Scotland's ski resorts offer the best outdoor skiing and snowboarding in the UK and what better time to visit than during the mid-term break when the kids can enjoy some time on the slopes and practise their skills?
The mountain snowsports resorts are generally busy during the mid-term breaks. This year has seen some fantastic conditions over the last few weeks and more skiers and snowboarders are now planning a winter sports break at home instead of going overseas.
It's quicker to use cash when paying for lift pass, hire, refreshments and more. Credit card machines rely on phone connections and the connection can sometimes be slow, especially in mountain restaurants. Some centres have dedicated cash-only ticket desks.
Most areas advise hiring equipment before arrival and some have information about hire alternatives on their websites. The Lecht, however, offers online equipment booking, which allows those who pre-book equipment to get sliding faster!
Wherever you hire your equipment from, make sure you know your and your kids' height, weight and shoe size – you'll get the gear quicker, and not hold up others.
Aim to arrive as early as possible to ensure you can get parked, and car-share if possible. There are also public bus services from Aviemore to CairnGorm Mountain and Fort William to Nevis Range.
Much of the information you need is on the snowsports section of VisitScotland's website, so check there before phoning the snowsport centres. Check the snow conditions which give up-to-date snow and road reports and webcam photos. There's also a new easy-to-use mobile website if you're checking conditions via smartphone when you're on the move (where it's legal and safe to do so).
To avoid café and restaurant queues, consider eating early or after the main rush is over.
If you're a competent, experienced skier, where and when it's safe to do so, taking to the higher slopes may improve your experience and help to alleviate congestion further down the slopes.


After the L930, now turn Lumia 625H get updates the Windows calculator and application store.
You are on the website page WINDOWS MOBILE PHONE - setting and Upgrade. Calculator and Windows store With the link URL http://hand-uk.blogspot.com/2015/09/calculator-and-windows-store.html for this articles, you can bookmark or share to any. Our expectation that Windows smart phone users, can understand and know about OS Windows phone. Calculator and Windows store Is a link for you, How to use the pure smart phone.


The University Club, like many other buildings in the area, was designed by architect Henry Hornbostel and features a classical-style limestone exterior.
Completed in 1923, the new location of the club settled in Schenley Farms National Historic District after making its move from the original location in downtown Pittsburgh. It moved to Oakland to be closer to the city's college campuses, bringing together graduates who enjoyed literature, art, and other culture.
Hayley Pontia is a student at The University of Pittsburgh who works as a free lancer for Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Through this blog series, she will share her unique perspective on our historic architecture in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh where our museum is located.


