David Marshall (1908-1995) was one of Singapore's most remarkable sons.
The eldest son of migrant Sephardic Jews, Marshall's brilliant academic
career at Raffles Institution was brought to an abrupt end when he
collapsed from tuberculosis. Sent away to recuperate in Switzerland,
Marshall not only learnt the French language but also imbibed the French
ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and returned a strong
opponent of colonialism. Qualifying as a barrister in half the normal
time, he rose to become Singapore's greatest criminal and constitutional
lawyer. In 1955, he unexpectedly found himself the leader of the Labour
Front and Singapore's first Chief Minister. His fourteen tumultuous
months in office led to the eventual withdrawal of the British from
Singapore but his emotional personality and impatience made him an
unlikely politician. In the twilight of his career, Marshall was
appointed Singapore's first ambassador to France. This is the story of
this extraordinary man who was, for many, Singapore's "missionary of
democracy." Using previously unavailable sources, author Kevin Tan
chronicles the remarkable life, times and achievements of the man many
regarded as "Singapore's Conscience."
As opposed to digital zoom, digital image stabilization (IS) is less
marketing ploy than a useful feature. Lenses with optical IS are
equipped with internal elements that move in the opposite direction to
any small movements you make, steadying the image that arrives onto the
sensor. Nikon’s Vibration Reduction, demonstrated above, is particularly
effective, allowing you to shoot at two or three steps slower shutter
speed than you usually would be able to without motion blur. For
example, if 1/40 shutter speed is your floor before you start seeing
blurring on a regular lens, its VR version will move that down to 1/25.
Canon’s version of this is called Optical Image Stabilizer, Panasonic’s
is MegaOIS, and virtually every other camera and lens maker has a
variety too.
Sony and Olympus have made a habit of building image stabilization
right into the body of their DSLRs, simplifying lens design and
reassuring users that all of their lenses will be stabilized.
Ultimately, whichever system you choose, they all serve the purpose of
reducing the deleterious effects of unintended motion and should be
considered highly desirable in a camera purchase. If you’re going after a
shooter with a long telephoto zoom, optical IS should be the first
thing you look for.
Dr. Brice W. Harris was unanimously selected as the 15th chancellor
of the California Community Colleges by the system’s Board of Governors
in September 2012. He started on Nov. 6, 2012.
Prior to being selected as the leader of the largest
system of higher education in the nation, Harris served 16 years as
chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District in the Sacramento
region, president of Fresno City College and a faculty member and vice
chancellor in the Kansas City, Mo., community college system.
Harris has spent much of his career working to improve
student success and access at community colleges. While with Los Rios,
he was instrumental in leading initiatives that improved student
success. He also led the charge to expand access for thousands of
students by overseeing the establishment of the district’s fourth
college, Folsom Lake, and developing educational centers in Davis, Elk
Grove, Natomas, Rancho Cordova and West Sacramento.
Harris understands the important connection between
community colleges and the economy. As an active member of the greater
Sacramento business community, Harris chaired the Sacramento Area
Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO) and was the first educator to
serve as president of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
He also served as chairman of the board of the Northern California World
Trade Center.
Harris is also a recognized leader on national education
issues and recently completed a term as a board member of the American
Council on Education (ACE) in Washington, D.C. He is past chairman of
the board of the California Community College Chief Executive Officers,
and a former commissioner of the Accrediting Commission of Community and
Junior Colleges. He currently serves as a member of the ACE National
Commission on Student Attainment and also served as a member of the
board of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges and
the California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force.
Harris is active in the arts having served on the board
of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, as board president of the
Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, and a board member of the Kansas City
Museum.
Harris did his post-doctoral study at the Harvard
University Institute of Educational Management, received his doctorate
in education at Nova Southeastern University, his master's in
communication from the University of Arkansas, and his bachelor's in
communication from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
He was named “Sacramentan of the Year” for 2010 by the
Sacramento Metro Chamber, and was recently honored as the “Humanitarian
of the Year” by United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento.
Harris resides in Fair Oaks with his wife Barbara, who is
an elementary educator. The couple has three adult children who live in
California.
Education: Attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio. Worked
as an editor for the school newspaper and won third place in state for
UIL feature writing. Also got in trouble for publishing an underground
newspaper that made fun of the school, especially the losing football
team. (The football team later egged my car). Began college at North
Texas State (because I thought I wanted to be a guitar player and they
had the best music program), but then transferred to the University of
Texas at Austin. Graduated with a double major in English and history.
