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Better Teacher Evaluations Will Mean Improved Education for Students
GothamSchools // November 15, 2012
StudentsFirstNY has stepped in to rally parents around the issue of improving teacher evaluations. Last month, StudentsFirstNY officials met with public school parents to talk about the issues surrounding teacher evaluations.
According to GothamSchools, the message to parents was clear:
"The way to improve their students' education begins with a better teacher evaluation system."
In addition to meeting and talking with groups of public school parents, StudentsFirstNY is building a team of organizers to spread the word within communities. The challenge for organizers will be to make the issue of teacher evaluations resonate with parents. Darlene Boston, an organizer with StudentFirstNY's Families Taking Action explained the importance.
"The stakes are high too, Boston said. If an agreement is not reached by Jan. 17, she explained, the city stands to lose nearly $300 million in state aid, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has promised to withhold from districts that did not strike deals on evaluations."
Sign the petition urging school district and union leaders to support a new evaluation system.


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Are vouchers a savior for Philadelphia's parochial schools?
Today officials from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sat down with representatives of about 50 elementary and secondary schools slated to close or be consolidated. Friday's announcement of major school closings and consolidations has left students, teachers, and alumni shaken. The solution to Philadelphia's struggling Catholic education system may already be in place elsewhere.
Providing an education's not cheap, says Paul Peterson, the Director of the program on Education Policy, and Governance at Harvard University."It used to be that you could get nuns who would teach as a charity — they took a poverty vow — that's no longer a part of our culture," said Peterson. "So really it's become very expensive and therefore the tuition has risen."Peterson said poor families in particular find it difficult to pay the tuition. He said a school voucher program that provides parents with about $7,000 per year per student has stabilized Milwaukee's Catholic education system."I don't think there's more Catholic schools now than when this program began back in 1996," said Peterson, "but I think there's roughly the same number.
"I think there's no sense of crisis in Milwaukee, as you see in Philadelphia. Instead of falling enrollment it's stabilized. Up until now it's been limited to families of low income but as of this year they're expanding it to middle-income families as well."On Friday, after talking about the difficult decision in Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles Chaput said if vouchers had been in place 15 years ago, the church probably wouldn't be closing the schools. It's not just the United States, said Paul Peterson."Throughout Europe parents have a choice of sending their kids to a religious school or to the public school, and the government pays the cost of tuition," he said. "The Canadians do the same thing. So setting this up would probably be beneficial to the Catholic schools for sure, and it appears as if it would be beneficial to low-income families."Opponents of school vouchers for religious schools object to giving taxpayer dollars for religious education. Courts have ruled that since the voucher goes with the student and the student selects where it will be used, that it passes constitutional tests.
In a letter obtained by WHYY, the union president said it would be "foolish" to reopen schools before all staff are vaccinated.
Chalkbeat Philadelphia
It may be weeks until Philadelphia teachers can get the coronavirus vaccine
Health Commissioner Thomas Farley recommended Philadelphia teachers who live in the surrounding suburbs try to get the vaccine in their respective areas.
King's speech: Delaware students emulate MLK in spoken word contest
The fifth annual MLK Voice 4 Youth contest shifted to an online competition this year, but that didn't stifle the passion contestants brought to their speeches.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Items contributed by Dave Grohl, Chris Cornell, Elton John, Iggy Pop and others are being used to make watches to help raise money for musicians' drug addiction treatment.
The musicians, also including Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, have given items such as guitar straps, flannel, plaid flannel shirts, denim jackets and leather pants to the California-based watch maker Nixon for its Rock LTD Collection, which will use the materials to make straps for a line of watches whose proceeds will go to the MusiCares MAP Fund, which helps provide addiction therapy treatment for musicians.
Nixon is creating up to 30 watches that will be released this fall and sell for $1,200-$1,800 in its stores in New York, London and Paris. The Cornell watch, made from a guitar strap, will tour the stores before being auctioned off during a MusiCares benefit in May.
Cornell was a longtime supporter of the MAP Fund and had agreed to donate the strap before his death in May; In a statement his widow Vicky says that, "Addiction is a disease, and we lose far too many loved ones to the illness each day. MusiCares is a crucial organization and the MusiCares MAP Fund 100 percent supports the music community in its fight to protect those battling this affliction."


of Missouri stopped in Kansas City Tuesday on a now-familiar campaign-style tour pushing a piece of legislation.
In this case, it's $20 million in general state revenue for First Steps, a program that provides early intervention and counseling for children with disabilities, and their parents.
In the state budget that passed last week, full funding of the program was made contingent on eliminating a tax break for low-income seniors.
Republicans believe Nixon will veto the bill eliminating the tax break, potentially threatening funding for First Steps and other programs.
Most Republicans support First Steps, but linked the program with the tax bill so Nixon wouldn't exercise the veto. A legislative work-out is moving through the General Assembly.
But it has to be done by Friday's adjournment.