text:
Board of Directors: 2018
Dick Huey, Chair bio
Vickie Nauman bio
Emily White bio
Merrill Garbus bio
Thao Nguyen bio
Ryan Chisholm bio
Jean Cook bio
Co-founding emeritus:
Michael Bracy, Walter McDonough, Brian Zisk
Co-Founder & Manager - Whitesmith Entertainment & Readymade Records
(@emwizzle)
Emily White is the co-founder of the New York and Los Angeles management and consulting firm Whitesmith Entertainment. Through White's varied background that spans the music industry, Whitesmith's approach in their work with musicians, comedians and athletes has always been from the artists' perspective while simultaneously taking care of the fans. Before forming the company, White was mentored by Madison House's Mike Luba, developing artists globally from the grass roots on up ranging from The Dresden Dolls to Zac Brown Band. Now with business partner Keri Smith Esguia, Whitesmith has been able to combine their deep industry experience with a modern twist keeping in mind social justice whenever possible. Smith proudly serves on the boards of Ladies of Comedy Association (LOCA), Women, Action and the Media (WAM) and Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) all while managing comedians such as Emmy nominee Kevin Avery, for his work on HBO's Last Week Tonight. White additionally serves on CASH Music's Board and The Grammys Education Committee in New York while working with artists such as Matthew Friedberger and Fox Stevenson.
In 2012, White began managing Olympic gold medalist Anthony Ervin due to her strong personal background in the sport of swimming. Managing Anthony like the rock star he is led to a crowdfunding campaign as White manages athletes in the same manner she has always worked with musicians. Realizing that there was not a vertical in the crowdfunding space specifically servicing sports properly, White co-founded Dreamfuel recently with Justin Kalifowitz, bringing her modern music work to the Sports industry and beyond.
Vickie Nauman
(@vnvnvnvn)
Vickie Nauman is an accomplished and respected digital music executive who specializes in digital media and content strategy, the intersection of technology and music, and global business development. Her diverse digital experience includes starting up and running the US business for 7digital as President, North America, leading the global partnerships for wireless digital music system Sonos, founding consultancy and advisory firm CrossBorderWorks and working on projects in US, Europe and China. She also created the online strategy and service for boutique Seattle music station KEXP, and did content development for one of the first legal digital services MusicNet (RealNetworks JV) in 2001. Prior to her entry into the digital realm, she ran marketing programs and produced live broadcasts in traditional radio in the NPR network and started out at Procter & Gamble. She earned a 2006 MBA from the London School of Economics, New York University, and HEC-Paris, in the collaborative executive program TRIUM.
Merrill Garbus
Musician and songwriter, tUnE-yArDs
(@tuneyards)
Merrill Garbus has performed as tUnE-yArDs since 2009, and that band name has always been synonymous with forward movement—whether because of her explosive performance style or the always-surprising way in which her songs unfold. First gaining notice with the debut BiRd-BrAiNs, which The New York Times called "a confident do-it-yourselfer's opening salvo: a staticky, low-fi, abrasive attention-getter," Garbus forged a reputation as a formidable live presence through relentless touring. In 2011, tUnE-yArDs released its second album, w h o k i l l, a startling and sonically adventurous statement that led to a whirlwind period where Garbus and bassist Nate Brenner accrued accolades from critics (including the #1 spot on the Village Voice's 2011 Pazz and Jop poll), performed in front of increasing numbers of rapturous crowds around the world, and collaborated with such artists as ?uestlove and Yoko Ono. Nikki Nack is the stunning third album by the Oakland-based band. A complex, textured statement that opens with a clarion call to 'Find A New Way' and spends its 13 tracks getting there, it's a showcase of how Garbus's songwriting has blossomed, and a testament to how current technologies can combine with themes from the past—Saturday mornings spent watching Pee-Wee's Playhouse, puppet shows based on Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal, hard days made less so by the refuge provided by top-40 radio—to create something utterly original.
Dick Huey
(@dhuman)
Dick Huey is the founder of Toolshed, a company that provides digital strategy, digital and brand/band marketing, and content acquisition services to entertainment companies and artists, consumer brands, and digital music services. His company is part of a new breed of marketing companies that develop partnerships with select artists. Current and past clients include Merge Records, Beggars Group, Spotify, Red Mountain Resort, and Red Bull. Through Toolshed, Dick has also developed top-level digital strategies for artists such as The Civil Wars, MNDR, Ani DiFranco, Sufjan Stevens, The Arcade Fire, and Aimee Mann. He is a founding new media committee member of A2IM, a past board member representing Matador Records at SoundExchange, and has held advisory board roles at CASH Music, TuneCore, and RoyaltyShare. Prior to his work with Toolshed, he launched and headed the New Media department at the Beggars Group (XL Recordings, 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade) from 1997 to 2001, licensed the Group's groundbreaking digital catalog, and developed the Group's digital strategy. He has managed the careers of several music artists signed to Kill Rock Stars, Simple Machines, Beggars Banquet, and Glitterhouse Records.
Thao Nguyen
(@thaogetstaydown)
Musician and songwriter, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
Thao Nguyen is a musician, songwriter and activist who leads the band Thao & the Get Down Stay Down. Having grown up in Falls Church, VA, Thao first picked up a guitar at the age of 12 and began performing in a pop country duo in high school. She spent most of her 20s touring, supporting one critically acclaimed album after another. She's worked with a laundry list of vaunted artists including Andrew Bird, Mirah, Laura Viers and producer Tucker Martine. She even toured the U.S. with the nationally syndicated NPR radio program "Radiolab." But a little over a year ago, Thao stopped and settled finally in San Francisco. There she spent time establishing a life off the road. That included thinking about things besides music and participating in her community, most notably advocating for those incarcerated in the SF county jail and CA state prison system. At the end of that transformative period, Thao collected her work and stepped into the studio with producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Bill Callahan, Explosions in the Sky, The Walkmen). The result is We the Common, a major step forward from this already-beloved artist. The album is raw and rollicking, homemade and reckless, 12 songs capturing this utterly unique writer and performer like never before.
Ryan Chisholm
(@RyanChisholm)
Ryan Chisholm an artist manager at Nettwerk Music Group, where he represents Christina Perri, Madi Diaz, Good Old War and Giovanni James with his co-manager/partner Tom Gates. Since her debut in 2010, Christina Perri has sold over 1 million albums and 15 million singles worldwide. Good Old War has modestly built themselves to be one of the most active touring bands in America playing over 175 shows in 2012 alone. Indie/Pop Siren Madi Diaz has just released her highly anticipated new album, Phantom on Nettwerk Records. Phantom received over 120,000 album track streams in the first 7 days on Spotify. Giovanni James is the newest addition to Ryan and Tom's roster, signed to Warner Brothers Records in 2014. Along with his role as artist manager, Ryan also serves as an A&R for Nettwerk's label and publishing company. His first signing was Chris Batson, a 22-year old singer-songwriter from Orlando, FL who's recently been covered by BET, Vibe, Complex and MTV Buzzworthy as one of the "artist to watch" in 2014. In 2011, Ryan (along with Rahim Sonawalla and Abe Burns) co-founded Hollywood Hack Day, which is a two-day event that brings together the top developers and designers in Southern California to create the next generation of entertainment based web and mobile applications. Ryan was also named as one of Billboard's 30 under 30 "Young Execs You Need To Watch" and one of IQ Magazine's top 10 "New Bosses" in 2011.
In 2011, Ryan (along with Rahim Sonawalla and Abe Burns) co-founded Hollywood Hack Day, which is a two-day event that brings together the top developers and designers in Southern California to create the next generation of entertainment based web and mobile applications.
Ryan was also named as one of Billboard's 30 under 30 "Young Execs You Need To Watch" and one of IQ Magazine's top 10 "New Bosses" in 2011.
(@janeblue)
Jean Cook is a musician, producer and Program Associate for the Internet Freedom Initiative at the Ford Foundation. From 2005-2015, Jean directed research, education, and advocacy initiatives for Future of Music Coalition. Her portfolio for FMC mapped some significant impacts of emerging digital structures on marginalized segments of the music industry; key areas of work included jazz and classical music metadata, jazz radio playlist composition (and how to improve data collection), and understanding how copyright impacts indigenous artists in places like Ethiopia, Tajikistan and Australia. She served as Interim Executive Director of FMC from 2009-2010. Most recently, she was the co-director of FMC's Artist Revenue Streams research project, assembling one of the broadest and most comprehensive and ambitious existing data sets on US-based musician income. Jean served on the founding Steering Committee for the Cultural Research Network (USA), and is a member of BMI, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, and National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys). As a musician, she has performed on over 75 albums, including two Grammy nominations, and has toured over 700 dates on four continents with various groups including Jon Langford, Beauty Pill, and Ida/Elizabeth Mitchell. Other recent appearances include projects by free jazz artist William Parker, Barbez, and the UK-based band Pulp. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Foundation, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and on New Music USA's Program Council.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Defence Forces Representative Organisations
Ceisteanna (5)
John Brady
5. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the details of the reasoning behind the ongoing refusal to allow members of the Defence Forces to form an association with a union (details supplied). [29077/20]
Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte) (Ceist ar Defence)
Deputy John Brady
I raise the Government's refusal to allow members of the Defence Forces to associate with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. This has been a long-standing request, particularly from PDFORRA, since 1994. Will the Minister outline the rationale for this continued refusal?
Deputy Simon Coveney
I have spoken to Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, on this previously and I am sure that I will do so again. Under the Defence Acts, 1954 to 2015, the permanent Defence Forces representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister.
To compensate for these restrictions, there are a range of statutory redress mechanisms available to serving members, including redress of wrongs, a Defence Forces Ombudsman and a conciliation and arbitration scheme.
In 2017, the European Committee of Social Rights, in a non-binding ruling, found that Ireland was in violation of the European Social Charter in respect of the right to organise, that is to affiliate to certain organisations, and the right to negotiate collective agreements. It found that Ireland was not in violation of the charter in respect of the prohibition of the right of military personnel to strike.
The Government is aware of the long-standing desire of PDFORRA to associate with ICTU. However, association with ICTU poses complex questions for the Defence Forces from a legal, operational and management perspective. It is critically important that Defence Forces operations are not restricted and this is a key concern.
The European Committee of Social Rights, in arriving at its decision, took into an account a statement made in the complaint which claimed that ICTU had stated that "PDFORRA could be affiliated to ICTU with whatever conditions the Government deemed necessary". Defence management, civil and military, have engaged in discussions with the permanent Defence Forces representative associations and ICTU regarding the practicalities of a Defence Forces representative association forming association or affiliation with ICTU. These discussions have encompassed matters of concern to all parties.
PDFORRA subsequently initiated legal proceedings on this matter on 26 June 2020. As this matter is now subject to litigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
This is an issue I would rather was not in court and was not concluded by legal ruling. What we are trying to do in setting up a commission to look at all issues, including pay and structures within the Defence Forces, and the commitment in the programme for Government to set up a separate pay entity to assess pay within the Defence Forces after the initial commission's work is to recognise that serving in the Defence Forces is different to other public sector work. People take an oath to the State, they are the last line of defence for the State and compromises come with that. My job is to ensure that we more than take account of that in the structures that are there to represent Defence Forces personnel properly, whether that be in public sector pay talks or in any other area. I do not have a closed mind in this area but I have real concerns and will continue to speak to PDFORRA and other representative bodies about their concerns.
The Minister will be well aware of how bad things are in the Defence Forces, something which several Members have mentioned earlier. The numbers of members of the Defence Forces who have to rely on the working family payment is a stark illustration of this and for public sector talks to go ahead with no input from members of the Defence Forces is not right. Unfortunately, legal proceedings had to be initiated because of the Government's heel dragging on the issue. It is not a route that anyone would like to go down, particularly members of the Defence Forces or their representative bodies.
Many European states allow members of their defence forces to engage with trade unions and enjoy the right to collective bargaining. It should be no different here. Many of the concerns that have been raised in the past have been addressed by PDFORRA and other representative bodies. Will the Minister outline his concerns? It is a fundamental right to be able to associate with a trade union.
The Deputy mentioned the number of Defence Force personnel that are on the working family payment. I understand there are as many people in my Department on working family payment as there are in the Defence Forces. The payment is calculated based on a range of factors. I do not want there to be an impression that members of the Defence Forces are the only people in the public sector that are on working family payment; that is just not true. Of course, we are looking at pay and conditions in the Defence Forces to try to ensure that it is an attractive career path and we can deal with the recruitment and retention issues that everyone knows has been a problem, but let us not exaggerate for effect, please, because that also has an impact, as I keep saying, on our ability to be able to attract people into the Defence Forces. Every time we talk about the Defence Forces in this House, the questions come up in a very negative light. My job is to be real and to accept problems when they are there. I do, and there are problems which we need to fix, but there are also very positive aspects for people who choose a career in the Defence Forces in what that career path offers.
I do not have a closed mind on this issue but my primary focus is to ensure that the Defence Forces are always there when we need them and that no decision I make can impede the ability of that response that we rely on the Defence Forces for. We need to ensure that concerns are reflected and that there are systems in place to support Defence Forces personnel in that regard.
I find it absurd that the Minister would pit low-paid workers against each other, as though it is some badge of honour that staff in his Department rely on the working family payment. That is shameful and really low. The stark reality is this sector has no input into national pay agreements and must take the agreement or leave it, unlike other workers who are allowed have representatives around the table.
An argument put forward is that it would be completely wrong if members of the Defence Forces, having associated with ICTU, might go on strike. That red herring has been put forward time and again. PDFORRA has stated categorically that it has no intention of doing so and that it would withdraw if there were any concerns on that issue. The European Committee of Social Rights stated that the right to strike is incompatible with military service and PDFORRA completely accepts that argument. From my perspective, and that of the representative bodies, there are no reasons they cannot freely associate with ICTU. The Minister said he is open to it; now is the time to do it.
No one wants to go down the route of taking legal proceedings, but they can be withdrawn if there is a commitment from the Department and the Government to allow the freedom to associate with ICTU. I ask that the Minister make that commitment on the floor of the Dáil.
I am not pitting anyone against anybody. That is not my style. That the Deputy would try to create that narrative reflects his approach to this issue. I am working hard to ensure that everyone in the Defence Forces is understood in terms of the frustrations and challenges he or she faces and that we respond to those financially and from a policy perspective. This is what I am doing to try to ensure that we can attract the numbers and talent we need into the Defence Forces. I am not pitting anyone against anybody. I am simply giving the Deputy the factual position on the working family payment. Unfortunately, he chooses to try to twist that into something else.
It is important to say that representative bodies in the Defence Forces will have representation in this round of pay negotiations. I will ensure that. It does not necessarily mean being affiliated to ICTU, but those bodies will be heard and they will be in the room to make their case. Not only that, but we are setting up a structure separately to the pay negotiations to consider the specifics of serving in the Defence Forces. Not only have we committed to setting up a commission to consider the future of the Defence Forces as well as all of these issues, but we are committing to establishing a pay body specifically to consider the future of Defence Forces personnel's pay and conditions.
Please do not give the impression that we are not trying to prioritise Defence Forces personnel. We absolutely are trying to prioritise them, recognising that they play a unique role in public and national service. I do not have a closed mind on the question of whether their representative bodies being affiliated to ICTU enhances that process but I have not been convinced by the arguments. People have a right to take legal challenges, but the issue that will determine this for me is the question of what is the right thing to do for the Defence Forces and the country in the context of the role the Defence Forces play.
Féach ar Ord Gnó an lae seo


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
<?php

namespace Manager;

use Manager\Exceptions\FileNotFoundException;

class Config implements \ArrayAccess
{
    /**
     * The config file name.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $file = 'config.json';

    /**
     * The config array.
     *
     * @var array
     */
    protected $config;

    /**
     * Opens the config file and stores the data.
     *
     * @param string|null $file
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function __construct($file = null)
    {
        if (! empty($file)) {
            $this->file = $file;
        }

        $file = MANAGER_BASE_DIR."/{$this->file}";

        if (! file_exists($file)) {
            throw new FileNotFoundException("The file {$file} could not be found.");
        }

        $this->config = json_decode(file_get_contents($file), true);
    }

    /**
     * Saves the config file.
     *
     * @return bool
     */
    public function saveConfig()
    {
        $json = json_encode($this->config);
        file_put_contents(MANAGER_BASE_DIR."/{$this->file}",    $json);

        return true;
    }

    /**
     * Sets an offset on the config file.
     *
     * @param mixed $offset
     * @param mixed $value
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function offsetSet($offset, $value)
    {
        if (is_null($offset)) {
            $this->config[] = $value;
        } else {
            $this->config[$offset] = $value;
        }
    }

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     */
    public function offsetExists($offset)
    {
        return isset($this->config[$offset]);
    }

    /**
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     */
    public function offsetUnset($offset)
    {
        unset($this->config[$offset]);
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     * Gets an offset.
     *
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     *
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     */
    public function offsetGet($offset)
    {
        return ($this->offsetExists($offset)) ? $this->config[$offset] : null;
    }
}