Got certified to teach English and history from UT San Antonio. Did my
student teaching in the San Antonio Independent School District.
Childhood influences: The first book I remember reading for fun was
the Lord of the Rings. I probably read it ten times. I also liked Greek
and Norse mythology since I was in middle school. I read mostly
fantasy and science fiction in high school, then got interested in
mysteries when I got to college. My parents were both teachers. My mom
was a musician and an artist, too. My dad was a ceramicist (he made
stuff out of clay), so I grew up in a very artistic family. I started
writing when I was in middle school. The first story I submitted for
publication was when I was 13. It wasn’t published. My first published
works were two short stories in the UTSA literary magazine.
Work experience: When I was in college, I worked for three years as
the music director at a summer camp, Camp Capers. This is where I got
the idea for Camp Half-Blood. My first full-time job was teaching
middle school in New Braunfels, Texas. After that, my wife and I moved
to San Francisco. We lived there for eight years and I taught at
Presidio Hill School. Then we had our two sons, Haley and Patrick, and
we moved back home to San Antonio. I taught at Saint Mary’s Hall
(English and social studies, grades 6-8) for six years, then stopped
teaching to become a full-time writer. I taught mythology almost every
year that I was a teacher. It was always my favorite thing, and the
students always liked it, too!
Family: I live with my wife and two sons, Haley and Patrick.
Pets: one dog (a Golden Labrador mix) and two black cats.
Favorite book I wrote: That’s a hard question for a writer. It’s like
asking which of your children is your favorite. I like them all for
different reasons.
Lyn Le Countryman (Cochair) teaches eleventh
grade biology and mentors undergraduate education majors at the Malcolm
Price Laboratory School and teaches undergraduate biology and
graduate-level science classes on the campus of the University of
Northern Iowa. In 1994, she was one of the first teachers in the nation
to gain national board certification as an early adolescent generalist.
She has served as the president of the Iowa Science Teachers Section of
the Iowa Academy of Science. She received the 1999 Presidential Award
for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the 1998 Tandy
Award for outstanding teaching. She is a founding member of the National
Academies Teacher Advisory Council and also is a member of the Teacher
Advisory Council Museum Associates for the Marian Koshland Science
Museum. She serves as a liaison from the Teacher Advisory Council to the
Center for Education’s Committee on Teacher Preparation Programs in the
U.S. She has a B.S. in zoology and secondary education and M.A. and
PhD. degrees in science education from the University of Iowa.
Learning doesn’t stop when you receive your diploma. That’s why NC State offers a range of continuing education courses and other opportunities for lifelong learning. The McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education includes a Continuing Education and Professional Training Center that offers seminars, short courses, conferences, certificate programs and distance education opportunities for personal or career enrichment. Its Computer Training Unit has been providing computer and networking training and certification for almost 20 years. Another McKimmon Center unit, NC State’s Encore! Center for Lifelong Enrichment, provide noncredit short courses, study trips, special events and extracurricular activities designed especially for adults aged 50 or over. Encore! also offers social events and study trips, and hosts active book, movie, and writers groups. NC State’s Non-Degree Studies Program provides classes for students who currently do not wish to pursue a degree, while NC State’s Extension Programs offer numerous continuing education courses and seminars that are open to the public.
Recent graduates have been employed by firms such as Bristol-Myers Squibb,
Johnson & Johnson, and various New Jersey governmental departments. Others
have successfully completed medical, dental, chiropractic, pharmaceutical,
physical/occupational therapy, physician's assistant, veterinary medicine,
and other graduate programs.
The Biology facilities include a multimedia computer laboratory as well as
specially equipped laboratories for microbiology, genetics/molecular biology,
and anatomy/physiology. Students learn a wide variety of investigative
techniques, including microscopy, spectrophotometry, and gel electrophoresis.
Real-life systems are studied through field trips to sites in the New Jersey
Pinelands and elsewhere. A special honors sequence provides eligible students
with the opportunity to participate in a research project under the supervision
of faculty at nearby Rider University and other institutions.
Most courses may be completed through part-time study in the evening. Course
selection and program of study must be approved by an academic advisor. Admission
to the Biology option requires a high school diploma or equivalent with at least
one year of science (biology, chemistry, or physics) and two years of academic
mathematics. Successful completion of the Biology option results in the award of
the Associate in Science degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