text:
Q: Align environment starts new page When I have equations within the align environment and there is no enough space on the page, the LaTeX starts a new page so that all equations are on the same page. This leaves (sometimes a huge) blank space on the previous page.
Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I mean, is there a way of having the aligned equations start on a page but end on the next page if there is no space available?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Is It About Conservation or Control?
The PAS is a popular program in England and Wales. As I understand it, the Welsh Government is now expected to pay the modest amount necessary to maintain it as part of a general devolvement of central authority. However, Welsh authorities have been slow to address the issue.
This delay has apparently raised the hopes of PAS' few remaining critics in archaeological circles that any effort to continue to record finds in Wales will be killed off as an austerity measure. See
http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/12/portable-antiquities-in-wales-details.html
Of course, that won't stop metal detecting, only efforts to record finds not required to be reported under the Treasure Act.
I've already observed that archaeological fanatics are far more interested in control than in conservation. See
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/09/ancient-coins-and-cultural-property.html
Isn't this more proof of that observation? So, if this is not a make work program exclusively for archaeologists, PAS is not worth keeping?
Labels: ancient coins, metal detecting, pas, Wales
ACCG Comments to CPAC
ACCG Comments on Cyprus MOU Renewal Request
ACCG comment has been submitted to CPAC
By Wayne G. Sayles
The ACCG has submitted formal written comment to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee regarding the consideration of extension to the Memorandum of Understanding with Cyprus. The present MOU added ancient coins to the list of restricted items in 2007. The guild will be represented at this hearing by Wayne G. Sayles, ACCG Executive Director.
The deadline for public comment is January 3, 2012 and all members and interested parties are encouraged to comment online at:
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=i6gbilcab&et=1108968579110&s=0&e=001KF8fwa5AljruuAP2RWzzMmvmwcyrvx-sPPUcl4UpJUz6ieGuK-SyLVmycAvqkbJerT3UZKfR8MDwxThCO4ytRLS0WRMDSud0RAHiyqxyhVv_Iej_d_knynNSvnPiizK1KGtss9kBrd9l89IUMQOzLs3posKZWaDn-YZQW8Mkeqs=
For a PDF download of the ACCG submission Click Here
For a direct link, to the above see http://www.accg.us/News/Item/ACCG_Comments_on_Cyprus_MOU_Renewal_Request.aspx
Labels: ACCG, ancient coins, CPAC, Cyprus MOU, Import Restrictions
Library Tragedy to be Used to Justify New Import Restrictions and Return of Hawass?
Will the tragic burning of a historic library in Egypt during continuing unrest be used to justify "emergency restrictions" on Egyptian cultural artifacts and the return of Zahi Hawass to power?
Read this http://www.drhawass.com/blog/december-17-2011-sad-day-my-life and
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1076/he2.htm
Meanwhile, a generous Gulf sheik has promised financial help to rebuild the collection. See http://gulftoday.ae/portal/1eb8d27d-5e5b-4a25-82aa-fbab4e59f123.aspx
Labels: Egyptian MOU, poor stewardship, Zahi Hawass
My Own Comments to CPAC
Dear Prof. Gerstenblith and CPAC:
I am writing on my own behalf, and will be submitting comments on behalf of IAPN and PNG shortly. CPAC recommended against import restrictions on Cypriot coins twice. There is no reason for this to change, and if anything, there is every reason to recommend that the current MOU with Cyprus be terminated.
As to coins, scholarly evidence proves that one cannot assume that coins of Cypriot type only circulated within the Island as has been claimed to justify restrictions. If one cannot assume that Cypriot coins only circulated on the Island, one cannot legally impose import restrictions which by law must apply only to artifacts first discovered in and be subject to the export control of Cyprus.
Moreover, there is no reason to renew the MOU for another 5 years. Cyprus has already had the benefit of restrictions since 1999 on ethnological artifacts and 2002 on archaeological artifacts. Cyprus claims that restrictions are needed because of looting on the occupied side of the Island, but a Swiss scholar who has studied the issue indicates most looted material from both the Turkish and Greek sides of the Island goes to wealthy Greek Cypriot collectors, and not as has been maintained to collectors abroad. In addition, all this appears to be done with the full knowledge and acquiescence of Greek Cypriot authorities. Under the circumstances, why should the US burden its own citizens and small businesses with such restrictions? To do so will only reward Cypriot authorities for their own considerable hypocrisy and thus make a mockery of the supposed purpose of such MOU's to protect archaeological context.
Thank you for your consideration of my views.
Labels: CPAC, Cyprus MOU, double standards, Import Restrictions
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to readers of this blog.
Cultural Property? Bah humbug, at least for tomorrow.
Rather, if you celebrate Christmas as I do, may you spend tomorrow with family and friends, and pay no attention to anything other than celebrating the day in a most suitable way.
CPAC and CPIA Issues Recap
Archaeo-Blogger Paul Barford has this rather uncharitable advice for a small businessman looking for information about the the CPIA, CPAC and import restrictions. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/12/looking-for-ccpia-duh.html
I've covered this area before, and here are some of the posts that hopefully will be of some help to those looking for some basic information:
For a short recap of the governing law, see: http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2008/07/short-recap-of-cultural-property.html
For a discussion of the impact of import restrictions, see http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-is-impact-of-import-restrictions.html
For discussion about how the governing law operates in practice, see
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/03/cultural-property-implementation-act-is.html
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2010/04/aba-panel-on-1970-unesco-convention-and.html
Labels: Blogging, CPAC, CPIA, Emergency Import Restrictions
No Christmas Truce
Evidently, there is an element within the archaeological community that thinks it is entirely appropriate to ridicule American citizens and others who have responded to the US State Department's invitation to comment on the proposed renewal of the Cypriot MOU. See http://paul-barford.blogspot.com/2011/12/these-people-are-americans-so-you.html
Shame on them and their efforts to suppress any public opinion against the "archaeology over all" perspective. And shame on the other archaeological blogs that link to them and hence promote their views.
Labels: Archaeologists, Blogging
AIA Lobby Shop Springs into Action
The AIA styles itself as not for profit educational organization, but is acting more and more like a lobby shop in support of foreign cultural bureaucracies all the time. Indeed, the AIA's website now has an "advocacy page" (See http://www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation/advocacy) that links to an effort to gin up comments for the upcoming CPAC meetings on Cyprus and Peru. See http://www.archaeological.org/CPAC
And here is the AIA's party line:
"The looting of sites damages archaeological contexts, hampering archaeologists' study of ancient remains and distorting our reconstruction of the past. Because our understanding of the past is dependent on our ability to recover, study, and interpret ancient sites and artifacts in their original context, the preservation of sites is critical to the creation of archaeological knowledge, as well as to the maintenance of cultural heritage. A commitment to stopping the import of looted cultural material will help to prevent the destruction of the archaeological record."
While its hard to disagree with most of this statement, the last sentence is misleading in the extreme. If the advocates at the AIA were being honest, they would acknowledge that import restrictions as formulated and applied are grossly overbroad. Instead of focusing on artifacts reasonably suspected to be looted, they in fact embargo the import of all undocumented material on a "designated list"-- including many artifacts openly and legally available abroad-- on the assumption it "must be stolen." Of course, the "undocumented" equals "looted" equation only makes some sense for narrow ranges of "culturally significant" material that has not regularly appeared on international markets for generations. Yet, the ideologues at the AIA and the obdurate bureaucrats at State and US Customs have stretched the reach of import restrictions to even the most common artifacts, like ancient coins, that have been widely collected without provenance information for hundreds of years.
Labels: AIA, bureacracy, Cyprus, Import Restrictions, Lobbying, Peru, State Department, US Customs
State Department, Spain, Navy (and Archaeologists?) Torpeodo Effort to Change Law to Allow Commercial Salvage of More Warships
The State Department, joined by the US Navy, Spain and presumably archaeologists, have torpedoed an effort to to change the law to allow more commerical exploitation of old warships. See http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Treasure-hunters-battle-for-500-million-bounty-2406490.php
The State Department and US Navy claimed their opposition was meant to protect against commercial exploitation of US warships, but the reality is that the change in the law would likely have only impacted exploitation of Spanish warships that were also used to transport treasure from the New World.
More evidence that the State Department will always take the side of foreign governments over US commercial interests, particularly where those interests are also opposed by the US archaeological lobby. (This gives the bureaucrats at least some cover in that they can say there are US academic interests on their side.)
One wonders whether the next move of Spain and their archaeological allies will be to claim that Spanish treasure already in the hands of US collectors and museums should be repatriated to Spain (or should that be Mexico, Bolivia or Peru)?
Labels: Archaeologists, Museums, Repatriation, salvors, shipwrecks, State Department
AIA View of CPAC Meeting on Bulgarian and Peruvian MOU
Here is the AIA's view of the Bulgarian and Peruvian MOU hearings: http://www.archaeological.org/news/advocacy/7317
The discussion underscores the ideological nature of the AIA's opposition to collecting. Practical concerns and fairness to small business don't rate for these out of touch academics. They also willfully ignore the fact that the unprovenanced coins they want to restrict are freely available within Bulgaria itself. If collecting unprovenanced coins is such a problem as Bulgaria is concerned, why doesn't the Bulgarian government clamp down on Bulgarian collectors? It won't as that would cause an uproar, but that won't stop the obdurate State Department bureaucrats from clamping down on US collectors.
Instead of clamping down on collectors, how about regulating metal detectors at the source?
The preferred method of regulation, of course, is a system akin to that in Britain, Wales and Scotland, but the CPIA itself requires that the source country try effective regulation of metal detectors before US authorities restrict American's ability to import cultural goods like coins.
For my view of the public meeting, see
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/11/public-cpac-meeting-on-belize-and.html
Labels: AIA, Bulgaria, Bulgarian MOU, bureacracy, coins, Peru
Archaeological Lobby Sinks Sackler Exhibit
The archaeological lobby has succeeded in sinking an exhibit at the Sackler Gallery that would have given the American public an opportunity to learn something about early international trade routes in the Orient. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/sackler-gallery-cancels-controversial-exhibit-of-tang-dynasty-treasures-from-shipwreck/2011/12/15/gIQAnlyjwO_story.html?wprss=rss_style
The exhibit was supposedly sunk because the excavation work was not up to professional standards-- though one suspects that the real reason was to appease archaeologists who have little use for commercial salvers, whether contracted by a foreign government or not.
I've previously covered this dispute here:
http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/06/smithsonian-caves-on-shiprwreck-exhibit.html and http://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2011/06/none-of-their-business-ii.html
For a thoughtful critique of the archaeological establishment's views on this topic, See http://www.culturalheritagelaw.org/blog?mode=PostView&bmi=711550
Supposedly, the plan now is to "re-excavate the wreck" using AIA approved archaeologists no doubt. But money has to be raised first. Hopefully, taxpayer dollars won't be tapped for such project, but it will not surprise me if the US Government is ultimately expected to foot the bill for what probably is little more at this point than a vanity project.
Labels: AIA, Lobbying, shipwrecks, Smithsonian
Hispanic Society Coins Put on the Auction Block
The Hispanic Society has put its collection of 38,000 historic Spanish coins up on the auction block in one lot with an estimated value of between $25-$38 million. See http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/hispanic-society-enlists-sothebys-to-auction-rare-collection-of-coins/
Archer Huntington endowed both the Hispanic Society and the American Numismatic Society, where the coins were previously kept. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_Milton_Huntington The fate of the group was the subject of litigation between the ANS and the Hispanic Society, which ended up with the Hispanic Society being awarded the coins they now want to sell.
If the collection could not stay intact, I'd rather it was broken up to allow American collectors and perhaps the ANS or ANA a chance at purchasing at least some of the coins. Given the estimated price, who will buy the group? The Smithsonian? Laughable. Cash strapped Spain? Doubtful. More likely the coins will go further East to the Persian Gulf or perhaps China.
Will the ANS be conducting a similar fire sale directed at foreign buyers sometime in the not too distant future? Let's hope not, but recognize such a possibility is becoming more likely given today's realities.
I've observed that both a prosperous numismatic trade and collector interest are essential to fund the ANS and the serious study of ancient numismatics in this country. See http://numismatics.org/wikiuploads/DigitalPublications/WitschonkeTompaFinal.pdf The fanatics at the AIA and the obdurate bureaucrats at the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs might want to consider how their efforts to suppress ancient coin collecting will impact numismatic study in this country before its too late.
Labels: AIA, ancient coins, ANS, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Spain, State Department
Another Triumph for the Treasure Act
A British Metal Detectorist has discovered and reported an immensely important hoard of Viking era coins and silver artifacts. See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8955955/Viking-hoard-provides-new-clues-to-previously-unknown-ruler.html and http://finds.org.uk/news
The hoard contains a coin of a previously unknown ruler as well as coins from from far off Germany and the Middle East. More proof that even in the "Dark Ages" coins travelled long distances from their place of manufacture.
Although archaeological cranks may still find reason to criticize the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities Scheme and the cooperation if fosters among members of the public, archaeologists, and museum professionals, how many such hoards are voluntarily reported in their preferred models of cultural heritage management such as Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Italy and Cyprus?
Labels: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, pas, Portable Antiquities Scheme, Treasure Trove, Turkey, United Kingdom
Dirty Dishes
The New York Times is reporting that some dishes that were evidently taken from one of Saddam's palaces are being repatriated to Iraq after being seized by US Marshalls. See http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/looted-dishes-used-in-art-project-returned-to-iraq/
The plates had evidently attracted the notice of Iraqi officials after being used for performance art by an Iraqi-Jewish American whose parents had been driven from the country in 1946.
This seems to be yet another case of cultural property overkill. And I wonder whether the Iraqi diplomats would have been as keen to demand repatriation of the dinner plates if the artist had not been from an Iraqi-Jewish family.
Shouldn't the artist and his family be the ones who deserve reparations?
Labels: Iraq, Repatriation, stolen antiquities
Anglo-Saxons at NATGEO
The National Geographic Society is hosting a fantastic exhibit about the Staffordshire Hoard. See http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/exhibits/2011/10/29/anglo-saxon-hoard/ and http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/
Archaeological fanatics will no doubt dislike the exhibit's heroic photograph of the metal detectorist who found the hoard, but without him, the Treasure Act and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, it is highly unlikely the hoard would ever have come to light.
