TRAVEL & ADVENTURE
MARCH 2017
HIDDEN TREASURES OF OAHU
Just outside the small but bustling city of Honolulu, the wide-lane highway playfully named the Likelike begs to be driven. Not five minutes down the mountain-hugged road a large white structure soon reveals itself to be a Buddhist temple. With the temple as your marker, you’ll make a right down a road that seems to lead straight into a dense jungle.
Winding and weaving down this narrow two lane road, you can easily miss the small line of cars parked along the road’s edge. Those brave enough to explore the anomaly will soon find themselves on a small dirt path that weaves and falls down into the vibrant jungle.
Soon you’ll hear the sound of water which begs you to follow its call. Next you will see a river that flows as clear as glass, as the sound of rushing water continues to grow. Finally you will reach a place where the river has made its own miniature waterfall, eight or nine feet down, which flows into a small pond filled with a thick colored water that may worry the faint of heart. There are three ways into the pond; each more frightening then the last.
First you may take the easy way by walking along the jungle’s edge and slipping into the pool. The second is a rock off to the left of the waterfall that has been worn smooth by a vagrant flow of water that seems as though it chose to make its own path.
Sitting at the top of the natural rock slide you may second guess your decision, thinking that there must be something sharp that you’ve yet to notice. With only a small scoot, you will slip down the rock with ease and be popped up by its shape before landing safely in the center of the pond. The last choice is to perch yourself on the rock to the right of the waterfall, and leap ten feet into the center of the pool. Regardless of your choice, you will soon find yourself enjoying one of Oahu’s most hidden and beautiful places.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
DEC 2016
ESSENCE OF BEAUTY: The Art of Subtlety
It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet since the beginnings of our civilization there has always been a debate as to what exactly is considered beautiful. Those that take the idea of beauty seriously realize that there is much more to it than simple physical factors. The way someone moves, the way they speak, and the tones of their voice can say more then any outfit ever could. There are Intangible factors that can change the way one is perceived by the world, and perceptions created with a simple whisper that can be more powerful than the strongest scent or the most obvious look.
Most men, being the simple creatures that we are, describe their idea of beauty with body parts. Some say they are “leg men” and some focus on the more… obvious features of a woman’s physical form. Men and women spend hours making themselves up to fit the physical image they believe people want to see but may forget to pay attention to what is not obvious. For women, there is a feature that they may not realize a man is paying attention to, and men may not think about it consciously, yet they notice it all the same: subtlety.
Subtlety is an all but lost art these days, but to those that mean to master the essence of beauty itself, it’s something to be taken very seriously. For women especially, it can be a powerful tool to be used far beyond the confines of the bedroom. Any woman can be obvious in their desires and most men will respond. Yet a woman that can make herself known in a subtle way is far more attractive, enticing, and compelling than one that screams their needs to the heavens.
To master the art of subtlety is to say volumes in a single motion, to scream to the heavens with a whisper, and to convey the complexity of one’s desires with nothing more than a look.
This is easily and commonly misinterpreted to be some kind of subterfuge or game, but saying one thing when you really mean another is not true subtlety. Subtlety is an art in and of itself, and it is the art of making yourself and your desires known with as little effort as possible. A woman telling a man that she wants him is exciting, a woman letting him know with a simple look and then walking away… is irresistible. Subtlety takes thought and skill, and that makes it essential to the idea of beauty for men and women alike.
RESEARCH AND REPORT
DENTAL LAB TECHNICIAN – A Great Medical Side Path
People think about working in the medical field due to the stability and, of course, the money. However, many turn away from the idea when they realize the long runway and extensive schooling required to finally get that coveted “MD” at the end of their names. Dental Lab Technician is a great side path that can allow one to partake of the many advantages that come from a career in the medical field.
Specialized Skills and Job Security
Dental techs shape and match porcelain substitutes to cover and protect chipped and damaged teeth, bridges to cover gaps made by missing teeth, and full sets of dentures for those who have no teeth. The process is exacting and takes skill and patience. Every time someone loses a tooth, chips a tooth, or needs dentures made or repaired, a dental technician is involved. Needless to say job security isn’t really an issue; as long as people continue to damage their teeth there will always be work for dental techs.
Education and Certification
The runway to becoming a dental technician is relatively short, especially when compared to the near decade required to become a doctor of dentistry. A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum requirement. You will need at least two years of schooling to become certified. Courses are offered through vocational schools, community colleges, technical colleges and of course, any school of dentistry.
The average starting pay for a dental lab tech is about $18 /hr. The four year advanced program can bring in almost $30/hr. Any school you consider should be certified by the Commission on Dental Accreditation for the American Dental Association. Passing the National Board for Certifications in Dental Laboratory Technology exam earns you the title of Certified Dental Technician with a specialization in dentures, partial dentures, crowns and bridges, or ceramics and orthodontics.
The field of dental tech is stable, profitable, rewarding, and can lead one to a long-lasting career in the dental field. For anyone that is looking for a short runway into the medical field, becoming a dental lab tech is a good economical way to go.
Shonen Ahmad 