ฉันไปที่ดับเบิ้ลทรีอินน์เพื่อฉลองวันเกิดปีที่ 65 ของฉันและเพียงแค่ต้องการเพลิดเพลินกับวันหยุดสุดสัปดาห์ที่เงียบสงบและน่ารื่นรมย์ให้กับตัวเอง! ! ห้องพักนั้นสมบูรณ์แบบและพนักงานทั้งหมดจากโจ Snarr ไปแมนดี้และเลสลี่ก็ไม่น่าเชื่อ! ! ขอบคุณมาก ๆ ! !
Does this Doubletree feature a complimentary breakfast?
Not generally unless you have status as a Hilton Honors Member.
Is there shuttle available from/to the airport? How do you access it and what hours is it available? And where else will it go?
Looking forward to welcoming you to the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City. The shuttle runs from 5a to 1a. We do provide complimentary shuttle around the downtown area, although it is based on availability. As mentioned previously, once you arrival in Salt Lake City and receive your checked luggage, contact the hotel at 801.359.7800 and they will dispatch a van to pick you up; generally between 15-30 minutes and will let you know where the van will be stationed. Have a Great Stay!
Do you have a suite that ajoins to another room?
Do you have balcony rooms? smoking?
Would you store our luggage for the day after we check out? Can we take the shuttle at the later time on the day we check out? Does your shuttle stop by Amtrak Station? Thank you.
This hotel is awesome. I'm sure they'd do all of those things. The shuttle driver is awesome. I'd give them a call.


text:
Best Hilton Worldwide Hotels in The Finger Lakes
See The Finger Lakes Travel Guide »
Popular sub-brands in Hilton Worldwide Hotels
Embassy Suites by Hilton
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa - a DoubleTree by Hilton
Within walking distance of Rochester, New York's, Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester Museum & Science Center and the George Eastman House, The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa – a DoubleTree by Hilton offers contemporary accommodations in a prime location. Guests can enjoy a dip in the indoor pool or a workout in the fitness center. When it's time to eat, there's a trendy, on-site steakhouse serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a Japanese restaurant with a rooftop bar for visitors hoping to take in a view. Additional amenities include a full-service spa (located directly across from the hotel) and several gardens with seating areas. Meanwhile, spacious rooms offer work desks, coffee makers, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi access. Suites add extra living space with seating areas, and some even feature fireplaces and balconies. Recent guests raved about the well-appointed rooms, but a few have noted that the hotel is a popular wedding venue and destination (so beware of noise during the summer months). Hilton Honors members can earn and use points while staying here.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse Destiny USA
Across Hiawatha Boulevard from Destiny USA, a massive shopping and entertainment destination, Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse Destiny USA offers contemporary suite accommodations. Travelers can choose between a variety of suites, all of which include a minifridge, a microwave, a flat-screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Though some recent guests warned the accommodations need better sound-proofing, most of the hotel's past visitors primarily praised the property's location. This hotel sits in Syracuse, New York, and situates guests within driving distance of Syracuse University and Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Free amenities at this Hilton outpost include breakfast, parking, shuttle service (within 6 miles) and an evening reception in the atrium lounge. There is also an indoor pool, a fitness center, a business center and laundry services. Stacks Grilled Cheese & Bar provides the primary source of on-site food and serves an array of grilled cheeses sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Keep in mind, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay here.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Syracuse
East Syracuse, NY
Located in New York's Finger Lakes region, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Syracuse sits about within driving distance of the Museum of Science & Technology, Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Syracuse Hancock International Airport. This Hilton property in East Syracuse, New York, features contemporary decor, two pools (indoor and outdoor), a 24-hour fitness center, event space, a business center, a lobby with a fireplace, a patio and laundry services. Recent guests praise the property's pools, but many of them were not fans of the pricey breakfast buffet. Food options include Seasons Tavern and Bar, a 24-hour snack shop, a convenience store and room service. Accommodations all feature free Wi-Fi access, a flat-screen TV and a minifridge; suites and accessible rooms are also available. Because this hotel is a part of the Hilton family, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay here.
On the south side of Rochester, New York, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Rochester offers contemporary accommodations within driving distance of downtown, off of Interstate 390 and the New York State Thruway. Guests here can take the complimentary shuttle (during available hours) to destinations within 5 miles of the hotel, including the University of Rochester, Blue Cross Arena, The Strong (museum of play) and Greater Rochester International Airport. This Hilton property features a glass-encased atrium with tropical plants and seating, which receives an abundance of praise from recent guests. Other on-site amenities include an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, two restaurants (open all day) and a full bar. What's more, the hotel also has a convenience store, a business center, free parking and laundry service. Renovated in 2015, accommodations include a minifridge, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi access and a bathtub. Upgrade to a suite for a living area and a microwave. Remember, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem rewards points by choosing to stay here.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse situates visitors in East Syracuse, New York. This Hilton property sits within 8 miles of Finger Lakes destinations including Destiny USA, Syracuse University, the Everson Museum of Art, the Erie Canal Museum and Onondaga Lake Park. The hotel features an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, a business center, free parking and an airport shuttle (based on availability). Recent guests particularly praise the hotel's atrium. On-site dining options include complimentary breakfast daily, as well as the Atrium Grille, which serves American fare. There are also occasional complimentary evening receptions and snack shop. The suites at this hotel offer minifridges, microwaves, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi access. Some reviewers say that the accommodations could use a refresh though. Members of the Hilton Honors program should keep in mind that they can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay here.
Hilton Garden Inn Elmira/Corning
The Hilton Garden Inn Elmira/Corning is located a mile from the airport of the same name. A block north of Arnot Mall, this Horseheads, New York, lodging option situates visitors near Mark Twain's Study (7 miles), the city center (12 miles), The Corning Museum of Glass (12 miles) and an array of Finger Lakes wineries (about 20 miles). The Hilton property features an indoor pool, a whirlpool, a fitness center, a 24-hour business center. The hotel also boasts free parking, a convenience store and a patio. Dining options include an American restaurant, a sports bar (with regional wines), evening room service and a 24-hour snack shop (a stay does not include breakfast though). Accommodations include free Wi-Fi access, a minifridge and microwave. According to recent guests, the hotel should be proud of its clean facilities and friendly staff. Keep in mind that members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay here.
Pittsford, NY
Located off Interstate 490 and not far from Interstate 90, in Pittsford, New York, Hilton Garden Inn Rochester/Pittsford provides guests with easy access to Finger Lakes destinations like Eastview Mall, George Eastman the Museum, Locust Hill Golf Course and Rochester Museum & Science Center. The hotel's rooms have free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, minifridges, microwaves and coffee makers. Amenities at this Hilton Garden Inn include a business center, a fitness center and a convenience store (all of which are open 24/7) as well as an indoor swimming pool. The property provides complimentary self-parking and a free airport shuttle service. The on-site restaurant, Garden Grille & Bar, serves breakfast and dinner. The staff here routinely wins praise from recent guests for their friendliness and professionalism. Concerning comfort though, the beds here get mixed reviews from visitors. Because this hotel participates in the Hilton Honors rewards program, the program's members can earn and use points here.
Hilton Garden Inn Rochester/University & Medical Center
The Hilton Garden Inn Rochester/University & Medical Center sits in the Finger Lakes town of Rochester, New York, within a half-mile of the University of Rochester. All of the property's 136 guest rooms feature amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi access, microwaves, minifridges, coffee makers and flat-screen TVs. Plus, visitors can access the hotel's business center, 24-hour sundries market, fitness center and heated indoor pool. Grappa, the hotel's on-site restaurant, offers a modern twist on classic Italian dishes. Recent guests praise the hotel's location, especially for those visiting the college, but many of them also note that outside noise can be an issue at this property. Because this is a Hilton Garden Inn property, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem rewards points while staying here.
Hilton Garden Inn Syracuse
In a quiet suburb of Syracuse, New York, the Hilton Garden Inn Syracuse receives rave reviews from recent guests for its friendly staff and clean rooms and suites. On-site at this Hilton property, visitors can expect an indoor pool, a fitness center, a business center, free parking and laundry services. Standard-style accommodations include free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs, minifridges and microwaves. A handful of recent guests complain that their rooms could use a refresh. To begin their days, guests can eat at the Garden Grille. For lunch dinner, Wild Goose Pub serves seasonal dishes and offers a free bar. Guests also have a snack shop and in-room dining available for them. After making the most of the on-site offering, travelers will find themselves near Syracuse University, Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Destiny USA, Green Lakes State Park and the New York State Fairgrounds. Because of this hotel's family ties, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay here.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Ithaca
Situated off of Highway 13 in Ithaca, New York, Homewood Suites by Hilton Ithaca is 2 miles from Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. The contemporary property offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport and Cornell University, making it a great place for quick college visits. Guest suites at this Hilton property feature full kitchens with refrigerators, dishwashers and microwaves, plus living areas with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi access. Some recent guests mention that the beds can be uncomfortable though. Travelers can start their day with a complimentary hot breakfast, before visiting the fitness center, sports courts or indoor pool. The property hosts evening receptions with drinks and snacks Monday through Thursday. And if there's work to do, the hotel has a business center with free printing. Recent guests rave about the customer service and amenities at this hotel. What's more, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and use points here.
Victor, NY
Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester - Victor is an extended stay hotel near both Interstate 90 and Interstate 490 in the New York's Fingers Lake region. It offers access to vineyards, wineries and ski resorts. The hotel's suites have fully-equipped kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, dishwashers, coffee makers and microwaves. Rooms also have free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs. Amenities include a business center, a convenience store, a fitness center an indoor swimming pool and even a putting green. The property provides a complimentary breakfast buffet and free self-parking and a free shuttle service to and from Rochester International Airport as well as locations within 5 miles of the hotel. This Homewood Suites also hosts social gatherings where it serves food and drinks on Monday through Thursday evenings. The staff here is generally regarded as friendly and helpful by recent guests, but some of them say that this lodging option is difficult to find. Because of this hotel's affiliation with the Hilton brand, Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points here.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Syracuse - Carrier Circle
Located in East Syracuse, New York, Homewood Suites by Hilton Syracuse - Carrier Circle offers guests a base camp in the region. The property sits within 12 miles of downtown Syracuse, the New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse Hancock International Airport and Syracuse University. Recent guests praise this property for its clean accommodations. Studio and one-bedroom suites boast contemporary decor, full kitchens, free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs. On-site amenities at this pet-friendly property include an indoor pool, a fitness center, a business center, free parking and a complimentary airport and area shuttle (available during specific hours). Members of the Hilton Honors program should keep in mind that they can earn and redeem points by choosing to stay at this hotel.
Homewood Suites Syracuse/Liverpool
Liverpool, NY
Situated near both Interstate 90 and Interstate 81, Homewood Suites Syracuse/Liverpool is an extended stay hotel near Destiny USA (a mall), the New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse University and the Carrier Dome. The Finger Lakes hotel's suites, which guests describe as spacious, have kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves, coffee makers and dishwashers. Accommodations also have free Wi-Fi access and TVs. Amenities include a business center, a fitness center and an outdoor swimming pool. The property provides a complimentary breakfast buffet, free self-parking and a free airport shuttle service. It also hosts social gatherings with food and drinks Monday through Thursday evenings. Pets are allowed to stay here for a non-refundable fee. Some recent visitors claim that this lodging option looks outdated and in need of remodeling. Members of the Hilton Honors rewards program should keep in mind that they can earn and redeem points at this Hilton property.
Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Part of the Historic Hotel of America program and located in the Finger Lakes town of Syracuse, New York, Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is near Syracuse University. Guests at this hotel can enjoy a complimentary breakfast daily, digital check-in and a 24-hour fitness center. Each of the 58 guest rooms includes complimentary Wi-Fi access, eco-conscious amenities, a flat-screen TV, a minifridge, a workstation and a walk-in shower. Recent visitors love the beautifully decorated, clean rooms. However, some past guests also note that the hotel, which is on the older side, has creaky floors. Since this is a Hilton property, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem rewards points while staying here.
Tailwater Lodge Altmar, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Altmar, NY
The Tailwater Lodge Altmar, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a boutique hotel located in the tiny town of Altmar, New York. The property has 42 lodge-style guest rooms that are decorated with rustic accents, including wooden headboards, navy accent walls and leather armchairs. In-room amenities include minifridges, flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi access. The Tailwater Bar & Restaurant is the on-site restaurant that is popular with locals and visitors alike, and it serves comfort food for lunch and dinner. Recent guests rave about the restaurant, but recommend making a reservation, as the place books up quickly. Guests can also head to The Tasting Room, which serves beer, wine and spirits on tap noon till evening on the weekends. There's also the 24-hour Marketplace in the lobby that sells snacks and beverages. Other on-site amenities include a library, cooking classes, complimentary board games and free self-parking, though note that pets are not allowed. Guides are also available for guests interested in hiking, hunting and fishing. Guests should note that outdoor activities are available seasonally and depend on the weather. Since this hotel belongs to the Hilton brand, Hilton Honors members can accrue and redeem points by staying here.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester/Greece, NY
As its name implies, Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester/Greece, NY straddles the border between the New York towns of Rochester and Greece near the Finger Lakes. The hotel location puts it near both Greater Rochester International Airport and Rochester's downtown area. Each of the 95 guest suites features a full kitchen, complete with a refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, coffee maker and dining utensils. Accommodations also all include amenities like sofa beds, flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Travelers who stay at this Hilton property can enjoy an indoor pool, a fitness room and a business center. The perks that are available for hungry guests range from a 24-hour sundries market to a free grocery delivery service to complimentary breakfast daily. The property also hosts an evening reception Monday through Thursday. Recent guests agree that this hotel's location is its main draw and that the property itself could use an update. Members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem rewards points while staying at this Homewood Suites.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester/Henrietta
Henrietta, NY
Located off Interstate 390, Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester/Henrietta is near Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. It is also around Finger Lakes attractions like the George Eastman Museum and the Geva Theatre Center. Its all-suite accommodations include kitchens with refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves, dishwashers and coffee makers. Rooms, which are recent travelers consider large and clean, also have free Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs. On-site amenities include a business center, a convenience store, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel provides complimentary breakfast daily and hosts evening receptions with food and drink Monday through Thursday evenings. It also offers free self-parking. Proximity to the highway means some guests report hearing traffic noise. Extensive renovations began here in mid-2018. Because the connection between Hilton and Homewood Suites, members of the Hilton Honors rewards program can earn and redeem points here.
Homewood Suites Rochester Henrietta
Homewood Suites Rochester Henrietta is a 3 star hotel located at 2095 Hylan Dr in The Finger Lakes. It has a 4.0 overall guest rating based on 551 reviews.
Hilton Garden Inn Auburn
Hilton Garden Inn Auburn is within walking distance of the Auburn Public Theater and close to other Finger Lakes destinations such as Waterloo Premium Outlets and the Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum. The hotel's rooms have free Wi-Fi access, minifridges, microwaves, flat-screen TVs and coffee makers. Amenities include a 24-hour business center, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. The Garden Grille serves breakfast and the hotel's other restaurant, Refinery, offers lunch, dinner and cocktails. This Hilton hotel also has an on-site convenience store. The property provides free self-parking and has nearly 5,000 square feet of space for meetings and events. The staff here wins praise for friendly and helpful service, but some recent guests feel this lodging option is overpriced. Keep in mind that this Hilton Garden Inn participates in the Hilton Honors rewards program.
Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca
If you're looking for contemporary accommodations in downtown Ithaca – a 0.5 mile from Cornell University and one block from the Ithaca Commons – the Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca can certainly provide. Visitors looking to get work done can buckle down in the 24-hour business center. Alternatively, travelers hoping to relax can make use of the indoor pool and the fitness center. Guests can grab breakfast at the Garden Grille, while Kilpatrick's Pub serves lunch and dinner on-site. There is also a market with grab-and-go items. The property's modern guest rooms feature flat-screen TVs, work desks, minifridges and microwaves. Suites add separate living areas and have unique perks like whirlpool tubs. Free Wi-Fi access is available in every room, and Hilton Honors members receive added perks. What's more, Hilton Honors members can also earn and redeem perks at this New York state hotel. Recent guests love the property's location and customer service, though a few of them note that room rates can be high during peak season.
Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown
Located near the Genesee River in downtown Rochester, New York, Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown provides easy access to the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, the Geva Theatre Center, Blue Cross Arena and the Finger Lakes. This Hilton Garden Inn, which occupies a building from the 1920s, boasts a unique design and modern decor. Each of the property's 106 well-maintained guest rooms features a sofa bed, a coffee maker, a microwave, a minifridge, a workstation and complimentary Wi-Fi access. As far as food, recent guests say that the breakfast buffet at The Garden Grille is excellent, though some of them think it should be complimentary. For lunch and dinner, visitors should check out Drifters, the hotel's restaurant. There are an on-site pool and a fitness center for visitors hoping to get a workout in as well as a business center for visitors who need to be productive. What's more, members of the Hilton Honors program can earn and redeem rewards points while staying at this property.
Hampton Inn Cortland
Hampton Inn Cortland is a 2.5 star hotel located at 26 River St in The Finger Lakes. It has a 4.5 overall guest rating based on 613 reviews.
Hampton Inn Ithaca
Hampton Inn Ithaca is a 2.5 star hotel located at 337 Elmira Rd in The Finger Lakes. It has a 4.5 overall guest rating based on 776 reviews.
Hampton Inn Geneva
Geneva, NY
Hampton Inn Geneva is a 2.5 star hotel located at 43 Lake St in The Finger Lakes. It has a 4.0 overall guest rating based on 659 reviews.