This is not a conventional hoard of buried treasure. Rather, it appears to be a collection of battlefield spoils. The hoard was found spread about a farmers field near the site of an old Roman road. There were absolutely no other features to attract the interest of archaeologists, and it is highly doubtful the site would ever have been explored if the find was not reported.
The exhibit itself is by far the best ever I have seen at the National Geographic Society. Great care was taken not only to conserve the objects, but to place them in historical context with the use of reconstructions, videos and computer graphics. Kudos to National Geographic and the many groups that made this exhibit possible.
Labels: National Geographic, Portable Antiquities Scheme, Treasure Trove, United Kingdom
Coin World on Greek Import Restrictions
Coin World has published this straightforward article about the new import restrictions on Greek coins.
Seehttp://www.coinworld.com/articles/mou-results-in-broad-restrictions-by-state-de/
The author might have also added that import restrictions are not only difficult to enforce, but to comply with as well. Under the circumstances, one must again ask why the Obama Administration-- which has promised to curb stupid regulations-- has instead imposed these broad restrictions, particularly when public support is so slim.
Labels: coins, Greek MOU, Import Restrictions
Will the Obama State Department Uphold Import Restrictions Allegedly Founded on Cronyism?
How did the controverisal decision to impose import restriction on Cypriot coins come about? This is a significant issue because this "precedent" has formed the basis for far more extensive restrictions on Chinese, Italian and now Greek coins.
Well, here are some unrebutted allegations from ACCG's Amended Complaint in the Baltimore Test Case. They are largely based on information from FOIA releases:
48. In or about November 2005, Dr. Pavlos Florentzos, Director of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, visited the United States at the invitation of CAARI and with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus. During this time, CAARI facilitated a meeting between Florentzos and employees of ECA's Cultural Heritage Center, including its Executive Director, Maria Kourpoupas, and a staff archaeologist. See J. Green, Cyprus Director of Antiquities, Dr. Pavolos Flourtzos, Visits the U.S., 31 CAARI News 3 (Winter 2006).
49. Upon information and belief, CAARI has benefited from direct and/or indirect financial and/or material support from State, the Government of Cyprus and Cypriot entities, including the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation.
50. Upon information and belief, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation was established to rescue the Island's cultural heritage, which the Foundation maintains was pillaged and destroyed by Turkish forces when they occupied the Northern part of the Island. Upon further information and belief, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation maintains one of the largest collections of ancient coins of Cypriot type within Cyprus. Upon further information and belief, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation purchases unprovenanced coins on the open market for its collection of the sort now subject to U.S. import restrictions on coins of Cypriot type.
51. On January 19, 2006, State announced a five (5) year renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Italy relating to cultural artifacts. Once again, Defendants exempted ancient coins struck in Italy from import restrictions.
52. On December 7, 2006, the Federal Register carried a notice indicating that CPAC would conduct a review of the MOU with Cyprus. That notice invited public comment to be submitted no later than January 11, 2007. The Federal Register notice contained no mention of an effort to extend new restrictions to coins. See 71 Fed. Reg. 71015-71016 (Dec. 7, 2006).
53. On December 8, 2006, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, ECA Miller Crouch indicated in a response to an e-mail inquiry that he "d[id] not anticipate" that new restrictions on coins would be addressed at CPAC's hearing to consider the renewal of the MOU with Cyprus.
54. On December 14, 2006, two numismatic trade associations filed a request with State to recuse CPAC member Joan Connelly from voting on any last minute effort to impose import restrictions on ancient Cypriot coins. That recusal request noted that Dr. Connelly excavated in Cyprus and had publicly thanked "the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, its Director, Dr. Demos Christou and the Ministry of Communication and Works, Republic of Cyprus, for granting us the license to excavate on Yeronisos Island."
55. On January 12, 2007, State summarily denied the recusal request.
56. On January 17, 2007, according to a heavily redacted document released in response to a FOIA request, a State ECA Cultural Heritage Center staff archaeologist conferred with the late Dr. Danielle Parks, an archaeologist associated with the CAARI, about the inclusion of coins in the Cypriot request.
57. On January 19, 2007, according to a document released in response to a FOIA request, Cyprus requested State to amend the designated list of artifacts subject to import restriction to include coins of Cypriot type.
58. On January 25, 2007, CPAC conducted a public hearing on the renewal of the MOU with Cyprus. At that hearing, CPAC Chairman Jay Kislak announced that he had learned that Cyprus had requested that State amend the designated list of Cypriot artifacts subject to import restrictions to include coins of Cypriot type.
59. Upon information and belief, at that same hearing, neither Cypriot authorities nor members of the archaeological community could point to any material change of fact justifying a change in the exemption from import restrictions on Cypriot coins.
60. On January 26, 2007, in response to complaints about the lack of public notice for the inclusion of coins in the Cypriot request, State announced an additional ten (10) day comment period. State made this announcement on the Cultural Heritage Center website and not in the Federal Register. Nevertheless, during this extremely short time frame, numismatic groups generated over 1100 letters opposing the extension of import restrictions to coins.
61. Upon information and belief, comments provided by ACCG and others established: (a) that Cypriot coins were common, with many known examples of coin types struck on the Island; (b) that Cypriot coins travelled widely so that one could not assume that a coin struck in Cyprus was "first discovered" there; (c) that less drastic remedies like the imposition of a treasure trove law and/or the regulation of metal detectors should be tried before import restrictions were considered; (d) and that the CPIA's "concerted international response" requirement could not be met.
62. Upon information and belief CAARI, the AIA, the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, and the late Dr. Danielle Parks submitted comments supporting import restrictions at the behest of Cyprus.
63. In a letter dated February 5, 2007, the AIA's president claimed that it was proper to assume that coins of Cypriot type can be assumed to have Cypriot find spots, because "Coins minted on Cyprus were very rarely taken from the island in antiquity."
64. On May 2, 2007, Assistant Secretary of State, ECA Dina Powell, the decision maker for the extension of the MOU with Cyprus announced her departure to become the Director for Global Corporate Engagement at Goldman Sachs. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Powell (last checked, 7/2/10).
65. Upon information and belief, Goldman Sachs is a bank holding company with worldwide business interests, likely including relationships with Cyprus or Cypriot entities like the Bank of Cyprus.
66. On or about May 7, 2007, according to a document released in response to a FOIA request, CPAC issued its report making its recommendations concerning the extension of the MOU with Cyprus.
67. On or about May 14, 2007, according to a document released in response to a FOIA request, Pavolos Flouretzos, Director, Cypriot Department of Antiquities, admitted in a private communication to State, "It is true that Cypriot coins shared the same destiny as all other coins of the ancient world. As a standard media of exchange they circulated all over the ancient world due to their small size, which facilitated their easy transport… The continuous circulation of coins for many centuries amongst collectors and between collectors and museums make any attempt to locate their exact find spot extremely difficult."
68. On or about May 16, 2007, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, upon information and belief the third ranking official at State, accepted an award from Greek and Greek Cypriot advocacy groups as these groups lobbied the State policy makers. According to a press release, "Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns was the first Philhellene to receive the Livanos Award. This award is given each year to, as its states on the award, 'that individual who, like George P. Livanos, has utilized ancient Hellenic values to realize extraordinary achievement in modern society while contributing to the improvement of our civilization.'" See http://news.pseka.net/uploads/img/documents/PSEKA-SAE_2007_Conference_EN_01_CEH_01.pdf (last checked, 7/2/10).
69. On or about May 16, 2007, State's news service quoted Burns as stating on receipt of the Livanos award, "I wear this title of Philhellene rather proudly. You don't spend four years in Greece, as my wife and three daughters and I did, and not come back feeling committed to Greek thought, to the Greek way of life, to Greece itself in my case....We're personally committed to the country, to the relationship."
70. On May 17, 2007, according to a document released in response to a FOIA request, Kurt Volker, Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, wrote the Assistant Secretary, ECA Dina Powell, stating "[G]iven our general support for protection of antiquities and the importance of this MOU to our bilateral relations with Cyprus, EUR strongly recommends that ECA approve the renewal of the MOU and include the protection of coins."
71. On May 29, 2007, according to a document released in redacted form in response to a FOIA request, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, ECA Miller Crouch wrote an "Action Memo" to the decision maker Assistant Secretary, ECA Dina Powell regarding the extension of the MOU with Cyprus. That Action Memo only provides the decision maker with the false choice of approving the import restrictions including coins in their entirety or disapproving them in their entirety. The Action Memo does not provide the decision maker the option of continuing the then current import restrictions without extending them to coins.
72. On May 30, 2007, according to that same document, Assistant Secretary of State Dina Powell signed off on that action memo that authorized import restrictions on ancient coins of Cypriot type.
73. On July 13, 2007, Defendants formally extended import restrictions to coins of Cypriot Types. See Extension of Import Restrictions Imposed on Pre-Classical and Classical Archaeological Objects and Byzantine Period Ecclesiastical and Ritual Ethnological Material from Cyprus, 19 CFR Part 12, reported at 72 Fed. Reg. 38470-74 (July 13, 2007).
74. On July 16, 2007, the MOU renewal with Cyprus was signed. That MOU fails to suggest that restrictions under the agreement satisfy the CPIA's requirements, including the requirement "concerted international response" requirement or the requirement that less drastic remedies than import restrictions on coins are not available.
75. On July 19, 2007, Undersecretary Nicholas Burns conducted a signing ceremony for the MOU to coincide with Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and at the State Department itself. Upon information and belief, representatives of CAARI were invited to this signing ceremony.
76. The official transcript of the Cyprus MOU signing ceremony omits several significant words. In the transcript, Ambassador Kakouris of Cyprus is reported as saying, "In fact, I was reminded just before we came in about something that I had said in January when we were before the Committee and responding to someone very much on the side of the coin collectors who -- talked about the hobby of collecting coins. And I said to him: 'It may be your hobby, but it's our heritage!" and that is the way that we look at this issue.'"
77. In fact, what Kakouris actually said can be heard (at 10:09 of the audio). There, he states, "In fact, I was reminded by [Cultural Heritage Center ED] Maria Kouroupas just before we came in about something that I had said in January when we were before the Committee and dealing with the coin collectors and somebody who was very much on their side, when he talked about the hobby of collecting coins. And I said to him: 'It may be your hobby, but it's our heritage!" and that is the way that we look at this issue.'" (Emphasis added.)
78. On July 20, 2007, State issued a press release about the MOU. That press release stated, "With the extension of this MOU, DHS amended the designated list of restricted categories to include ancient coins of Cypriot types produced from the end of the 6th century B.C. to 235 A.D. Coins, a significant and inseparable part of the archaeological record of the island, are especially valuable to understanding the history of Cyprus. This extension of the MOU is consistent with the recommendation of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee, which is administered by the Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs." (Emphasis added.)
79. On August 29, 2007, State sent a report mandated under the CPIA to Congress. Under 19 U.S.C. § 2602 (g)(2), that report is required to: (a) describe the actions taken; (b) whether there were any differences between those actions and CPAC's recommendations; and, (c) if so, the reasons for those differences. That report, however, contains no indication whether State rejected CPAC recommendation against import restrictions on coins, and, if so, why?
80. In addition, that report also indicates that Customs acted as the lead agency for imposing import restrictions on coins. In pertinent part, the report states, "The Federal Register notice for Cyprus was amended by the Department for Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, to include coins of Cypriot types which are also vulnerable to archaeological looting."
81. In or about July 17, 2007, ECA publicized the new restrictions on coins of Cypriot types on its website as follows: "The Government of the Republic of Cyprus requested and amendment to the designated list to include coins…. Q. What was the response? A. The Cultural Property Implementation Act places the authority for the Designated List with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in consultation with the Department of State. On July 13, 2007, DHS published a Federal Register notice concerning the extension of the agreement and amending the Designated List to include certain coins from Cyprus, effective July 16, 2007."
82. In or about May-June 2008, the Cyprus News Service quoted CAARI's president as stating, "CAARI has been in the forefront of the successful effort to renew the Memorandum of Understanding between Cyprus and the USA restricting the import of Cypriot antiquities into the United States….." See http://www.caari.org/CAARIat30.htm (last checked, 7/2/10).
83. On January 16, 2009, the Federal Register announced import restrictions on Chinese cultural artifacts, including those on early media of exchange to Tang era cash coins. See 19 CFR Part 12, reported at 74 Fed. Reg. 2838-2844 (Jan. 16, 2009).
84. On April 20, 2009, past CPAC Chairman Jay Kislak signed a declaration in FOIA litigation that stated in pertinent part:
o I am told that Section 303 (g) of the CPIA requires the State Department to report to Congress any differences between CPAC's recommendations and the State Department's ultimate decision to impose import restrictions. In this regard, the release of the most recent CPAC report related to Cyprus and its discussion about coins could clarify misleading information contained in official State Department documents.
o I specifically recall the Cypriot request that then current import restrictions on other cultural artifacts be extended to coins was a matter of great public controversy. CPAC considered the question specifically and I recall a special vote being taken on this particular issue.
o With that in mind, I have reviewed both an official State Department Press Release and a State Department report made pursuant to CPIA Section 303 (g) about the MOU with Cyprus…I believe it is absolutely false to suggest in those materials that the State Department's decision to extend import restrictions to ancient coins was consistent with CPAC's recommendations. The full release of CPAC's recommendations with regard to coins could be in the public interest because it should clarify misleading information contained in official State Department documents.
Will the Obama Administration and CPAC investigate these allegations before deciding to renew the Cypriot MOU? If true, don't they suggest that the MOU be terminated instead because it is founded on cronyism? If not, why not?
Labels: Archaeologists, bureacracy, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, CAARI, coins, CPAC, Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, Cyprus MOU, ECA, Lobbying, Nicholas Burns
