Security at the airport

The security procedures at Changi airport is excessive and is causing a lot of inconvenience. Here is my experience.

1. On arrival at the airport terminal, I have to screen my bags. Why is this necessary when the bags are also screened at the check-in counter and at the boarding room?  I suspect that this is to prevent a bomb going off before check-in. Is this so important?

2. Before entering the departure hall, I have to show my ticket and passport to the policeman.

3. After going through the automated gates and have my finger printed, there are still people to look at my passport. I recall that this procedure was implemented when someone passed the immigration desk though with a wrong passport. Do we need to over-react to this mistake by introducing another set of check?

4. Before entering the boarding room, I have to go through a detailed screening. The laptop and mobile phones and other metallic objects have to be removed  In spite of removing so many items, it is likely that the metal detector will beep and subject me to a physical check.

5. I still have to show my passport to the staff who scan my ticket.

Altogether, I have to show my passport three times and have my bags scanned twice. I suspect that more requirements will be introduced to combat other security concerns. The question is - are these measures overdone?

In the name of security

In the name of security, we do many unnecessary things and cause a lot of hassle to the ordinary people. This makes life stressful.

Look at the excessive security in the airport. I do not mind the necessary security, but the excessive security does not make sense. I shall talk about some of these excessive measures.

Look at the need to register your particulars before you enter a building. It is a regular affair. Why do they need to spend the time to record people entering into a building? How many records are being kept? Are they of any use? In fact, I am worried that the records could be abused - as it is intrusion on privacy. Is privacy and the rights of the individuals important in Singapore also?

With all the excessive security in some places, why is SMRT not paying sufficient attention to prevent outsiders from entering into their depots? Surely, this is more important than checking all the visitors to a building?

We need to speak up on measures that intrude into our lives, and do not serve a useful purpose.

Plastic Garden Shed Reviews

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SciArt Plugs 5: Lectures, Exhibits, News and more

New this week: a New York City gallery is featuring three-dimensional topographic maps designed by cartographer Jeffrey Ambroziak; science artist Lynn Fellman hosts an open studio in Minneapolis; the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Greater New York Chapter?s member show closes; and ScienceOnline2012 nears registration time (Nov. 1st!)

SCIART LECTURES/EVENTS

? Lynn Fellman

**NEW** Artists? Studio Open House: Lynn Fellman (Minneapolis, MN) October 28, 2011; 4-8pm | Celebrate the last fall hues in science artist Lynn Fellman?s colorful studio with wine, autumn desserts, and lots of art!

SCIART EXHIBITS
**NEW** Underline Gallery (New York, NY): Oct. 15 ? Nov. 20, 2011 | INFINITE PERSPECTIVES: Places I?ll Remember | In partnership with Science House LLC, Underline Gallery presents an exhibition of three-dimensional topographic maps designed by renowned cartographer Jeffrey Ambroziak. Ambroziak has developed a revolutionary technique that yields true three-dimensional maps in spectacular detail ? from the mountains of Yosemite to the canyons of Mars. Also included in the show will be high-resolution renderings of historical images, including an 1863 3D rendered map of San Francisco juxtaposed against a 3D map of modern San Francisco derived from aerial photography.

**UPDATED** Artway Invitational Gallery (Brampton, ON): Oct. 13 ? Nov. 16, 2011 | Artistic by Nature | An exhibit of work by Southern Ontario Nature and Science Illustrators featuring Kathryn Chorney, Emily S. Damstra, Trish Murphy, and Jennifer Osborn.

Sweet Barrier Reef by Ken and Julie Yonetani: Sugar, Icing Sugar, and Polystyrene Foam.

GV Art Gallery 49 Chiltern Street (Marylebone, London): Oct. 7 ? Nov. 22, 2011 | Sense of Taste: Works by Ken and Julia Yonetani | The saline destruction of the Murray Darling basin in Australia and the bleaching of coral reefs as a result of sugarcane harvesting have inspired these compellingly beautiful artworks cast in salt and sugar, inspired by Dutch still lives. They allude to the emerging issue of the destruction of many of the world?s agricultural ?food bowls? through over consumption. Sweet Barrier Reef , cast in sugar, was last shown at the Venice Biennale 2009. Still Life ? the works in salt ? have never been seen outside Australia before. The London based, art-science gallery GV Art have brought these salt and sugar-cast works to London for their ?Sense of Taste? show opening 7 October 2011. A video of the exhibition can be seen here.

GNSI-New England Chapter Annual Exhibit Denison Pequotseps Nature Center (Mystic, CT): Oct. 8 ? Nov. 20, 2011 | From Observation to Illustration | The GNSI-NE Annual Exhibit is entitled ?From Observation to Illustration? since it involves accurate depictions of natural themes. It highlights a range of styles, techniques and subjects in the natural science field. Demonstrations of drawing insects through a microscope, watercolor and graphite will be shown during the reception. Portfolios and sketchbooks will also be on display.

? Ann Hoffenberg

**LAST CHANCE** Highstead (Redding, CT): Sept. 10, 2011-Oct. 28, 2011 | Nature?s Remedies: Plants and Animals | Annual show of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Greater New York Chapter. Over 40 paintings highlighting the medicinal values of plants and animals in folklore, traditional medicine and natural remedies on display now through October 28. Exhibit can be viewed by appointment, Monday through Friday, from 8:30am until 4:00pm.