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411: Port au Prince Portal
April 28, 2010 at 5:05 pm by Brian Hieggelke
by Brian Hieggelke
April 28, 2010 April 28, 2010 Filed under:
Moloch Tropical
This weekend, the "Haiti on Screen" film series will conclude at Northwestern's Block Cinema in Evanston with five films screening between Friday and Saturday. The series, organized by Doris Garraway and Christiane Rey of Northwestern's Department of French and Italian, seeks to show the complexities of Haitian life, past and present, in light of January's devastating earthquake and media coverage of it. "Part of the impetus for using cinema was to counteract the images the media used to portray Haitians as helpless victims," says Garraway. The selected films instead show Haitians as agents of culture—political actors, artists and groups resisting marginalization. Garraway says that the organizers wanted films that covered a range of topics including, history, art, globalization and relations with the U.S. in an effort to "bring forward a view of contemporary Haiti." The films will represent "the diversity of Haiti and show the viewers the complexities and richness of Haitian art, culture, and religion…[as] a thoughtful response to the images of Haitians as only dying victims," Garraway says. On Friday April 30 at 7pm, "Moloch Tropical" by renowned filmmaker Raoul Peck will make its Chicago premiere. The 2009 film depicts a fictional Haitian president amid very real political strife. It was filmed at an eighteenth-century fortress in the north of Haiti, which Garraway says gives viewers a sense of Haiti's geography and cultural history. All screenings are free and will be followed Saturday by a roundtable discussion featuring activists and academics each with particular expertise on an aspect of Haitian culture. (Andrew Rhoades)
Block Cinema
Christiane Rey
Doris Garraway
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Contributor Types Masthead Current Contributors Past Contributors
Amy Gustine
Amy Gustine is the author of the story collection, You Should Pity Us Instead, a 2017 Finalist for the Ohioana Book Award in Fiction and one of The Millions' "Most Anticipated Books of 2016." Her work has also received an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award and Pushcart Prize special mention. Her fiction and essays have appeared in several publications, including The Chicago Tribune's Printers Row Journal, The Kenyon Review, The Michigan Quarterly Review, Tin House, Writer's Digest, and Lit Hub. Keep up with her at www.AmyGustine.com or on Twitter at @AmyGustine.
Interviews | March 01, 2021
Serving the Story: An Interview with Kate Reed Petty
by Amy Gustine
Amy Gustine talks with Kate Reed Petty about the structural features of her new novel, True Story, exploring not just what kind of story she's written, but how she pulled it off.
Amy Gustine, genre-bending, kate reed perry, true story, viking
Chronology Isn't the Only Way: An Interview with Dan Chaon
"I'm very much a second draft person": Dan Chaon and Amy Gustine talk structure, process, and Chaon's new novel, Ill Will.
Amy Gustine, Dan Chaon, Ill Will, random house
Philip Graham
Eric McDowell
Anne Stameshkin