Comment Fatigue or Not Collector Voices Need to Be Heard Once Again!
Only one month after seeking comments for a proposed MOU with Bulgaria, the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and its Cultural Heritage Center have announced another short comment period (this time right in the middle of the Holiday season) for a proposed extension of current import restrictions on coins from Cyprus. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-07/html/2011-31408.htm
Those restrictions currently bar entry into the United States of the following coin types unless they are accompanied with documentation establishing that they were out of Cyprus as of the date of the restrictions, July 16, 2007:
1. Issues of the ancient kingdoms of Amathus, Kition, Kourion, Idalion, Lapethos, Marion, Paphos, Soli, and Salamis dating from the end of the 6th century B.C. to 332 B.C.
2. Issues of the Hellenistic period, such as those of Paphos, Salamis, and Kition from 332 B.C. to c. 30 B.C. (including coins of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, and his Dynasty)
3. Provincial and local issues of the Roman period from c. 30 B.C. to 235 A.D.
Why bother to comment when the State Department rejected CPAC's recommendations against import restrictions on Cypriot coins back in 2007 and then misled both Congress and the public about its actions? And isn't it also true that although the vast majority of public comments recorded have been squarely against import restrictions, the State Department and U.S. Customs have imposed import restrictions on coins anyway, most recently on ancient coins from Greece?
Simply, silence just allows the State Department bureaucrats and their allies in the archaeological establishment to claim that collectors have acquiesced to broad restrictions on their ability to import common ancient coins that are widely available worldwide. And, of course, acquiescence is all that may be needed to justify going back and imposing import restrictions on the Roman Imperial coins that are still exempt from these regulations.
Under the circumstances, please take 5 minutes and tell CPAC, the State Department bureaucrats and the archaeologists what you think.
How do I comment? To submit comments three pages in length or less electronically, go here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=DOS-2011-0135-0002
If you are having trouble, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov/), enter the Docket No. DOS-2011-0135 for Cyprus, and follow the prompts to submit a comment. To send comments via US Mail or FEDEX see the directions contained in the Federal Register Notice above. For further information, also see http://exchanges.state.gov/heritage/whatsnew.html.
What should I say? The State Department bureaucracy has dictated that any public comments should relate solely to the following statutory criteria:
1. Whether the cultural patrimony of Cyprus is in jeopardy from looting of its archaeological materials;
2. Whether Cyprus has taken measures consistent with the 1970 UNESCO Convention to protect its cultural patrimony;
3. Whether application of U.S. import restrictions, if applied in concert with similar restrictions by other art importing countries, would be of substantial benefit in deterring a serious situation of pillage and that less drastic remedies are not available; and,
4. Whether the application of import restrictions is consistent with the general interest of the international community in the interchange of cultural property among nations for scientific, cultural, and educational purposes.
(See 19 U.S.C. § 2602 (a).)
Yet, collectors can really only speak to what they know. So, tell them what you think within this broad framework. For instance, over time, import restrictions will certainly impact the American public's ability to study and preserve historical coins and maintain people to people contacts with collectors abroad. Yet, foreign collectors—including collectors in Cyprus—will be able to import coins as before. And, one can also remind CPAC that less drastic remedies, like regulating metal detectors or instituting reporting programs akin to the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities Scheme, must be tried first.
Be forceful, but polite. We can and should disagree with what the State Department bureaucrats and their allies in the archaeological establishment are doing to our hobby, but we should endeavor to do so in an upstanding manner.
Please submit comments just once, before the deadline on Jan. 3, 2012.
Labels: ancient coins, coins, CPAC, Cyprus, Cyprus MOU, Import Restrictions
Immediate Past President of the AIA to American Museums: Stop Collecting!
Brian Rose, the AIA's immediate past president, has been quoted as telling America's museums to stop collecting antiquities. According to the report,
Rose said he felt the era in which American museums can collect antiquities is coming to a close.
Source countries are becoming more aggressive in pursuing traffickers and enforcing laws against looting, he said.
Buying antiquities could alienate foreign governments and prevent the cooperation necessary for international loans of individual objects or traveling exhibitions, Rose said.
"You'll end up in litigation, and you won't be able to enter into collaborative projects," he said. "It's all about collaboration now."
Rather than collect, museums ought to forge agreements with source countries to share cultural riches, Rose said.
See http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2011/12/conference_at_the_american_aca.html
Despite such quotes, archaeo-blogger Paul Barford continues to claim that the AIA is really not against collecting. But if so, where are quotes from the AIA's leadership indicating that they support the rights of ordinary Americans to collect minor portable antiquities, such as coins, let alone more significant items?
Addendum: For more on the AIA's anti-collecting stance, see http://www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation/faqs
Q: Isn't this disagreement between collectors and archaeologists really the work of a bunch of radical archaeologists who have lost touch with the public?
A: No, in fact, the stand taken by the AIA, the oldest and largest archaeological organization in North America, is representative of the point of view of all the mainstream archaeological organizations in the U.S. including the Society for American Archaeology, the Society for Historic Archaeology, the American Schools of Oriental Research and others. It's also the stance of other major international archaeological groups. In fact, in January, an unprecedented agreement will be signed among the AIA, the German Archaeological Institute and the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences to battle the scourge of looting. A Harris interactive survey published in 2000 also showed that public opinion agrees with the position of the AIA—the main value of archaeological sites is scientific and educational and U.S. museums should not acquire illegally exported artifacts.
Q: What about the orphaned object that is out of the ground and circulating in the market with its context already destroyed and it provenance uncertain? Shouldn't this object be acquired and given a good home?
A: The acquisition of these objects encourages looting. Objects like this are likely stolen. When confronted with an object like this, the best thing to do is to contact the authorities. You would not buy a hot car or a diamond watch from a disreputable source -- why buy an antiquity from a disreputable salesperson?
Q: In many cases there are multiple copies of certain antiquities, some with so many duplicates that they cannot all be displayed. What is wrong with the trade in multiples?
A: Some countries do allow trade in duplicates, including Israel. But it is difficult to identify a duplicate from a country that allows trade, and it's difficult to prevent the sale of new objects as duplicates. Furthermore, most museums and private collectors are interested in high-end, unique objects, not "duplicates." It's primarily the trade in expensive, unique artifacts that drives the illegal market.
I would note the AIA also describes what constitutes a "licit artifact" according to its view of the law, but that is hardly an endoresment of collecting.
Labels: AAMD, AIA, Archaeologists, Blogging, Museums
Greek Import Restrictions: Winners and Losers
1. The Greek Cultural Bureaucracy-- The Greek Government has mismanaged its economy so badly that it is relying on Germany and the rest of the EU to bail it out. Greece's cultural bureaucracy is as poorly managed and as corrupt as the rest of the Greek government. Yet, the MOU will no doubt be cited as some sort of U.S. "seal of approval" for the status quo.
2. The Obdurate State Department Cultural Bureaucracy- You've got to hand it to the entrenched bureaucrats at the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and its Cultural Heritage Center. Important members of Congress have expressed severe misgivings about the implementation of their statutory authority. They have been sued in Court, and even though their decisions have been upheld to date as a matter of judicial deference, this is not the same as a ringing endorsement. Yet, culture creep has turned into a roll with these expansive regulations, by far the most wide ranging since the Chinese MOU in 2009.
3. The AIA and its Archaeological Fanatics- These fanatics hold that the only legitimate exchange of archaeological artifacts is a museum loan. They view import restrictions as a way to clamp down on a trade they do not believe should exist. So far their anti-collecting agenda has meshed well with the nationalism of countries like Greece and the predilection of the State Department to trade favors to the detriment of American collectors, dealers and museums.
4. Wealthy Greek Collectors- The fanatics criticise American collectors and museums, but don't seem to care that wealthy Greek collectors buy from the same sources as American collectors do. Now, Greek collectors will gain a competitive advantage over their American counterparts who can no longer import undocumented cultural goods. No wonder a representative from the Alpha Bank, which maintains Greece's best coin collection in private hands, was part of the Greek delegation that attended the public meeting of CPAC that discussed the MOU.
1. Greece's Cultural Patrimony-Even before Greece's recent financial meltdown, the country was highly dependent on EU funds to care for its major sites. Now, with money so tight, how can the country take care of its major sites, let alone the millions of minor objects in its stores? Yet, Greek cultural officials will no doubt hope that news about the MOU will will divert attention away from these hard financial realities and help stave off much needed reforms.
2. The CPIA and the Process Congress Contemplated- Import restrictions under the CPIA are supposed to be limited to culturally significant artifacts. Less onerous measures are supposed to be considered first. The restrictions are supposed to be part of a concerted international response. Here, these broad restrictions simply ignore these requirements. Moreover, the failure to give heed to the vast majority of public comments that opposed restrictions on coins again suggests that the whole process is little more than a farce.
3. The Small Businesses of the Antiquities and Numismatic trade- Import restrictions bar entry of cultural goods legitimately for sale abroad where documentation requirements for legal import cannot be met. This is particularly a problem for the small businesses of the numismatic trade. The documentation necessary for legal import is either typically unavailable for artifacts of limited value like most ancient coins or cost prohibitive to produce for such inexpensive items.
4. US Collectors- US collectors of cultural goods, including the thousands upon thousands of Greek coin collectors will face considerable problems securing material, particularly as time goes on.
5. US Museums- Loans are a poor substitute for purchases or donations for collecting museums. The archaeological fanatics may promote loans as a substitute, but they don't have to arrange such loans with the Greek bureaucracy or pay the considerable expense associated with such loans, which typically include expensive conservation costs.
6. US Customs- US Customs officers now have another broad set of import restrictions to administer. While they may make the "big bust" on occasion, I doubt that will make up for the frustration factor of trying to ascertain whether every ancient coin or minor antiquity that "looks Greek" is on the designated list or not.
Labels: AIA, Archaeologists, bureacracy, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Collectors, CPAC, CPIA, Greece, Greek MOU
Obdurate Obama Bureaucracy Imposes Broad Import Restrictions on Greek Coins and Cultural Goods
The Obama State Department and US Customs have imposed broad import restrictions on most Greek coins and other cultural goods. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-01/html/2011-30905.htm
The restrictions on coins are exceptionally broad, but seem to exclude large denomination trade coins:
Coins—Many of the mints of the
listed coins can be found in B.V. Head,
Historia Numorum: A Manual of Greek
Numismatics (London, 1911) and C.M.
Kraay, Archaic and Classical Greek
Coins (London, 1976). Many of the
Roman provincial mints in Greece are
listed in A. Burnett et al., Roman
Provincial Coinage I: From the Death of
Caesar to the Death of Vitellius (44 BC–
AD 69) (London, 1992) and id., Roman
Provincial Coinage II: From Vespasian
to Domitian (AD 69–96) (London, 1999).
a. Greek Bronze Coins—Struck by
city-states, leagues, and kingdoms that
operated in territory of the modern
Greek state (including the ancient
territories of the Peloponnese, Central
Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Crete and
those parts of the territories of ancient
Macedonia, Thrace and the Aegean
islands that lay within the boundaries of
the modern Greek state). Approximate
date: 5th century B.C. to late 1st century
b. Greek Silver Coins—This category
includes the small denomination coins
of the city-states of Aegina, Athens, and
Corinth, and the Kingdom of Macedonia
under Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Such coins weigh less than
approximately 10 grams and are known
as obols, diobols, triobols,
hemidrachms, and drachms. Also
included are all denominations of coins
struck by the other city-states, leagues,
and kingdoms that operated in the
territory of the modern Greek state
(including the ancient territories of the
Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly,
Epirus, Crete, and those parts of the
territories of ancient Macedonia, Thrace
and the Aegean islands that lie within
the boundaries of the modern Greek
state). Approximate date: 6th century
B.C. to late 1st century B.C.
c. Roman Coins Struck in Greece—In
silver and bronze, struck at Roman and
Roman provincial mints that operated in
the territory of the modern Greek state
state). Approximate date: late 2nd
century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.
Obviously, the obdurate bureaucracy could care less that over 70% of the public comments received by CPAC opposed these restrictions and that the actual support for them is limited to archaeological fanatics who hold that the only legitimate cultural exchange is a museum loan.
It is also ironic that these restrictions provide for the repatriation of any coins seized by US Customs to the bankrupt Greek state, which has no money to care for major cultural sites, let alone for the thousands upon thousands of ancient Greek coins already within State collections.
Again, more proof that the Obama administration is anti-small business and pro-government regulation, despite all the claims to the contrary.
Labels: bureacracy, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Greek MOU, Import Restrictions
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Mari Ellery wins Canadian Paralympic Committee's Development Coach of the Year
Congratulations to Mari Ellery of the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in Toronto who has won the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Development Coach of the Year Award. She proudly accepted the award at the Canadian Paralympic Committee 2014 Sport Awards Ceremony last Friday in Toronto with several of her athletes and staff from CanoeKayak Canada in attendance.
Mari Ellery accepted the award last Friday in Toronto with several of her athletes and staff from CanoeKayak Canada in attendance. Pictured: John Edwards, Mari Ellery, Draga Culjak, Julie Beaulieu and Suleiman Muse
Mari has been coaching Para-athletes since 1982 and has been an instrumental part of Balmy Beach's PaddleALL program since 2010. Her work at the development level has translated into national and international success as three of her athletes represented Canada at the World Championships last year.
Mari's attitude towards inclusion has encouraged many athletes to take an interest in Paracanoe. She has used the power of sport to break down barriers and continues to be an outstanding influence for many athletes. Mari is a teacher by profession and does much of her coaching work on a volunteer basis as Para-sport is something she is truly passionate about.
CanoeKayak Canada is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada. The organization's vision is to be a Canadian sport for families, communities and champions. From supporting clubs to developing a competitive National Team, CanoeKayak Canada works to grow a sport which is a rich part of Canada's heritage.
Communications and Marketing Officer, CanoeKayak Canada
imiller@canoekayak.ca


