give young people an opportunity to encounter the core values and the religious beliefs which are at the very heart of the American experience."
CAFE helps Liberty continue to build its online portfolio
Since 2006, Liberty University Online, a pioneer in distance education, has worked to create more than 800 online courses in 100 programs, allowing students from around the world to participate in the same class via the Internet.
Each class is uniquely designed to fit into eight-week periods, enabling several courses to be taken each semester.
The Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence, partnering with Liberty's academic deans, has worked hard to keep up with this online classroom experience.
Dr. David Nemitz, director of CAFE, said Liberty is one of the few universities that has a centralized system of online course development.
"The success of our system is grounded in the collaborative spirit between the academic and operational departments of the university," Nemitz said.
In addition to creating 200 new courses each year, CAFE coordinates the ongoing strategic revision and enhancement of more than 300 existing online courses to ensure that the "curriculum is never static," according to Nemitz.
Several new programs are in the process of being developed and are currently under review by faculty, committees, and provosts. These include programs in Health Sciences, Business Administration, Web Development, Oracle Certification, Cinematic Arts, Autism and Giftedness, Nurse Administration, Tourism, History, and Women's Ministry.
Liberty has also launched a pilot program that will give online students the same high quality of academic advising as their resident counterparts. Now, 2,000 online students have been paired with a permanent advisor who will mentor them from the beginning to the end of their program.
Law school teams show up strong in competitions
Liberty University School of Law had a strong showing in competitions last fall, with the moot court team winning its second-straight national competition and the litigation and trial teams both earning slots at nationals.
For the second year in a row, Liberty's moot court team took home top honors at the 12th annual Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition held at Regent University, Oct. 26-27. The competition included 16 teams from 11 schools who competed in a simulated federal circuit court in front of prominent local and national judges and attorneys. They presented arguments on the constitutionality of forcing religiously affiliated private colleges to supply access to birth control and abortion services, part of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). The case that was argued was similar to three cases that are currently being litigated on the subject.
The Liberty team of Julia Amato and Michael Levens won first place and an award for fifth Best Brief. They defeated teams from Ave Maria University, St. Louis University, and William & Mary. They also posted two wins over Florida Coastal and the University of Richmond to finish with a perfect 7-0 record. Levens was also named the Best Oralist; Amato was the Fourth Best Oralist.
- Read the full story.
The litigation team will compete in nationals for the fifth time in six years after finishing runner-up in the American Bar Association Regional Negotiations Tournament at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 10-11. Representing Liberty at nationals will be the team of Caitlin Pennell and Chelsea Surprenant.
By qualifying for nationals, Liberty's litigation team is now ranked in the top 24 teams in the nation. The national tournament will be held in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 8-9, 2013.
- Read the full story.
The trial team took second place in the American Bar Association's 2012-2013 Regional Arbitration Competition in Jackson, Miss., Nov. 17-18, qualifying for the national competition in Chicago, Jan. 25-26. This was the first year Liberty had entered a team in the competition, facing teams from Mississippi College of Law, Emory University, University of Memphis, Stetson University College of Law, and Chapman University School of Law.
The win came as a surprise, as coach Pamela Bell, associate professor of law, entered the newly formed team in this competition as a way to prepare it for the upcoming National Trial Competition and American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition.
- Read the full story.


text: "Mixon does an admirable job of showing grillers, smokers, and barbecuers how they can turn labor and time-intensive grilling and barbecue projects into weekday meals with a minimum of fuss in this to-the-point collection of 150 smoke-centered recipes. . . . It's his ingenious use of leftovers that will make readers take notice as he offers suggestions for mountains of leftover brisket, pulled pork, or chicken. This approach—rather than a multitude of variations on ribs, pulled pork and a bevy of sauces—sets the book apart and make it a keeper."—Publishers Weekly


text:
Amazon has confirmed that the Kindle 2 will be launched internationally - at some, unannounced point.
Amazon's Kindle 2: coming to the UK... er... at some point
A spokesperson for the online retailer told Register Hardware today that it has inked plans to sell the device outside of North America.