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China celebrates 70 years as Hong Kong braces for unrest
Published Tuesday, October 01, 2019
Crowds took their seats at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Tuesday for a huge military parade to celebrate 70 years of Communist Party rule.
A phalanx of tanks and other military hardware will roll across Tiananmen Square under the gaze of President Xi Jinping, the country's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
New weapons - including a hypersonic drone and an intercontinental ballistic missile whose range encompasses the United States - are expected to make their public debut, according to Paris-based analysts.
"Unity is iron and steel. Unity is a source of strength," Xi said in a speech on Monday evening.
But behind the festivities, a clutch of challenges tests Xi's ability to maintain economic and political stability.
The major challenge is Hong Kong, where pro-democracy protesters hit the streets early in a bid to grab the spotlight from Beijing, with a series of rallies against what they see as the erosion of their special freedoms.
Hong Kong police said they were expecting violence across the city, warning it could be "very, very dangerous", while masked protesters said that "in the face of tyranny, we can only fight as if our last battle".
Officers fanned out across the territory and small pockets of demonstrators marched through the streets, while local officials watched a flag-raising ceremony behind closed doors.


Bahamian heavyweight boxer Sherman "Tank" Williams called it a chance at redemption when he learned of his second opportunity to face New Zealand heavyweight champion Joseph Parker for the WBO Asia-Pacific title.
The 41-year-old Williams (36-13-2, 19 KO) will face the 22-year-old Parker (9-0-0, 8 KO) in the headline bout at the Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, on October 16.
The boxers were originally expected to square off last April in Germany on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko and Alex Leapai bout, however it was called off due to disagreements between Williams and the Klitschko camp.
Williams said he wishes to move on from the ugly incident and is focused on training toward his ultimate goal of taking down the New Zealand's top fighter on his home soil.
Since the original bout was called off, Parker has been busy in the ring with wins over Marcelo Nascimento and Brian Minto.
It will be Williams' first bout since he defeated Earl Ladson in November, 2013.
The 6'4" Parker will have a distinctive reach advantage over the 5'11" Williams, but the veteran fighter says it is something he has grown accustomed to overcoming over the course of his 18-year career.
He noted that this fight will have added incentive after reports surfaced out of the Parker camp in the local New Zealand media questioning the veteran fighter's fight readiness.
"He's an up and coming fighter and I have been there. I pray and hope that he buys into that nonsense and overlooks me. I'm a pro fighter, I'm a pugilist. I like to engage in physical contact, I have no fear at all and if that's what they think then I'm looking forward to it. He's on a good run but he's never gotten hit, never hit by anyone like me and definitely has never been hit by the 'conch punch' so there are still a lot of questions with Parker," Williams said.
"My preparation is all I am concerned with. Working on my strength with my overhand right and countering left. He will look to throw a lot of jabs and sidestep so I know what I will have to do for that. From the little we have seen though, he seems to come out with the amateur mentality, to go all out in the first two or three rounds. He doesn't seem to have the best defence and he throws a lot of looping shots so for the first two rounds I am going to pick off his punches and counter punch.
The undercard will feature Robert "The Butcher" Berridge, Dave "Brown Buttabean" Letele and Nik "The Greek" Charalamous.
Williams will head to Auckland and China, August 23, to engage in a five-day media tour to promote the fight. He then plans to stage one week of his training camp in his native Grand Bahama.
"We are working on the final details to make that a reality and I think it is great for Grand Bahama. International boxing media are looking to fly down for camp and it will be the first time since 1981 that an international camp will be held in Grand Bahama since Trevor Berbick prepared for Muhammad Ali, I was a kid back then and I remember that," Williams said.
Good luck Tank. Go buss him up with the conch punch.


Never ones to shy away from a novelty, the world's first album recorded on an iPad would of course come from the 'virtual band' of cartoon characters, Gorillaz. Recorded over a 32 day tour of North America, The Fall acts as musical diary for a reflective and often road-weary Damon Albarn, as he details touring experiences that range from watching a plastic bag blow down the highway on 'Little Plastic Bags' to witnessing the glorious "pinks and blues of Houston in the sun" on 'The Parish of Space Dust'.
As you would expect from an album recorded using iPad apps, it's jam-packed with programmed effects, beats and layered synths; various instruments such as a Korg, omnichord, guitar and ukulele were added later but tracks also feature the odd crackled snippet of conversation, radio transmissions and of course Albarn's distinctive vocals. The overall effect is beautifully simple.
Although the hip hop influenced beats are still present, this is not an album that sits nicely alongside Demon Days or Plastic Beach, but it's not meant to. Originally released as a Christmas present for fan club members, The Fall doesn't flow like an album; it's a no-frills, take it or leave it collection of creative musical ramblings that ransacks everything America has contributed to music from country to soul. Highlights include; 'The Snake in Dallas', which adds some much need bite to a sometimes overly dreamy album, 'Hillbilly man' and 'Bobby in Phoenix' featuring Bobby Womack. It could do without the yodelling outro, which sounds like a really annoying ringtone that some chump would end up paying £5 a month for.
As the resulting product of a bored Damon Albarn with a shiny new iPad and a few nifty apps at his disposal The Fall is not a bad collection of songs but I think the most interesting thing about this album, when teamed with the numerous albums recorded on Garageband and the like, are the questions that it throws up about the future of music production, the influence of technology on music and, considering how easy it is to record music these days without losing quality, whether we even need studios at all. Discuss.