BuGGFX is a small guitar effects pedal operation run by Robert Bird in Leesburg, Georgia. Every pedal is designed, assembled, and shipped by me. Any problems that may arise are almost certainly my fault, there is no chain of command to pass the blame on to.
This started as a hobby because I enjoy designing and building pedals, not because I want to get rich quick selling mass produced garbage. I am a guitarist first, not an engineer, salesman, or CEO. I build pedals that I get enjoyment out of, not what I think will sell millions.
I stand behind everything I produce, I'm not happy if you're not happy.
Are your pedals true bypass?
Unless otherwise noted in the product description all BuGGFX pedals use a standard mechanical 3PDT footswitch for true bypass operation. In most cases the input of the effect circuit is grounded when bypassed to prevent any unwanted noise from making it's way into your signal path.
Will you build me a custom pedal?
Custom builds are handled on a case-by-case basis. I would love to build a custom pedal for everyone who asks but because I am a one-man operation this is not realistically possible. My ability to take on a custom build depends on the request and current workload. All inquiries should be addressed to buggfxpedals@gmail.com and I will respond as quickly as possible.


text:
NGHTMRE brings on Lil Jon and A$AP Ferg during his performance at Coachella, presents The Orb
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Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike provide music for the latest Mortal Kombat instalment
Dimitri was present for the reveal event which took place in London on Thursday, and whilst gaining a first peek into the latest edition of Mortal Kombat also
deadmau5 - midas heel/drama free part of Netflix film Polar
"Polar" is an upcoming film adaptation of the action noir comics series of the same name. It is directed by Jonas Åkerlund and based on a spec script written by Jayson Rothwell. In September 2018...
Ferry Corsten branches out with debut film score on David Gleeson-directed Don't Go
The film is an intense rollercoaster of emotions, centred around the death of a young girl and the anguish and increasingly surreal experience the parents...
Promise Land - Blippy EP
The title track draws influences from techno and bass, with the subtle melodics of the taut arpeggiated riff set against stomping on-beat ...


