The German Mint’s 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall took home the best Circulating Coin Award at the 2021 Coin of the Year Awards. The coin, dated 2019, commemorates the opening of the Berlin Wall, which took place on November 9, 1989.
China won the Best Gold Coin Category in the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The category honors coins manufactured from gold, platinum, palladium or another exotic precious metal, which have all-around artistic appeal, both from aesthetic and a commercial standpoint. The 2021 COTY
The Austrian Mint’s 100 Euro, “Magic of Gold: The Gold of Mesopotamia,” was named the “Most Historically Significant Coin” at the 2021 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The category recognizes coins commemorating events, institutions or individuals deemed highly significant in terms of the historical
The U.S. Mint’s Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Five Ounce Silver Coin was named Coin of the Year at the 2020 Krause Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The coin also won the Best Silver Coin and Best Contemporary Event Coin categories. The COTY Awards program,
The Austrian Mint won the “Best Gold Coin” category at 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards for its 50 Euro honoring Alfred Adler. The winning coin, dated 2018, is part of a three-coin series that celebrates the pioneering schools of psychotherapy. The other coins in
Australia’s Perth Mint won the “Most Inspirational” coin category at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The award-winning coin, dated 2018, commemorates the end of World War I. World War I caused widespread devastation across Europe, killing millions of civilians. The four-year conflict
Lithuania won the “Most Innovative” category at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The award-winning coin is actually a four-coin set commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence. The set, dated 2018, includes one gold and three silver coins, which are
Latvia’s Honey Coin was named Coin of the Year at the 2020 Krause Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The awards ceremony was held on February 1, 2020, in conjunction with the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. “The impact of bees on both our
The Mint of Austria won the “best circulating coin” category at the 2020 COTY Awards for its 2 Euro commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Austrian Republic. The bi-metallic coin, dated 2018, celebrates the Austrian Republic centenary, which took place during waning
The Austrian Mint won the “Best Bi-Metallic Coin” category in the 2020 Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). Anthropocene, the 2018 edition of the mint’s popular Silver Niobium coins, artistically depicts the large footprint that humans have on left on our planet. As described by
Royal Australian Mint’s $5 Earth & Beyond – Curved Earth coin took home the “Best Crown Coin” at the 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The spectacular coin, dated 2018, features a full-color convex surface, which was a first for the Australian Mint. The Curved
The Lithuanian Mint’s Rasos Svente 5 Euro was voted the “Best Silver Coin” at the 2020 Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning colored coin, dated 2018, commemorates Joninės (or Rasos), a midsummer celebration that is held in Lithuania on the night of June 23rd every
Italy’s 70th Anniversary of the Italian Constitution 5 Euro won the “Best Contemporary Event Coin” category at 2020 Coin of the Year (COTY) Awards. The coin, dated 2019, includes a female representation of Italia, wearing a cloak featuring the colors of the country’s flag. The Best
A French coin commemorating the end of World War I is in the running for the 2020 Coin of the Year award. The Monnaie De Paris’ 2018 FR France Silver €10 Great War Colorized (Peoples’ Jubilation) won the COTY’s Most Historically Significant category. The category
Three countries took home more than one Krause Coin of the Year Category Award for coins dated 2018. Austria was the big winner with three coins, Lithuania and Australia won with two coins each. For the first time in the history of the award, half
Coins of the Abbasid Governors of Tabaristan exist today in large numbers because they were used by merchants on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that spanned more than 7,000 miles from Constantinople to China. The Kingdom of Tabaristan, located in modern-day northern Iran,
The Umayyad dinar was the first coin to articulate the Islamic Faith. The first one was believed to have been struck in the year 77 of Hijra ( 696/7AD) in time for the pilgrimage season so that every Muslim could take home a statement of
Jesus Christ first appeared on Roman coins during the reign of Justinian II. He ruled the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine Empire) from 685 to 695 A.D. and again from 705 to 711 A.D. Reign of Justinian II Justinian II first ruled the Roman Empire alongside
Roman Emperor Justinian I, Justinian the Great, ruled the Byzantine Empire from 527 A.D. to 565 A.D. Among his many accomplishments, Justinian codified all existing Roman laws in what would be known as the Codex Justinianus. Of particular interest to numismatists, Justinian eliminated pagan imagery from Roman coinage in the East.