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Roebling Bridge has spotlight in bicentennial
The 148-year-old Roebling Suspension Bridge has defined much of Covington, perhaps more than other structure in the city.
Roebling Bridge has spotlight in bicentennial The 148-year-old Roebling Suspension Bridge has defined much of Covington, perhaps more than other structure in the city. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/1CNiZ4t
Scott Wartman, swartman@nky.com Published 12:05 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2015 | Updated 12:46 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2015
KY ROEBLING KY MAY 1, 2013 Kentucky Cabinet of Tranportation bridge inspectors Joshua Rogers climbs over the rail atop of the north pier of Roebling Suspension Bridge to rappel down for an inspection. The pier was being inspected after a piece of sandstone fell from it. The bridge was closed until further notice after a manlift also used in the inspection broke down and the inspection could not be completed. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy
COVINGTON – When people in Ohio and Northern Kentucky talk about building bridges, the Ohio River sometimes might seem as wide as the Grand Canyon.
It certainly was so when they first talked about building the region's first and maybe most important connector, the Roebling Suspension Bridge. That fight far predates the Brent Spence Bridge or even Brent Spence himself. (He was born 1874).
But the Roebling is the reason Covington became what it is. It's also why when the bicentennial of the city is celebrated this year, the suspension bridge will take center stage.
It's been 148 years since we first managed to bridge the Ohio River between Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati after decades of debate involving tolls, slavery, business competition and rancor between the states.
The bridge has defined Covington and Cincinnati perhaps more than any other structure in the city. Even New York City sees its influence every day in the Brooklyn Bridge, modeled by architect John A. Roebling after the Suspension Bridge.
"I look at it every day," said Henry Peters, who lives at the base of the bridge in Covington at the Ascent. He is president of the non-profit Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee that paid for the lights and flags on the bridge. "It is one of those things, the more time I spend with the bridge, the more knowledge I learn about it, the more in love I am with what a great icon it is."
Peters and other members of the Suspension Bridge committee hope to have new lights illuminating the bridge's towers by the All-Star game in July when it's played at Great American Ballpark. They also hope to have ESPN shoot live from atop the bridge during the game.
A long hard fight
It's easy to forget how acrimonious the fight to build the Suspension Bridge was. But if you look at the bridge, you can see remnants of this long lost feud. For starters, the bridge doesn't line up with any streets in Cincinnati.
That's because businesses in Ohio didn't want it, fearing it would take away competition, said Northern Kentucky University professor Paul Tenkotte. Kentuckians, however, did want it.
The bridge plays a big part in the book Tenkotte co-authored, "Gateway City, Covington, Kentucky, 1815-2015," which will be released at Covington's Bicentennial Gala at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center on Feb. 7.
"What the bridge gave Covington and Cincinnati was 24-hour-a-day, seven days a week connections that they never had before," Tenkotte said. "If you wanted to attend entertainment and enjoy the nightlife in Cincinnati, you would have to worry whether it would let out in time so you could get a ferry back. Otherwise you'd have to get a hotel."
If you lived in Kentucky prior to Dec. 1, 1866 when the Suspension Bridge opened to pedestrians, you had to take a ferry to get to work or go to a show in Cincinnati. If you came back too late or the river was down or choked with ice, tough, you were stranded, said Tenkotte, who also co-authored the Northern Kentucky Encyclopedia.
Ferry operators also opposed the bridge's construction. Realtors on the Cincinnati side feared Cincinnati property would lose value and clout if access to Kentucky was improved, Tenkotte said. Slavery also became an issue because Kentucky was a slave-holding state while Ohio was free. The city of Cincinnati might have had legal concerns if escaped slaves used the bridge and landed on public property, he added.
The fears of Cincinnati merchants weren't entirely unfounded. Covington's population rose quickly after the bridge's construction. At the time of the bridge's construction, Covington only had 16,000 residents compared to Cincinnati's 161,000, according to U.S. Census figures. Within a little over 30 years of the bridge's completion, Covington's population shot up to 42,000 by 1900.
Tolls never popular
Tolls paid for the bridge. Much like today, many people in Victorian America detested tolls.
As contentious as the protests are against tolls now, at least no one got shot. That wasn't the case on an April afternoon in Covington in 1895 when state senator and future governor William Goebel, made the political quite tangible to one Covington businessman.
Goebel had led a charge to abolish tolls. He had engaged in a nasty war of editorials in the newspapers with pro-toll Covington merchant John Sanford. The two encountered each other in the streets of Covington on April 11, 1895, according to an article from the National Endowment for the Arts' magazine Humanities. After the two exchanged words, Sanford drew a pistol and fired, grazing Goebel. Goebel drew his gun and shot Sanford in the forehead, killing him instantly.
Five years later, an assassin killed Goebel four days after he took office as governor. Though theories abound, the identity of the assassin remains a mystery.
And for all the rhetoric and gun play, the government still counted on tolls to pay for roads and bridges up until after World War II.
The Suspension Bridge remained tolled even longer, until 1963, when the Brent Spence Bridge opened.
While five other bridges span the Ohio between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, they don't inspire the fascination that the Suspension Bridge does.
The amount of walkers and motorists on such an old bridge recently surprised New York photographer R. Glenn Alexander. He visited the Suspension Bridge in 2013 to take photos for his book, "America's Greatest Suspension Bridges, A Photographic Essay."
"I just sort of got the sense that people took a lot of pride in the bridge," Alexander said. "It is highly used. One thing I liked about that bridge is that I was able to get familiar with it by walking across it. I realized how many other people used it as a pedestrian bridge to get from one side of the river to the other."
Timeline of Covington history
1788: Cincinnati founded
1789: A ferry is established on the Ohio between Cincinnati and the land that later became Covington.
1792: First house built in what would become Covington. The log cabin was on W. 9th Street between Russell and Banklick.
1814: John and Richard Gano and Thomas Carneal buy a 150-acre farm known as the Point that would, in a year, become Covington.
Feb. 1815: Covington incorporated as a city.
1815: Carneal finishes building the first brick house in Covington. Known as the Carneal House, it still stands in the 400-block of E. Second Street.
1820s: Talk begins about building a bridge between Cincinnati and Covington.
1832: Cholera epidemic puts a damper on Covington's semicentennial celebration of the largest pioneer raid into Ohio
1856: Construction on the Roebling Suspension Bridge begins
Sept. 1862: Confederate Army considers invading Northern Kentucky. Union militia dug a 14-mile ring of rifle pits in Covington. The show of force convinced Confederate Gen. Henry Heth to turn around after a two-week standoff.
Dec. 1, 1866: Pedestrians walk on the Suspension Bridge for the first time. Reports estimate 166,000 people crossed the bridge that weekend.
1906-1909: Covington increases its size by annexing Central Covington, Latonia and West Covington. By 1910, Covington's population increased to 53,000.
1910: Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption completed in midtown.
1910: William P. and Charles P. Devou donate 500 acres to the City of Covington in memory of their parents. It becomes Devou Park.
1913: Covington's only professional baseball team, the Covington Blue Sox, begins its three-year existence in the Federal League. The Blue Sox fold when the Federal League closed in 1916.
1963: Brent Spence Bridge completed.
1967: The federal government opens the Internal Revenue Service office that employs thousands in downtown Covington.
1990: First phase begins of the first major skyscrapers in Covington, the 19-story Rivercenter I Tower.
2007: One of the region's more recognizable landmarks, the 22-story Ascent condominium complex, is completed.
2015: Covington plans a year-long bicentennial celebration
Sources: The Encyclopedia of Northern Kentucky by Paul Tenkotte and James Claypool, and "Gateway City: Covington, Kentucky 1815-2015," by Paul Tenkotte, James Claypool and Dave E. Schroeder.
Covington Bicentennial Celebration this weekend:
Incorporated on Feb. 8, 1815, the City of Covington will celebrate it's 200th birthday next weekend with three days of events.
Friday, Feb. 6.
The celebration will begin Friday, Feb. 6, in the old Hellman Lumber Building at 321 W. 12th Street. The Center for Great Neighborhoods will host the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Ragtime Party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Ragtime Band will perform.
Saturday, Feb. 7
On Saturday, Covington will host its marquee bicentennial celebration. The COV200 Bicentennial Gala and Birthday Bash at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The gala will feature live music and presentations on Covington history. It will run from 6:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. For $125, celebrants get a cocktail hour with live music from the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the Red Cat Jazz Band and will get dinner with live music from band the Chuck Taylors.
The gala will feature include the recognition of Covington's long-standing businesses, oldest resident, upcoming special events, the announcement of the COV200 Bicentennial legacy project, and more
Portions of the proceeds benefit Covington Partners, a youth development organization.
The Bicentennial Birthday Bash, also at the convention center, is free and open to the public, ages 21 and up. It will run from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and will feature a cash bar, DJ, games and more.
The birthday bash is free but requires advance registration.
Sunday, Feb. 8
The birthday weekend will conclude with the premier of the Covington documentary, "Points of View: Covington and 200." Free screenings will be hosted throughout the city including the Behringer-Crawford Museum (2 p.m.), Baker Hunt (noon), Prince of Peace Montessori (6 p.m.), Madison Avenue Church (7 p.m.), the Covington branch of the Kenton County Library (1 p.m.), and the Arlinghaus House (4 p.m). Copies of the film will also be available for purchase.
For more information on The COV200 Bicentennial Birthday Celebration Weekend, visit www.cov200.com or contact Kate Esarey, COV200 Coordinator, at kate@greatneighborhoods.org.
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Discussion FS: 2000 Bootleg Bundle, 2009 & 2010 Complete Bootleg Boxsets, etc.
FS: 2000 Bootleg Bundle, 2009 & 2010 Complete Bootleg Boxsets, etc.
I need to unload a few things. Downsizing dramatically. I'll pay for US shipping. International buyers I'll pay first $20, you're responsible for the rest. Cash only, no trades. Also not looking to split up. If you want to work out splitting up amongst other interested parties, cool, but I transact with one person. Paypal only and please add 3% to cover the fees.
All items are in excellent shape unless otherwise described. I can send pics if you provide me an email address via PM. Make offers if you'd like but I feel these aren't bad prices.
We'll start with that and see how we do. Posters and shirts coming next.
Great deals. I can't go in on the Vault Bundle as I have one of those already, and cash is a little tight but that is a great price.
Updated with Vault CD's sold. Also adding that 3% to cover PayPal fees.
I really wish I could buy back the vault vinyls! great prices!!!
Anybody need vault 4&5 only?? I need 3 & 6.....buy them and split them up??
This guy's packaging/shipping skills are top notch. I am still in awe from opening up the vinyl i bought from him.
Vault CDs arrived in perfect condition. Buy with confidence!
Open to offers. Still do not want to split up the 2000 or 2003 boots. Better deal for a combo of anything that is left.
Vault vinyl bundle arrived safe and sound in Sweden - right in time for Christmas. What a great gift for myself!
Everything packed carefully and goods exactly as described. Couldn' be happier!
interested in those 2003 boots, I sent you a PM as well. Still unloading them?
Updated with what's been sold. If you want the rest of the bootleg bundles How about $450 plus 3% shipped in US. $550 plus 3% for what's left. Remember that Super Deluxe is a monster and will cost to ship.
Nice catch on that. You're right....it's actually the 2008 box set of 13 shows. My bad! Putting this on hold until I verify what's in those boxes.
Thanks for making me look closer at that!
No problem, I am still in search of the 09 box. Please let me know if you have that. It does NOT need to be a complete set. Thank you my friend.
So it appears I have most of 2009 and a few 2010 shows in a 2010 box. I'll list the shows when I get a chance.