Glassesshop Roy cat eye glasses are made of polished and durable Italian acetate. Three colour options: Black,Brown/Crystal and Red. Featured with classic cat eye frame design and spring hinges. It is a good choice for women who are looking for a good eyeglasses in office. Single vision, bifocal and progressive lenses are available.
These glasses are really cute and I love the color. The only thing is my face is so small that the glasses look really big, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Big glasses are trending anyway. It took about a month to get to Canada from the date I placed the order, which was expected.


"Yeah. They said I couldn't be an astronaut. I got turned down a couple of times, got slapped by a couple of angry stewardesses who I may have dated, was told that a swingin' bachelor like me would never fly to the moon, but I came back to bring the pain to those darn inkblot tests. And I did…look at me now." Jack suits up for Apollo 13, April 1970.
All jokes aside, Jack did not make the cut for a few astronaut groups in the early 1960s. However, he was finally selected at age 34 in 1966. Ol' Jack's sense of perseverance would help make Apollo 13 a "successful failure" in 1970.
05 22 33 43 CMP (Ol' Jack!) Sure wish I could go to the FIDO party tonight.
05 22 33 47 CC (CAPCOM Joe Kerwin) (Laughter) Yes, it's going to be a wild one.
Why did he have this phone book, you may ask? Because he was Jack Swigert. There's your answer.


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The future of public education was on the mind of many voters on Tuesday. Candidates for national, state, and local offices put their education programs front and center as they appealed for voter support. Statewide and local contests for education-related offices drew campaign donors well outside their direct constituencies. This high level of attention is the result of the ongoing debate about the future of public education, including how it should be organized and governed.
Years of struggle and billions of dollars have been invested. The differences are not solely about educational strategy, the nature of curriculum or teaching philosophy. A larger struggle is taking place about the core purpose of public education and its societal role.
For some, improvement will result from "creatively destroying" the traditional model of public education and replacing it with one that maximizes parental choice within an open education marketplace where private interests predominate. They see education as a very individual process, measured by each child's progress. For others, the future must be built to honor the public's shared interest in education, viewing schools and educational organizations as more than simply buildings for the delivery of educational services. They see education as a communal project that builds and supports the nation's democratic ideals as they teach the ABC's. Education's relationship to the public, and how education is governed, are at stake.
From this perspective, public schools do more than educate each child individually; they help build vibrant communities and underpin the national task of creating a shared future. The view from the other side sees the community-based and governed model of education as less important, even harmful, to the school's sole purpose of educating each child. The model of public governance and accountability is inefficient and too subject to a fickle public which can and will vote in new leadership and disrupt plans and programs.
Four years ago, Valerie Strauss described for the Post how the social-entrepreneurial view of public education looks to a new way of governing public education as key to its vision of the future. In a speech to the California School Boards Association, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, an advocate of market-based reform, said, "The fundamental problem with school districts is not their fault. The fundamental problem is that they don't get to control their boards, and the importance of the charter school movement is to evolve America from a system where governance is constantly changing and you can't do long term planning to a system of large nonprofits.…The most important thing is that they constantly get better every year; they're getting better because they have stable governance—they don't have an elected school board." Operating public education more as a private corporate concern than a public organization, they say, will allow these wise leaders to create quality public education.


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Q: How to turn Flashing LED into constantly glowing one So I have one detection circuit with LED that flashes continuously when something is detected (1-2 sec interval). That's a bit nerving while it happens when you drive, especially at night.
I don't have any option to view or modify the code, so it would be nice if I can "hack" this LED to glow continuously....can I do it somehow with some active components?
Tnx in advance

I don't have any schematics of this thing.
It is a Sensor device that detects when a car is in your "blind spot". So it blinks slowly when something comes in the zone, and rapidly if you put your turn light on....so that's basically a problem for a Cap while it will soften than all the impulses? right?
The LED is packed in a case where just two wires came out, so i need to look later onto the PCB to make it clear if it is with GND or Vcc regulated
And it is definitely a LED controlled with a micro controller

A: In principle, this is a job for a retriggerable monostable (CD4047 or 74HC123).
To avoid voltage level problems with sensing the LED voltage, you could use a photocell to sense the flashes; this then drives the monostable with its period somewhat longer than the flash period, and that drives another LED which stays on as long as the flashes continue.

A: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

That's a bit nerving while it happens when you drive, especially at night.

Surely that is the whole point of the LED, to be visibly irritating enough that you notice it BEFORE you change lanes. Making it stay on you may never even notice it till it is too late.
It seems to me your real issue here is not the flashing but rather the fact that it is too bright at night. As such, I'd recommend you don't mess with the functionality, but rather switch in a resistor or add a pot that lets you adjust the brightness at night.
If you have the ability, there may also be the possibility of wiring up some circuit that adjusts the brightness based on the ambient light, or ties into the existing dashboard lighting levels.

A: Assuming you have access to a constant voltage somehere, something like this could work:

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Slow to turn off and probabaly overly complicated, but should work.