"The ambition is for an international rollout out [of the Kindle 2] in the future," he said.
Kindle 2 – which features a 6in E-Ink screen, 3G connectivity and 2GB of memory – was unveiled in New York yesterday. It'll arrive in North America on 24 February and cost $359 (£240/€276).
Unfortunately, Amazon's spokesman couldn't confirm when the redesigned model would hit the UK or how much it will cost. ®


text:
Unlike the Jerusalem temple described in today's passage, we do not have any new-covenant specifications for church architecture. Still, whether we build a cathedral or a building resembling a theater, people will get a sense of what we think about ...Read More
The Dramatic Arts
The neopaganism promoted in today's movies and television causes many believers to avoid these mediums altogether. While we must be careful about what we view, even drama can glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Ezekiel, for example, acted out the impending ...Read More
Images in Worship
We have so far briefly discussed the beauty for which the priestly garments were made. These clothes reveal that we should be concerned with how we look and act when we worship the Lord. Of course, God does not require ...Read More
We do not have to read pornographic material in order to find literary filth. How many novels, romantic or otherwise, contain scenes of an explicit nature? How many Christians believe they can read such things innocuously? How many of us ...Read More
Theology's Handmaiden
Today's passage affirms the importance of music in our relationship to God. As we grow in our love for our Creator and in our knowledge of Him, we should not be surprised to find ourselves breaking forth in musical praise ...Read More
The Influence of Music
The Psalmist implores us to "make a joyful noise" unto the Lord, but the context makes it clear he is using "noise" as a synonym for music (Ps. 95:1–2). God is pleased when we praise Him with music, whether it ...Read More
The Eye of the Beholder
The four standards of beauty all reflect God's character. The Lord is simple — He is indivisible, each of His attributes affecting the others. God is complex, having many facets to His character. His creation exhibits proportionality: the abilities of ...Read More
Art for Whose Sake?
Many believe the second commandment (Ex. 20:4–6) prohibits the use of all art in the sanctuary. However, the fact God commands the crafting of things like cherubim in the sanctuary (26:31) proves He does not forbid all artistry in the ...Read More
Art in Recent History
As Christians we recognize that all things bright and beautiful flow from the beauty of God Himself. Our Lord has planted within us an innate knowledge of what is lovely because He has planted within us an innate knowledge of ...Read More
Make No Graven Image
Consider how you have broken this command. How do you fashion images of God? Have you constructed any belief system about God that is contrary to the truth as He has revealed it in His word? Have you tried to ...Read More
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http://gcu.loginu.net/ - GCU Login - - This website is an independent how-to and instructional website. Any product or service names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the loginu.net website are the property of their respective trademark holders. These trademark holders are not affiliated with loginu.net, our videos, or our instructions. They do not sponsor or endorse loginu.net.


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text:
Superstorm Sandy was perhaps the worst storm to hit the east coast in recorded history. Entire villages were wiped out—some of them on the barrier island off New Jersey, others on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens or the southern shores of western Long Island. Tens of thousands of homes are uninhabitable or worse.
We here on the East End look around at the damage done and compare it to what we hear on the news reports and we just thank our lucky stars things were not worse here. Our power was out for a few days. We had flooding, some trees down, some houses damaged, but we got through it. Our villages of Westhampton Beach, Quogue, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk have survived with minor damage, but they are intact.
There is some talk about not entirely building back some of the villages to our west and south that have been destroyed. And it brings to mind the fact that in the list above of villages on eastern Long Island, there could have been another village mentioned. But there isn't. And that's because this local village was wiped out many years ago, in another violent storm, the Hurricane of 1938, and it was never rebuilt. I refer to the community known as the Montauk Fishing Village on Fort Pond Bay. There are lessons to be learned from it. Here is the biography of that village.