Smithsonian Institution?s National Museum of Natural History, Sant Ocean Hall Focus Gallery (Washington, DC): Sept. 3, 2011-Jan. 8, 2012 | The Bright Beneath: The Luminous Art of Shih Chieh Huang | Artist Shih Chieh Huang spent a good part of 2007 exploring specimens of deep-ocean animals found in the collections of the National Museum of Natural History. He was a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow and was investigating the unusual evolutionary adaptations that allow these creatures to live in environments unthinkable to humans. One adaptation, called bioluminescence, inspired Huang to create haunting installations that will be suspended in the Sant Ocean Hall Focus Gallery in a temporary exhibition.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Ebling Library for the Health Sciences (Madison, WI): Sept. 16, 2011-Jan. 31, 2012 | Beyond the Edge of the Sea. Illustrations by preeminent deep sea watercolorist/illustrator, Karen Jacobsen | This traveling exhibit from The College of William & Mary?s Muscarelle Museum of Art features the magnificent watercolors of expeditionary illustrator Karen Jacobsen. Jacobsen had multiple voyages in the Alvin submersible, with oceanographer Cindy Lee Van Dover at the helm, exploring the deep ocean and rendering these wonderful works of art. Reception on Nov. 11 will feature Jacobsen and Van Dover talking about their joint project.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Atlanta, GA): Sept. 24, 2011-Jan. 1, 2012 | Darwin: Selections | In celebration of Darwin, Fernbank Museum has partnered with local artists and scientists to present a collection of illustrations, paintings and drawings that reveal the relationship between science and art. These eight Atlanta- and Athens-based artists, typically employed to create teachable science through literal imagery, reveal the evolution of art from science in this inspiring exhibition that recognizes the beauty of the natural world.

SCIART CONFERENCES

ScienceOnline2012 | January 19-21, 2012 | North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) | Registration opens: November 1, 2011

SCIART DEADLINES

Call for Proposals: NYU Langone Medical Center exhibition proposals for the 2012?13 calendar | Deadline for submission: October 31, 2011

Every week, we post interesting exhibits, lectures, and other science-art related news we hear about. Know about something we don?t? Shoot us an email at symbiartic.km-at-gmail-dot-com and we?ll post all relevant events. This information is also available on a public Google calendar. Under ?other calendars? click on ?add a friend?s calendar? and search for symbiartic.km-at-gmail-dot-com.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=f0f927128110d2c512f91943514460f9

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Investor's guide to investing in gold

http://tankinlian.com/admin/file.aspx?id=587

A friend sent me this guide to investing in gold. Reading through this document, one can see that there are many ways of investing in various types of gold products, but the investor should be careful about selecting the trusted parties, as there is a real risk that some of these products are fraudulent. I know of a product which offers a buyback guarantee, but the investor did not know that he is paying for the gold at 50% higher than its real market value!

A safe way is to invest in gold bullion, but it is a big hassle to store the gold. It may be safer to invest in the Gold ETF (e.g. the ETF managed by SPDR) or to invest in gold futures through a regulated exchange.

Pre-Owned Cars - Top 11 Things To Check Before You Buy One!

Protect yourself by looking for problem areas such as:

1. Make sure the frame is not bent and is solid. Check to see if there are any oil leaks. Make sure the block and head are not cracked. Check the belts to see if they are frayed. Confirm the engine is not burning oil by looking at the exhaust.

We Buy Any Car

2. Verify the transmission is in good shape by test driving the vehicle and making certain the transmission fluid is the correct color and consistency. Make sure the transmission and drive shaft are solid and okay.

3. Check the cooling system by seeing if the vehicle over heats. Look for any leaks from the radiator. Make sure the water pump is working correctly.

4. The alternator, generator and starter need to work properly. Make sure the battery has a good connection and does not leak.

5. Do a manual check of the brakes. Try stopping the vehicle abruptly. Does it pull to the left or to the right when the brakes are applied? Does it have a firm pedal when pressure is applied? All drums, rotors and hoses should be in proper working order. Do the warning lights work?

6. All fluids should be full including power steering fluid. Does the vehicle pull to the left or to the right when driving? Power steering belts should not have any cracks and should not slip wheel the steering wheel is turned.

7. Check under the vehicle for any leakage of water, oil and gasoline.

8. Check to make sure all of the gauges and controls are in proper working condition. Is the air conditioning cold? The heat hot? Do the defrosters and rear window defogger work? Does the radio function well?

9. Tires should all be the same size and inflation. Wear patterns are a strong indication of inflation and alignment. Look to see if there is much tread depth. Try to observe any other damage. Don't forget to look at the spare as well.

10. Make certain all wheels are matching with no obvious damage. Look for repairs, cracks or flat spots. Make sure all of the lug nuts are present.

11. Look for discoloring or unusual smoke coming from the tail pipe(s) while the engine is running. Examine the muffler to see if it is solid and tight.

Pre-Owned Cars - Top 11 Things To Check Before You Buy One!