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Alternatively a splash in a waterfall maybe more your thing followed up with a glass of champagne and soak in the exclusive hot tubs built into the decks of each individual mountain chalet at Minaret Station's Alpine Lodge. Set in a remote helicopter accessible only valley is world class unbeatable for the mind and spirit.
Otahuna Lodge has taken further advantage of their extensive established garden setting with the recent opening of a private health spa in the grounds. With much of their fresh produce also grown on site guests can accompany the Chef on a foraging adventure culminating in delicious, organic cuisine for all meals included with each stay.
For guests seeking a destination that offers dedicated nutrition and wellness programs, The Landing with luxury villas bordering your own salt water swimming pool (the Pacific Ocean!), indoor or outdoor treatment spaces and professional therapists specializes in the retreats & wellness weekends.
For families and couples that have contrasting ideas of what relaxation means to each of them, the Robertson Lodges of Kauri Cliffs, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri Lodge offer a variety of on site activities to meet these individual needs. These include golf, beautifully designed health spas, eco-sanctuary activities with the family, private walks and gourmet picnics.
Recognizing the demand for health and well-being education, Huka Lodge offered a dedicated all-inclusive rejuvenating retreat for guests this year featuring seminars, nutrition, wellness classes, in-house gyms and spa treatments. Keep an eye out for their events calendar and book early for 2018.
Consistently rated among the world's finest retreats, Huka Lodge also offers the privacy of their Alan Pye Cottage with its own in ground swimming and spa pools, exclusive Chef and dining spaces. The ultimate in rest and relaxing for like-minded groups travelling together.
A relaxation and gourmet package that ticks all the boxes experience Wharekauhau Country Estate on the edges of the dramatic Palliser Bay a short distance from Wellington. From providing extensive activities for the kids to a contemporary on site gym for stressed out corporate's, Wharekauhau knows how to deliver a truly indulgent experience without ever having to leave the Estate.
Most guests will find themselves on the road to Rotorua when contemplating an extensive New Zealand itinerary. Treetops Lodge & Estate a short drive from the bubbling mud hot pools and steaming geysers is a sanctuary set in a private native forest. Their beautifully designed but unpretentious health spa is true oasis giving those fortunate enough to enjoy their wide range of professional treatments. A highlight of Treetops is the Executive Chef who indulges guests with his cultural background and shares with them the nutritious delights of cooking with fresh foraged produce that is unique to New Zealand.
A relaxing vacation for many conjures up dreamy images of golden beaches and the rejuvenating effects of the ocean. Waking up to these vistas is a reality at Helena Bay Lodge in Northland, the countries only luxury lodge where the beach is a just a stroll across the beautifully manicured lawns. Together with their state of the art health spa, Helena Bay has a multitude of passive activities both on and off the water.
A blissed-out vacation shared with a group of friends many months even years in the planning is the goal of many and a perfect locations for creating these memories is reserving a private full service villa at the iconic Eagles Nest. Overlooking the spectacular Bay of Islands this retreat is guaranteed to make a serious dent in stress levels and deliver priceless memories.


The Suppressor is one of many Weapon Attachments in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. This attachment is a suppressor (sometimes called a silencer) that is added to the end of the weapon's barrel. It will eliminate muzzle flash, reduce noise, prevent the user from showing up on the mini-map, and reduce the range of the weapon. Since Sniper Rifles cannot reduce in range in Call of Duty, the overall damage is reduced.


Flushable toilet cleaner tablet continuously cleans with bleach and deodorizes your bathroom for up to 3 months with a fresh scent.
This toilet bowl drop helps prevent tough stains, including hard water and mineral stains, with the power of Clorox cleaner.
Simply drop tablet into tank to flush away grime - bleach in every flush helps extend the time between deep cleans. When tablet dissolves, it's time to replace it. Does not harm septic tanks.
Ideal for use in restaurants, cafeterias, offices, hotels, daycares and other commercial facilities.
Ideal for use in offices and other commercial facilities.
Clorox® Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner cleans and deodorizes your toilet with the power of Clorox® bleach. The easy to use tablets contain concentrated Clorox® bleach to kill 99.9% of household bacteria with every flush. Each tablet delivers long lasting clean for up to 3 months and repels tough stains like hard water, mineral and limescale. Drop a tablet in the rear right corner of your tank to sanitize, deodorize and clean your toilet. The tablets help keep your toilet bowl water crystal clear and smelling fresh and it helps extend the time between deep cleans. Ideal for use in offices and other commercial facilities. Keep your toilet bowl clean and fresh from day to night with the power of Clorox® Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Application: Bowl Cleaner; Applicable Material: Ceramics; Enamel; Fiberglass; Metal; Plastic; Vinyl; Chemical Compound: 1-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin 51.0%; Dirt Types: Grime; Lime; Mineral Scale; Organic Matter; Rust; Soil; Stains.


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Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Car Leasing
The Mercedes AMG GT Coupe lease is Mercedes answer to the Porsche Panamera Turbo and the most powerful engine you can get from Mercedes. With its 4 litre twin turbo V8 and 639 horsepower, the Mercedes AMG GT Coupe lease is the best option for people wanting speed and agility behind the wheel.
The Mercedes AMG GT Coupe has a gorgeous curved exterior, with frameless windows, thin LED turbo lights, and real exhaust pipes. The models interior is equally as impressive with technology systems including; a large Centre Console featuring a Stop and Start System, Exhaust, Suspension, Gear-box settings, a AMG gear Selection and a Mouse Pad with haptic feedback. The model also includes an Entertainment System with 2 large screen and a Drivers Info Display to name a few.
The Mercedes AMG GT Coupe is highly practical making it more than a sports car. The AMG GT Coupe can fit 339 litres in the boot with increased capacity of 1324 litres by lowering the backseats. With its Alcantara fabric interior and contoured sport seats, the Mercedes AMG GT Coupe is designed for comfort and protection for both bendy and high-speed roads.
In terms of the performance, the Mercedes AMG GT Coupe has rear wheel steering as standard – at lower speeds, the back wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to aid low speed manoeuvre ability. At higher speeds, the wheels move in the same direction as the front wheels for improved high-speed stability. The car also has an active rear spoiler which can raise to 4 active positions depending on how fast the car is going, dynamic engine mounts to decrease vibrations, an active rear differential to send power to which rear wheel has the most grip for optimal corner exiting traction, and the 'drift mode' options to change switch from 4-wheel drive to rear wheel drive.
With its incredible pulling power, great air suspension, sharp and precise steering, not to forget that 4 litre twin turbo V8 engine offering 639 horsepower, Mercedes AMG GT Coupe Leasing is the solution to your fast, but practical dream car.
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Car Lease Deals and Contract Hire Search
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Thank you for taking the time to look through my website. Please take the next step by filling in the form below so we can discuss how I can help showcase the connections you have with your loved ones on your wedding day. I'm located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada but am available worldwide – my passport is always up to date.


Adam Quinlan and Thomas Minns have been named in Hull Kingston Rovers' 19 man squad to face Featherstone Rovers at the weekend.
The news is a timely boost for the Robins in their promotion charge, with Tim Sheens' men currently second in the Qualifiers thanks to three wins from as many games.
Matty Marsh and Liam Salter are the players who have made way for Quinlan and Minns.
Hull KR's 19 man squad is as follows..


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HUKKLE (HICCUP in English) is a Hungarian movie, directed by György Pálfi that made virtually no sense to me - but I loved it. It's artistic, without being artsy-arthouse-bullshit, it's confusing without being pretentious or condescending, and it's simple and minimal without being.. well, without being pretentious artsy bullshit.
It was just extremely fascinating to watch. There is virtually no dialogue in the film, and no main character. The film follows the lives of a bunch of interesting looking people and a bunch of different animals in a small Hungarian village. The various animals and insects play as big a role as the human characters. HUKKLE is very short for a feature film, at only 78 minutes - and it flies by. Visually, it's extremely compelling. As a cinematic experience (well, DVDmatic) it was unique, exciting and um, unique again. I don't know how to explain it.
This film is definitely original, hugely captivating, oddly humorous and, ultimately, a real delight. Just don't ask me to explain what it was about. I recommend it, without being able to say exactly why.
KC 22 August 2010 at 17:34
I've had this flick in my queue for so long. I think you've finally given me a reason to shift it up to the top. It seems like it would fit in with the other things I love for reasons that are a mystery to me--like Brakhage films and Rothko paintings. I guess the mysterious things just continue to give because of their hidden depths.
judit 18 November 2010 at 04:19
Apparently it was about how the women were trying to poison and kill all men in the village using the liquid made from the flowers. Or something like that.
Review was absolutely spot on!