text:
High-Resolution fMRI of the Human Medial Temporal Lobe
I'm interested in the functional architecture of the human medial temporal lobe. Thus, I investigate which brain regions and networks are involved in specific memory processes. For example, how our brain can manage to separate very similar experiences without confusing them in memory. On the other hand, brain systems are differentially involved in the processing of different stimulus material – such as objects and scenes. Memory for objects and scenes partly relies on different networks in the medial temporal lobe. In order to be able to investigate those networks and processes in detail, I use high-resolution functional MRI at 7T to analyze the differential involvement as well as the differential connectivity profile of memory related subregions in young and healthy adults. I believe that high-resolution fMRI at 7 Tesla will also have a big impact on research in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, I'm part of the European Ultrahigh-Field Imaging Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EUFIND) where we explore the potential of Ultrahigh-field MRI methods for research in neurodegenerative diseases.
Berron et al. 2016. Strong Evidence for Pattern Separation in Human Dentate Gyrus. The Journal of Neuroscience.
Maass*, Berron* et al. 2015. Functional subdivisions of the human entorhinal cortex. eLife.
Koster, R., Chadwick, MJ., Chen, Y., Berron, D., Banino, A., Düzel, E., Hassabis, D., Kumaran, D. 2018. Big-loop recurrence within the hippocampal system supports integration of information across episodes. Neuron.
Object and Scene Memory in Ageing and Early Alzheimer's Disease
In the medial temporal lobe there are domain-specific pathways that support different types of memory. While the perirhinal cortex and the anterolateral entorhinal cortex are more involved in memory for objects, the parahippocampal cortex and the posterior-medial entorhinal cortex are preferentially associated with memory for spatial scenes. The same is true for cortical regions in the anterior-temporal and the posterior medial system, respectively. Interestingly, these networks overlap with Alzheimer's pathology in different disease stages. Thus, I use fMRI in combination with behavioral testing and PET as well as CSF biomarkers in my research to further our understanding of early impairment of cognition and memory pathways.
Berron et al. 2018. Age-related functional changes in domain-specific medial temporal lobe pathways. Neurobiology of Aging.
Berron et al. 2019. Higher CSF tau levels are related to hippocampal hyperactivity and object mnemonic discrimination in older adults. The Journal of Neuroscience.
Berron et al. 2020. Medial Temporal Lobe Connectivity and its Associations with Cognition in Early Alzheimer's disease. Brain.
Digital biomarkers to track vulnerable cognitive functions in preclinical Alzheimer's disease
Much of my work focuses on memory functions that are early affected in the course of Alzheimer's disease and I use brain imaging to develop memory tasks that specifically rely on brain regions that are early affected by Alzheimer's disease pathology. On the other hand, memory performance shows quite some variability across individuals which makes it difficult to rely on a single test session. Thus, we have translated our memory tasks into smartphone-based assessments which allow for repeated, longitudinal testing of specific memory functions in a remote and unsupervised setting. Recent results from a Citizen Science project within Germany highlight the feasibility and potential of such approaches. Using these techniques, I investigate individual trajectories of memory decline in early stages of Alzheimer's disease using biomarkers for AD pathology based on positron emission tomography (PET), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood plasma. Following my goal to translate our research findings into society, I have co-founded the university spin-off neotiv, where we develop a digital platform including a mobile app to bring remote, unsupervised cognitive testing into research and health care.
Berron, D. und Düzel, E.: "Digitales Monitoring von spezifischen kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen in der frühen Alzheimer-Erkrankung"; in Jessen, F., Bug, C. (Hrsg.): "Disease Interception", eRelation Verlag, Bonn, 2019, S. 79-91 (in german language only, non peer-reviewed)
Manual Segmentation of Subregions in the Medial Temporal Lobe
Subregions in the medial temporal lobe are heavily involved in human episodic memory. Recent research showed that subregions are differentially involved in specific memory processes and functions. In order to assess structure-function relationships between the volume and thickness of MTL subregions on one side and specific memory functions on the other, but also to investigate their specific activity profile, it is necessary to have anatomical masks with regions of interest. Therefore, we developed a manual segmentation protocol for MTL subregions together with colleagues from the DZNE in Magdeburg and collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania and the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle. However, in order to be able to better interpret research on MTL subregions across studies, I'm part of the Steering Committee of the Hippocampal Subfields Group to harmonize segmentation protocols across research labs.
Berron*, Vieweg* et al. 2017. A protocol for manual segmentation of medial temporal lobe subregions in 7Tesla MRI. Neuroimage Clinical.
De Flores R*, Berron D* et al. 2019. Characterization of hippocampal subfields using ex vivo MRI and histology data: lessons for in vivo segmentation. Hippocampus.
Wisse LEM, Chételat G, Daugherty A, de Flores R, Mueller S, Stark CEL, Wang L, Yushkevich P, Berron D, Raz N, Bakker A, Olsen R, Carr V. 2020. Hippocampal subfield volumetry from structural isotropic 1mm3 MRI scans: A note of caution. Human Brain Mapping.
Wisse LEM, Daugherty AM, Olsen RK, Berron D et al. 2016. A harmonized segmentation protocol for hippocampal and parahippocampal subregions: Why do we need one and what are the key goals? Hippocampus.


This week a throwback video post called "How To Draw Celtic Trinity Knot" from a few weeks ago about how to draw an interlacing geometric pattern which is inspired by the lacing patterns found in Celtic Cultures. The pattern is based on an underlying 3 fold symmetry. I've added some shading to give the pattern some depth. Hope you like the tutorial.
Very pretty ! But can be explained in more detail for novice like us thanks.
Hi Vasanti. I'll see what I can do.


Not much larger than a shoebox and weighing just 4kg it is very compact and produces a clean crisp sound from its powerful 30W amplifier. The inbuilt battery will provide several hours of use away from mains power. Alternatively the unit may be powered from the mains by the AC/DC adapter provided. Three versions are available. All models include the same amplifier, power supply, battery and charging circuit. The amplifier includes a 6.35mm mic input plus 3.5mm auxiliary input, both with volume controls. Tone and master volumes are also provided.
UHF & MP3 Model: Includes UHF receiver (520-544MHz) plus an additional MP3 player which accepts both USB stick or SD card. Provision for an additional UHF module.
Includes plugpack for mains operation.


Over 50000 pages are listed in this category provide FREE listing in a user friendly and search engine friendly way. If you want to list your company on the top listing of the page soho art galleries click on GET LISTED NOW for paid listing.
One of Sydney New South Wales most popular galleries, Soho Gallery features a diverse mix of Australian established artists. Many mediums shown, and site now growing as an international art directory.
Welcome to Soho Galleries, Australia's finest private gallery showcasing a selection of emerging and established australian artists.
Have you been downtown to Soho lately?
Art Galleries in New York City are listed on this page. Art galleries featuring fine art graphic art art galleries in Soho and in Brooklyn.
Art museums around the world, a web index.