Saint Helena was the wife of the Roman emperor Constantius I and the mother of the emperor Constantine the Great. Due to her significant influence during his reign, Constantine minted coins with her name, titles and portrait. Influence of Helena Helena was married to Constantine’s
Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor of Rome. Nonetheless, many of the coins issued during his reign still incorporated pagan designs. Reign of Constantine Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, ruled the Roman Empire from AD 306 and 337. He rose
Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, served as the Emperor of Rome from 180 to 192 A.D. During his reign, he came to associate himself with Hercules, minting coins of himself wearing the Greek hero’s trademark lion-skin headdress. Decline of the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius served as the emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 A.D. His 19-year reign was marked by military conflict and a series of disasters, including a plague that devastated Rome. Despite these challenges, the coins he minted reflect military victories and a quest
The Shekel of Tyre was the official Jewish Temple sanctuary coin. It was also one of the most widely circulated coins during the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Tyre, a port city of ancient Phoenicia, was a center of commerce in the ancient world.
Many of the Roman prefects of the province of Judea issued their own coinage. Because of his connection to Jesus Christ, the prutah of Pontius Pilot are among the most coveted. Pilate’s Rule Over Judea Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect (or governor) of Judaea
The Denarius of the Emperor Tiberius, commonly referred to as the “Tribute Penny,” was referenced by Jesus Christ in the Bible. As written in Mark 12:17, Jesus referenced the denarius when asked about paying taxes to the Romans. He held up the coin and said: “render unto Caesar
Lucius Cornelius Sulla, often referred to simply as “Sulla,” has the honor of being the first living person depicted on Roman coin. Sulla also played a significant role in the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of its empire under Julius Caesar. The
Unlike other ancient civilizations, little remains of Carthage. There are few works of art, literature, or architecture to tell the story of the Carthaginians. Some coins exist, although they are expensive when they come up for auction. Coins bearing a horse or local flora and
Under Alexander the Great, the silver tetradrachm was the most widely-circulated coin. As Alexander built his empire, it was used to pay tribute, as well as mercenaries. After Alexander’s death, the kingdoms that had been under his rule continued to mint the coins bearing his
During the second half of the fifth century, the abundant silver mines of nearby Laurium allowed Athens to produce millions of tetradrachms. The silver coins helped fund the Golden Age of Athens, during which the military, politics, and culture of the ancient Greek civilization flourished. Golden
Philip II ruled the Kingdom of Macedon from 359-336 B.C. Though far less well-known than his son, Alexander the Great, King Phillip started the expansion of the Macedonian Kingdom into an empire. He is also remembered for his gold Staters, although most are thought to
A silver or gold coin that might have circulated to pay for troops and supplies during the first Persian invasion of Greece between 492 BC and 490BC represents this important period of the history of western civilization. The invasion ended in failure for the Persians
The gold Stater of Croesus was the world’s first gold coin. It features a bull and a lion facing one another. Art was now used to adorn the surface of coins to identify the coin with the coin producer. Lydia’s King Croesus King Croesus reigned
The Lydian striated Stater is the first attempt in western civilization at assigning value to small pieces of metal in order to facilitate trade. These small electrum (a mixture of gold and silver) coins are the first “coins” made around 660 BC. Within 60 years,
Mauritania’s tri-metallic 20 Ouguiya coin (KM-15) was named the “Best Circulating Coin” at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The coin, dated 2017, gave Mauritania’s its first COTY award to date. Struck by the Monnaie de Paris (French Mint), the standard
The Republic of Palau’s Great Micromosaic Passion – Birth of Venus coin was named the “Most Innovative” at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) in Berlin. The coin, dated 2017, is the first in the groundbreaking “Great Micromosaic Passion” series. The $20
The Cook Islands won the “Best Crown Coin” Category at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY) ceremony in Berlin. The silver 5 Dollar Red Dawn coin, dated 2017, is part of the Scarab Collection, which celebrates the scarab of ancient Egypt. Millions of
The South African Mint won the “Best Contemporary Event Coin” category for the 2017 Heart Transplant (KM-619) 2 Rand coin. The coin marks the 50th anniversary of the first successful human-to-human heart transplant. It was performed on December 3, 1967, by a team of approximately
The Austrian Mint took home the honors for the Most Historically Significant Coinat the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning 20 Euro coin (KM-3269), dated 2017, marks the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Minted as a commemorative in proof
The Monnaie de Paris won the Best Bi-Metallic Coin at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The award-winning two Euro coin, dated 2017, commemorates the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, which is the global symbol of the Fight against Breast Cancer.