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Trendsetters | Soup for the soul
There are few things more comforting than a hot bowl of soup. Last year, Amy Markman of Virginia Beach followed a long career as a geriatric social worker and volunteer for the city's rescue squad by launching a home-delivery business featuring made-from-scratch bone broths and soups. She's always wanted to make a difference in people's […]
Trendsetters | Bec Feldhaus Adams: For the Love of Local News
Wonder what it's like to debut a journalistic endeavor during a global pandemic? Ask Bec Feldhaus Adams, WHRO's first news director.
Being unsocial | Life at a distance
Yes, this space is typically reserved for pictures of beautiful people attending fancy parties. But the current crisis has changed our world, at least momentarily, so we asked our readers to share some photos of their lives in the time of coronavirus.
Jeremy Maloney | Designing a District
Connections forged between architect Jeremy Maloney and other creative Virginia Beach locals have helped reawaken a once-fading Oceanfront enclave.
What We're Loving | La Brioche, a taste of France
From humble croissants and breads to galette des rois, find authentic European delicacies at a new bakery in Norfolk's Neon District.


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PROJECTORHEAD
Tag Archives: interstellar
Grappling with Legacies, Nolan's 'Interstellar'
Soham Gadre
It was in 1997, on the set of the film Contact that film producer Lynda Ost and theoretical physicist Kip Thorne conceived the idea of doing a film about humans finding a home on another planet. Traversing through the darkest depths of universe in search for survival. It could be seen as a tribute they would pay to Carl Sagan, famous cosmologist and the presenter/writer of Cosmos (1980), who set them up on a blind date years earlier. There are many interesting connections and back-stories that led to the film Interstellar, and all of them contributed to the general fascination over this project. Of course, whenever such a naturally impressive, grand idea is conceived, it attracts filmmakers from all over to the project. Steven Spielberg was the first to express interest, and knowing his deep connection with Stanley Kubrick and his work, Spielberg envisioned Ost and Thorne's treatment as 21st Century's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In a cosmic co-incidence, only a few years later, Spielberg would in fact handle the reins on a project that Kubrick originally envisioned and then insisted, in the face of failing health, that Spielberg fulfill: It was to be known as A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). The development and production of Interstellar would take years, maybe even a decade, and Spielberg knew this.
Once Jonathan Nolan, brother of Christopher Nolan came on board in 2007 to finish a final script based on Ost and Thorne's treatment, the film finally seemed to be reaching fruition. By this time however, Spielberg had moved Dreamworks out of Paramount and into Disney, which meant that Interstellar, a Paramount property, was now without a helmer. Naturally, Jonathon recommended that his brother Christopher take over the film, and by 2010, the latter had Inception out – which was a good item on his CV to demonstrate an ability to handle high-intensity genre-jumping material. He was the perfect candidate.
From 1997 to 2014, the story, its various individual connections and sub-plots that make up the "early life of Interstellar" are almost more interesting than the film itself. When A.I. Artificial Intelligence first released, it met with a very peculiar and unusual critical lack of consensus. It seemed like a strange film (strangeness, in a nice way) and people didn't know what to make out of it. Several critics mentioned how it was such a layered, fascinating project because its creators, (writer Kubrick and director Spielberg) were complete polar opposites – in their general sensibilities, their approach to science fiction and also in their own, exclusive existences as big-name cinema directors. In an encore of this confusion, when I first walked out of the theater after having seen Interstellar, I had a hard time pinning the movie in any particular direction. It tugged in the direction of Kubrick's 2001-level bleakness in 2001 but also Spielberg's sentimentality in A.I. without ever really settling on one. Most significantly though, it also incorporated elements of M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002) and The Village (2004) in which too, humans deceived and lied to each other over matters of protection and survival.
Aside from the obvious similarities with Shyamalan's films in terms of the settings: corn plantation, a small community of suspicious, shifty neighbours – Nolan also frames a number of his shots to underline the contrast between the uber-lit, white, magnesium rod exteriors and the dingy, crowded, brown, wooden interiors of the house in which the main characters live. This distinction between the foreground and the background seems to suggest a heady, false comfort in Nolan, but becomes entrapment in Shyamalan. Besides, the significant narrative turnarounds in The Village: the revelation of an elaborate sham, and a mysterious stalker bogeyman – also find corresponding echoes in Nolan's film.
The film's visuals look incredible in IMAX, and this is one of Zimmer's best scores – but this apart, I am still surprised by how Nolan could make a film with such an intriguing development phase and an interesting premise so traditional. Are we really meant to sit here and pretend that Nolan brothers' idea of 'love' transcending the dimensions doesn't completely dissipate any mystique or terror about black holes? We see Coop dive head first into one to perform his own archaeological expedition and excavate a twist: love is the answer to human survival. Even Spielberg's A.I., which invested itself in the possibility of a mother loving an artificial child, decided to forgo any grand statements or answers to the cosmos, instead ending with the human mother holding her non-human son – a moment exclusive and singular to them. It wasn't about the human race and its relation with the robots, or the universe; it was instead, about this single relationship, with no pretense of universality. But Nolan is not content with Coop and his daughter sharing love across space-time, he has to expand this to include an entire species and an entire galaxy to make a profound statement about the future of the human race, which really ends up being a bunch of baloney. Every brilliant moment of excitement and high-volume thrill that Nolan injected in Inception, every top spinning twist which left us confounded and in ambiguity over our own perceptions of narrative storytelling, was sacrificed here for prophesying and statement-making.
Preserving an equilibrium between the gloom and dark intensity of Kubrick's narratives (the revelation scenes in Interstellar, or in The Village, or the scene where Graham tells Merrill that God doesn't exist and we are all alone in Signs) and the sentimentality of Spielberg (the video exchanges of Coop and his family, the romantic scene on the porch in The Village, and the "swing away" at the end in Signs) must be a very daunting task. It will require a filmmaker to engineer a heady, almost impossible compromise between sentiment and structure – and while Nolan's been trying for a while (almost literally in his latest, where the father looks at his daughter lovingly through a structure) – it is as if he is instead relegating himself to routine and trivial. This may be fine for a filmmaker of lesser repute, but when each successive film promises as much as it does in the case of Nolan, it becomes problematic.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged interstellar, nolan, shyamalan on November 13, 2014 by AM.
Our Private Garden: Damien Manivel's 'Le Parc'
Abbas Kiarostami (1940 – 2016)
A Noise that Deafens: A Review of 'Udta Punjab'
The Berlin Diaries III: Davies' 'A Quiet Passion'
The Berlin Diaries II: Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 'Creepy'
The Berlin Diaries I: Andre Téchiné's 'Being 17'
The Pitfalls of Artistic Remembrance
PH at Ghent: From a Porous City
Chantal Akerman (1950 – 2015)
PH at Berwick: Dreaming of Electric Sheep
PH at Berwick: We'll get there eventually
PH at Berwick: Deconstructing the Monster
PH at Berwick: Desktop Documentaries
PH at Berwick: The Fruits of War
Omar Sharif (1932 – 2015)
Lies and Deception: Alex Garland's 'Ex-Machina'
PH Ticker: Christopher Lee, Jean Gruault, FTII
A Castle Made of Shifting Sand
An Elegy to Orson Welles
PH at Courtisane: An Interview with Basma Alsharif
PH at Courtisane: Thom Andersen's Latest
PH at Courtisane: The Spirit of Rebellion
PH at Courtisane: The Rebels of L.A.
PH at Courtisane: 'Oscar Micheaux's time is now'
PH at Courtisane: Wang Bing's 'Father and Sons'
PH at Courtisane: Ghent, 51.0500° N, 3.7333° E
Manoel de Oliveira: One-Man History of Cinema
The Graduation Ceremony: Anurag Kashyap's 'Ugly'
BIFFES Log II: Living Quietly by a Monochrome Fire
BIFFES, Log I: Enlightenment, Despair, Solidarity
The Real Life
PH Ticker: Farocki, Bacall and Schrader's Struggle
Soar Away
Travelling without Papers
PH Ticker: Gordon Willis, Godard + Other Links
An Ancient Civilisation of Sleaze
The Tyranny of Geometry
The Power of the Text: Tavianis' 'Caesar Must Die'
'Forgetful by Choice' – An Interview with Arup De
PH Ticker: Early Summer, Cannes, The Bard, Links
The Ongoing Saga of Welles' Legacy
Without Luck & Money: Woody Allen's 'Blue Jasmine'
On the Lottery Trail: Alexander Payne's 'Nebraska'
100 Black Coffins
PH Ticker: Alain Resnais, Berlinale 2014, the Oscars
Resnais…
The Cosmetic World: David O'Russell's 'American Hustle'
Only the Lonely: Ashim Ahluwalia's 'Miss Lovely'
The Eternal Ceremony: 'Crime Wave' and 'L.627'
©2014 Projectorhead. All Rights Reserved


Property Location Hotel Sonne is centrally located in Livigno, walking distance from Livigno - Tagliede Gondola and close to Mottolino Gondola. This 4-star hotel is within close proximity of San Rocco Ski Lift and Livigno Ski Area.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 16 guestrooms featuring minibars. Your bed comes with down comforters, and all rooms are furnished with king sofa beds. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries.Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. A spa tub and a sauna offer a relaxing way to wind down after a day on the slopes. Additional amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access, babysitting/childcare (surcharge), and babysitting/childcare.Dining Grab a bite from a snack bar/deli, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Mingle with other guests at a complimentary reception, held on select days. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, luggage storage, and an elevator (lift). Free self parking is available onsite.