Until 1895, all of Montauk was uninhabited except for the Lighthouse keeper, people in six or seven scattered homes down by the ocean and, in some woods, a few remaining Montauk Indians. In that year, however, the owners of the Long Island Railroad extended the tracks from Bridgehampton to a site at the edge of Fort Pond Bay, a deepwater bay, in Montauk. There were plans to bring ocean liners and freighters into that bay. A huge port city was to be built there. The plan flopped, however, and so all that got built at Fort Pond Bay was the great railroad yard with its half dozen parallel tracks built for all the expected railroad freight cars, a wharf with railroad tracks on it and several wooden warehouse buildings.
In 1898, however, President William McKinley chose Montauk as the site where members of the American army—over 21,000 soldiers strong—could return to our shores after the conclusion of the successful Spanish-American War in Cuba. Here, they would recover from the yellow fever and other tropical diseases they had encountered in the Cuban campaign. After that, they would be mustered out to their homes around the country.
The Army built its own wharf on Fort Pond Bay, to the west of the railroad wharf, and that's where Teddy Roosevelt, among other members of that campaign, disembarked from their transport ships. Teddy Roosevelt's political career was launched while he rested up in Montauk.
A few years after that, fishermen from Nova Scotia, who had begun bringing their catch to the numerous fish factories on the bay 10 miles to the west in Napeague, came ashore for the first time at those now abandoned wharves. They noticed, among other things, giant leftover wooden crates that, during the Army's time there, had been inserted in railroad boxcars to transport the Army's horses. The fishermen could build shelters and houses out of those crates and some of the other stuff lying around. And they could tie up their boats at these wharves. Perhaps these men could bring down their families and set them up where these abandoned wharves were, right there on the beach. It was a beautiful spot on the curve of a bay.
Thus was a ready-made village born on the shoreline of Fort Pond Bay.
During the next few years, more and more of these fishing shacks were built on the arc of that beach, some behind a dirt road that ran parallel to the water, but others between that road and the water. Several bars and taverns were built. A post office was built. A schoolhouse. There was an ice house where ice from nearby Tuthill Pond could be cut in wintertime and dragged to. There was E.B. Tuthill's fish packing house, where fishermen could box their catches in ice and send them off by rail to the city. In the late 1920s, Perry B. Duryea Sr. bought E.B. Tuthill's place and renamed it Perry B. Duryea Fish Co. Today, Perry B. Duryea & Son remains in business, operated by members of the third generation of the Duryea family.
There was a storehouse. There were outhouses, boathouses, toolsheds. But unlike residents in East Hampton and westward, Montaukers led a rough life, even for those times, without electricity, gaslight or running water. Water came from a well and had to be hauled to the homes.
There was, however, kerosene, and the residents used that to light lanterns at night. As for heat in the winter, well, although there were no trees in the dunes of Fort Pond Bay, there was coal on the tracks. The town sat right next to the train station, for heaven's sake, and that's what the trains ran on. And nobody owned a car. Why bother? If anyone wanted to go anywhere, for example, New York City, it was only three and a half hours away by train if you had the fare. Or you could just go in your boat.
Captain Gus Pitts, as an old man in the 1980s, was interviewed about what things were like at the Montauk Fishing Village in the early days. He had spent most of his life there—his father left Nova Scotia to work on bunker boats out of Napeague in the early 1900s and brought the family to Montauk—until its demise in 1938, and thereafter at a home elsewhere in Montauk and with his fishing boat safely in Montauk's newly built deepwater harbor known as Lake Montauk four miles to the west.
Pitts recalled the potbellied stove heating the one-room schoolhouse and how the teacher sometimes sent students (only 25, from first through eighth grade) out either to gather seaweed or run onto the tracks to gather coal to keep it going. He remembered Dr. Edwards, who had a practice in East Hampton and who came out to Montauk when trains weren't scheduled either on horseback or by railroad handcar.
In the mid-1960s, living in Montauk, I spoke with more than half a dozen of the old fishermen who had been involved in the rum-running business back in the 1920s and '30s in Montauk. I published what I learned in Dan's Papers at that time.