text:
Oh What A Tangled Web!
Posted on September 13, 2004 by Edward Hugh
Whilst noting that the EU Commission is trying to gently nudge Turkey on the criminalisation of adultery issue – European Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori told a Brussels news conference that the proposed law "could trigger confusion and damage the perception in the European Union of Turkey's reform efforts" – this post is not an attempt to re-open the useful and interesting exchange of views that took place around a previous post.
What I would like to do today is focus on another dimension of the same problem – the Turkish state's relations with its own Kurdish minority – and how this relationship could become increasingly complicated depending on how the internal stability of Iraq evolves.
The pretext for this post is a very interesting guest editorial on Juan Cole's Informed Comment earlier today. The topic of the editorial (by specialist writer Eden Naby): the plight of Iraq's Assyrian Christians.
Now this might seem fairly orthogonal to the question of Turkey accession, were it not for the fact that this minority is only one of several in the region in question, and the region in question is – of course – the Kurdish zone of Iraq.
It is unusual for information from Christian villages to filter outside the area currently under military and political pressure from the Kurdish Democratic Party. Kurds are barring Western journalists from entering villages like Dayrabun ("Monastary of the Bishop") which are not in any danger zone, but are being denied resettlement by their Christian inhabitants (reported by Thiry August, a Belgian who tried to visit the Faysh Khabour area this summer). The KDP is determined to expand its control as far to the west and south as possible into areas now inhabited by ChaldoAssyrians. Under the Transitional Administrative Law, so favorable to Kurds, the objects of Western sympathy and funds, any territory in the three provinces adjoining Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaymaniya (Ninawa, Tamim [Kirkuk] and Diyala) that Kurds can show they controlled on March 19, 2003 (prior to the invasion), may become part of the Kurdish controlled region in northern Iraq (TAL, Article 53A).
This provision allows Kurds to create "facts on the ground" in the Mosul and Kirkuk areas in particular, at the expense of unarmed ethnic and religious minorities – to wit – the Christians of Iraq, the Yezidis, the Shabat, and the Turkomens. The advantages of controlling Kirkuk are well known. But the Mosul area, now the scene of fierce attacks on Christians and Turkomens, are less well recognized.
The whole editorial is interesting and illuminating, and is well worth reading in its entirety. But two points seem to spring from the page: firstly, the details of the hurriedly-agreed-to Transitional Administrative Law turn out to be pretty damn important (more on this in another post perhaps), and, secondly, the mentioning of one minority in particular, the Turkomens, something which should set off alarm bells somewhere.
Now it is impossible to draw up any credible definitive scenario for the future evolution of Iraq post January's elections. Yesterday's events among others should clearly underline that the situation is far from stable and under control (as indeed should Allawi's admission in interviews today that there are places where voting may well not be possible for security reasons, just how many these will actually turn out to be remains to be seen). However it is clear that there are a number of possible scenarios, and one amongst these whose possibility has to be seriously taken into account in any forward planning would be that of a disintegration of the state along ethnic/religious lines. This is of course only one among several (none of them looking especially appetising) alternatives. But the possibility exists (and with it the equally awesome possibility of Baghdad, incorporating as it does the Shiite Sadr city, being turned into a grotesque rerun of Beirut or Sarajevo).
The question is, what would Turkey do in the event of this nightmare becoming reality? Well one strong possibility would seem to be to send troops into the Kurdish zone. And what, you may well ask, would be the explanation offered for any such intevention – perhaps now you see where I am going with all this – well certainly not the supression of the elemental democratic rights of the Kurds. No, a far more likely explanation would be the the protection of the Turkomen population from some sort of ethnic cleansing.
The troubling problem is that this might be more than just a pretext. The danger, at least if we accept the kind of information which Eden Naby and others are offering, is that this threat could become a real one. Hence I arrive, by a rather circuitous route, to the conclusion that, apart from the human rights element which is obvious, the EU has a direct pragmatic reason for getting itself involved now – by informing itself, voicing its opinions, putting pressure – concerning what may, or may not, be going on in the Kurdish zone.
In conclusion I would like to point out that it is not my purpose here to single out for condemnation the long-suffering Kurds. What I think we should by now be well able to see, whether it be from evidence in Bosnia, Chechenya, Kosovo or Afghanistan, is that being the victim of oppression doesn't turn you into a Saint. More likely it precipitates desires for revenge and retaliatory action which, in an exploding circle of violence, have the potential to get seriously out of hand. This much at least we should have been able to learn.
Update: Following up on the links in Eden Naby's article I found this piece from Patrick Cockburn in the Independent about the recent fighting in Tal Afar, which seems to illustrate my point perfectly:
The Americans claim that Tal Afar is a hub for militants smuggling fighters and arms into Iraq from nearby Syria. Turkish officials make clear in private they believe that the Kurds, the main ally of the US in northern Iraq, have managed to get US troops involved on their side in the simmering ethnic conflict between Kurds and Turkmen.
"The Iraqi government forces with the Americans are mainly Kurdish," complained one Turkmen source. A Turkish official simply referred to the Iraqi military units involved in the attack on Tal Afar as "peshmerga", the name traditionally given to Kurdish fighters.
This entry was posted in A Fistful Of Euros, Europe and the world, Not Europe, Transition and accession and tagged christians, eden naby, ethnicity, Europe and the world, kirkuk, kurdish, kurdish zone, minority, Not Europe, region, the kurdish, the kurdish zone, Transition and accession, turkey, turkish, turkomens by Edward Hugh. Bookmark the permalink.
10 thoughts on "Oh What A Tangled Web!"
DoDo on September 13, 2004 at 9:49 pm said:
"In conclusion I would like to point out that it is not my purpose here to single out for condemnation the long-suffering Kurds."
That can be awoided easily: by not talking about 'the Kurds', but about 'the Peshmergas', or 'armed members of PUK, KDP, and some smaller groups', or some similar formulation.
As for your main issue, I have to admit Iraq is an explosive issue for Turkey's domestic developments. AFAIK Turkey is already in Iraq, against a marginalised Kongra-Gel (ex PKK) that thought this is the time to stir the pot again, but fighting the main Iraqi Kurdish militias might just be what gets support for the Kongra-Gel up in Turkey – and given the role played by the Turkish military in the Cyprus issue, I can't dismiss the possibility of willful [domestic] escalation by that side either.
So maybe the EU can have (and definitely should try to have) a tempering effect, but the main problem is beyond its influence – and Iraq's American overlords show a frightening pattern of doing wrong everything that can be done wrong, with Najaf and Tal Afar the latest examples. I wonder, could a President Kerry be explained what's the problem? (I'm not optimistic.)
Gary Gunnels on September 14, 2004 at 9:01 am said:
There was a great program on PBS about the oil pipeline set to run through Turkey and how the Kurds might through a "spanner" in the works (it also dealt generally with the problems faced by Georgia and Azerbaijan as well).
Here's the
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/extremeoil/
I was reminded of how Baku played a central role at the close of WWI and through Russian Civil War as a point of interest for many parties who wanted to control its oil wealth.
Given how bad the Soviets were at exploiting oil, I'm curious how well preserved the oil fields in the Caspian, etc. are.
Edward on September 14, 2004 at 10:43 am said:
Point taken. But doesn't this simply illustrate the problem. Just what role will these groups have in the Kurdish zone in even a 'most positive outcome' federal Iraq state, or the Sadr militias in the South, or extremist terrorists (as opposed to moderate nationalists) in Chechenya, or the UCK in Kossovo etc etc.
I am suggesting that there is a pretty delicate dynamic involved here, and that this seems to be a problem which needs addressing, and solutions need to be found. As you suggest, to date we are not going about this in a way which suggests we are learning any lessons.
aegean disclosure on September 14, 2004 at 2:25 pm said:
A Turkomen representative was pleading on Turkish NTV, a few days ago, for the US government to stop attacks on Tal Afar and that no one in Tal Afar were harboring terrorists. The next day he said he felt vindicated because after the bombings, US forces and Iraqi police came into the town and did door to door searches, found nothing and received no enemy fire in the process. He said "its clear whoever told the Americans had a different agenda."
Meanwhile, foreign minister Gul said that the situation makes Turkish position in Iraq difficult. By the "Turkish position" he was referring to the hundreds of Turkish companies working in Iraq and the US' Incirilik air base which is currently providing logistic support. He said if unwarranted attacks on the Turkomen continue, Turkey would have to pull out its companies and restrict US' ability to use Incirlik. He said he got word from Powell that such operations would in fact stop.
I think the Turkish government knows any military action into Iraq would be a fiasco, and it knows the consternation it would recieve from the international community. Most are wary of Turkey using minorities as an excuse for strategic military action (ie Cyprus)…
Hektor Bim on September 14, 2004 at 3:40 pm said:
I think the most important thing the EU could do would be to put out a unanimous statement that lack of a deal on Cyprus and/or Turkish occupation or troops in Iraq would scupper any chances of Turkish accession to the EU.
I, however, have no confidence that the EU has the backbone to make such a statement. It is far more likely that they will mutter about Islam and adultery and dither, solving none of the problems.
I would also want to make a comparitive statement.
The reason the Kurdish political class is getting more hardline is that they are feeling pressure from Kurdish society. That pressure is arising because the average Kurdish man on the street has no confidence that the US and UK won't turn over Iraq to another murderous autocrat (possibly Iyad Alawi) or to a bunch of religious fundamentalists (Moktada Al-Sadr and even Al-Sistani on a bad day), either of which would be very bad for the Kurdish people. And let's not fool ourselves – bad for the Kurdish people means mass graves and massacres. Meanwhile, Turkey is threatening to invade should the Kurds even keep their substantial autonomy, and might impose an economic blockade like the one it is using to strangle Armenia, who they seem to feel hasn't suffered enough at the hands of the Turks.
The longer the uncertainty remains, the more the hardliners will gain power, especially since the moderates have nothing to show for their moderation.
A similar dynamic is occuring in Kosovo, where the only people to materially improve the situation of the Albanian supermajority are the hardliners. Rugova did civil disobedience for eight years, and nobody cared, while the Serbs systematically purged Albanians from all the institutions and good jobs. But a little rebellion, and suddenly Kosovo is de facto independent.
Then of course, the good bureaucrats in the EU and UN begin to stall, saying there needs to be a development of structures and local self-government, but meanwhile let's leave the status of independence because it could upset people. But this limbo means that there is no economic investment and no international recognition, so everything is in limbo. Of course, if the hardliners burn down a few homes of Serbs, then suddenly the EU, US, and UN start paying attention again.
The only way to give moderate political forces power is to give them something for their moderation. That's what we need to do for the Kurds, by enforcing the TAL or giving them their own regional government enshrined in the law, and we need to do the same thing for Kosovo, because there is no chance of the 90% Albanian majority living under Serbia again.
Frankly, we don't need the Turks nearly as much as they need us, and it is probably about time we started acting that way.
This reminds me of someting. One of the conditions for the various Baltic states to join the EU was the signing of peace treaties with other countries and provision of minority rights.
Since Turkey is occupying Cyprus, blockading the border with Armenia, threatening to invade Iraq, and has recently threatened to go to war with both Greece and Syria, is this provision going to be used with Turkey?
Doug on September 14, 2004 at 5:39 pm said:
The provision on the Baltics went the way of numerous EU directives, promulgated but not enforced. It's one of the more rarified Brussels arts, I'm led to understand. In this case, however, there was a good reason. Requiring signed and ratified peace treaties before accession made the accession process hostage to the hardliners in the Russian Duma. Giving Moscow a veto on EU decisions was not what anyone in Brussels had in mind, and the thing was quietly dropped.
And to the extent that anyone on the outside pays attention to Cyprus, the last thing they will have heard is that the Greek Cypriots scuppered the last deal; it's hard to hold that against Turkey.
Anyway, effective EU involvement in any internal Iraqi matter will require politicians to pull their heads out of the sand, where EU policy on Iraq seems still to be made. Public interest wouldn't hurt, but with the only thing on Iraq I see in German media is "the Americans are screwing the pooch," I wouldn't hold out hope for a policy that articulates, let alone pursues, European interests.
Europe hasn't had an Iraq policy for the better part of a decade, why start now?
c on September 15, 2004 at 2:03 am said:
But the Americans are screwing the pooch and there is not much we can do about it until they leave. And there was an Iraq policy for the better part of a decade. Do nothing. Something which is a very sensable
Eden Naby on October 17, 2004 at 4:54 am said:
Early Saturday morning (10/16) the ChaldoAssyrians of Iraq awoke to another set of coordinated bombings of churches – five – all in Baghdad. With the Kurds pressuring towns like Alqosh to accept inclusion into KDP territory, families being given the choice of converting to Sunni or Shi'a but to Islam none-the-less or suffer the consequences, and Christian teenaged boys being pulled off their bikes and beheaded in Mosul, it is easy to see why Ramadan is a time of fear for non-Muslims. What has become of the holy and the sacred in the Muslim dominant countries is a threat not just to Christians but to moderate, secular and tolerant Muslims as well. As ChaldoAssyrians search for safe areas where they might live in Iraq, they are faced with forced conversion – seems like a bad Hollywood B movie – or moving back into the villages in the north from which they were driven by the Baathists. But Kurdish population expansion, whether coming in from neighboring countries or from Iraq itself, continues to be a real barrier to such sanctuary in ChaldoAssyrian ancestral villages. And now, as we see the much maligned and unprotected Yezidis being jailed for resisting the closing of the door to Arabic at universities within Kurdish control, the face of victims making victims becomes more real than ever.
The large and often divided Christian diaspora from Middle Eastern countries sees the situation in Iraq as the bellweather for what could happen in the entire region, and is beginning to raise its voice to stem the ethnic cleansing of the last viable Aramaic speaking people of the world.
This oldest continuously spoken and written language of the Middle East, now endangered through the threat to ChaldoAssyrians, deserves support from all, including Muslim intellectuals and spiritual leaders. Sane voices need to be raised to protect the ChaldoAssyrians. No people should be faced with the choice of denying their faith or being exterminated. Not in the 21st century. They must have a safe haven, as the Transitional Administrative Law has promised, in the Nineveh Plains. Those who are stranded in Athens, Damascus, Qamishly and Amman must be enabled to return to their ancestral villages in northern Iraq. ChaldoAssyrians cannot be punished to be forever scattered because they are Christian.