The bootleggers would come in their big cars down the dusty road into town with bowler hats, fancy clothes, guns and lots of money. They needed, they said, men of the fishing community to go out at night in their boats and meet up with certain freighters from Canada or Europe who had arrived laden down with crates of Scotch or other hard liquor. In the dark, the crews would unload them into the smaller boats, and take them back to shore at the beach at Montauk and from there over the dunes into the backs of the trucks the rumrunners would have there. They flashed $50 bills for the job. This was more money than the fishermen had ever seen.
"We'd fish by day, then go out and get the hooch at night," one fisherman told me. "We never slept."
It was a sad day when the Volstead Act was declared unconstitutional on December 5, 1933, but it was nothing compared to what they would feel on the afternoon of September 21, 1938, when this huge hurricane steamed up the coast and slammed into eastern Long Island.
People had heard it was on its way, but nobody thought it would come through when it did. It had sped up and crashed through two days before it was expected and it came through very fast.
The storm packed 110-mile-an-hour winds, blasted through at 60 miles an hour, which added to its rage, and as it came it brought a huge storm surge with it, that, here in Montauk, swept through the little town and ripped it to bits. Ten miles to the west, the storm flooded through Napeague, even putting the railroad tracks underwater. Montauk was now an island, inaccessible, and it was to remain that way for the next two days.
On the day that it hit, Perry Duryea, the Town Supervisor, was in East Hampton. Though much damage came to that town, Duryea's first concern was for his family and friends at the Fishing Village.
He could not get in touch with them. The telegraph office at the railroad station was not working. The phone lines were down. The trains were not running. There was nobody getting in or out. On the third day after the storm, he and some other officials requisitioned a tractor and a driver and spent several hours getting through to Montauk, where he found most of the village destroyed, washed away or torn off its foundations.
He also found his family, who rode out the storm in their home, which remained intact. Other residents of that village had abandoned their homes, run across the tracks and taken shelter inside the heavy railroad cars parked there. From there, they could watch their village die. Other Montauk fishermen trudged up the hill Montauk Manor and took shelter in the rooms there.
Supervisor Duryea sent out the following telegram to the Red Cross: "Montauk fishing village practically destroyed. Number of boats lost. Residences destroyed, several lives lost and missing. No water, lights or phone connections. Fishing industry wiped out. Immediate and necessary."
An attempt was made to put some of the houses back on their foundations. Some succeeded. Some didn't. Most of the residents vowed not to return. The village was too open, too vulnerable to storms. People re-settled, bringing their families and fishing boats to Lake Montauk, where a new inlet had been blasted.
And then, in 1942, it was over. World War II had broken out. The U. S. Navy decided to seize this broken property and on it build a Naval base where torpedoes, fresh from factories in Long Island City, could be brought out and tested. The residents were given a deadline, and soon thereafter there came the Navy bulldozers and construction crews.
Today, there are still a few remains of the former Montauk Fishing Village. Perry B. Duryea & Son, Inc. is still there, of course (now also a lobster house with an attendant outdoor café.)
Along the paved road between Duryea's and what is now the condominium called Rough Riders Landing (built on some remains of the village), you will see two or three tiny homes on cinder blocks behind some fencing and hedges. Those were homes moved off from the fishing village. But that is it.
On the other hand, there is an entire diorama of the Montauk Fishing Village as it was around 1920, built and on display on a large table at the East Hampton Marine Museum on Bluff Road in Amagansett. It was built, in miniature, by a team led by Springs artist Ralph Carpentier in 1968 after that man and others conducted dozens of interviews with former residents of the village to discuss things such as whether this house was green or red or whatever.
To build this model took years of painstaking effort. It is a great accomplishment. You owe it to yourself to go see it.
I said, early on in this article, that there were lessons to be learned from what happened to the Montauk Fishing Village in 1938. I think you know what these lessons are. But I think what with insurance policies, help from government agencies and declarations of state disaster areas, a lot of homes will be rebuilt right in the teeth of what can happen again.
Let us hope for the best.