The Austrian Mint won the Most Artistic Coin Category at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning 50 Euro honoring Sigmund Freud, dated 2017, is part of a three-coin series celebrating the pioneering schools of psychotherapy. The other coins in the
The U.S. Mint took home “Best Gold Coin” honors at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin, dated 2017, features a modern interpretation of Lady Liberty. It commemorates the founding of the United States Mint
The U.S. Mint’s Boy’s Town Centennial silver dollar won “Most Inspirational Coin” for coins dated 2017 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). The winning commemorative silver dollar coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of Boys Town, an organization dedicated to helping children. A century
The Monnaie de Paris took home the top prize at the 2019 Krause Coin of the Year Awards (COTY). Its French Excellence Guy Savoy coin won “Best Silver Coin” and “Coin of the Year” for coins dated 2017. The coin is part of the French Excellence
New York City’s Whitney Museum of American Art is holding its Biennial now through September 22, 2019. It features 75 artists and collectives working in painting, sculpture, installation, film and video, photography, performance, and sound. The Whitney Biennial is the longest-running survey of American art,
Sculptor and coin designer Joaquin Jimenez received the 2019 Lifetime Achievement in Coin Design Award at the Thirty-Sixth Annual Coin of the Year Awards Ceremony, which was held in February. It was not his only big win — Jimenez designed the 50 Euro French Excellence
The 2016 was the first time the United States won the Krause Coin of the Year award in twelve years. The United States Baseball Hall of Fame cupped clad half dollar, KM#576, won “most innovative” and was selected by the judges as the Coin of
Easton Press produces the highest quality collectible and limited edition books. Its 21-volume set of Charles Dickens’ classics is no exception. The books are all beautifully bound in full genuine leather and accented with 22-karat gold. Charles Dickens is one of England’s most famous novelists
Poland’s 10 zlotych silver coin (Y.902) was named the “Most Inspirational Coin” in the 2016 Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The award-winning silver coin, dated 2014, honors the birth of Jan Karski, who smuggled Holocaust evidence to the Allies in a hollow key. The
Latvia’s Baltic Way five-Euro coin (KM161) was named the “Best Contemporary” coin in Krause’s Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2014. The coin commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way demonstration that brought together citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. As described
The Austrian Mint’s Judith II 50 Euro gold coin was named the “Most Artistic Coin” dated 2014 in Krause’s Coin of the Year Awards. The award-winning gold coin is the third in the Mint’s Klimt and his Women series, which honors the work of Gustav
Canada’s 20-dollar “Maple Canopy—Autumn Allure”(KM#1759) silver coin won the “Best Crown” category for coins dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards presented at the World Money Show in Berlin in 2016. The award-winning coin was the fourth and final issue from the
Great Britain won “Best Circulating” Coin dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for its bimetallic 2-pound featuring the iconic depiction of Lord Kitchener on a World War I recruiting poster (KM# 1279). This was the first coin in a five-year series marking the outbreak of
Germany’s 10-euro silver coin commemorating the 300th anniversary of Daniel Fahrenheit’s invention of the mercury thermometer (KM#332 & #332a) was named the “Most Historically Significant Coin” in the Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2014. The award honors coins commemorating historic events that
Austria’s 25-euro silver and niobium coin (KM#3227), which highlights the science of evolution, won best “Bi-Metallic Coin” for coins dated 2014 in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. Part of the Austrian Mint’s Silver Niobium series, the stunning coin, which is dated 2014, is
Austria’s 20 Euro commemorating the fall of the Iron Curtain won the Krause Coin of the Year Award in the “Best Silver” category for coins dated 2014. The coin marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of a free, peaceful and united Europe. As described
Finland was a big winner for Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. It took home two honors, one of which was “Best Bi-Metallic Coin.” The 5-euro coin, KM-225, depicts a Lapland reindeer and features a bi-metallic copper-nickel center with an aluminum-bronze ring.
In addition to taking home top honors for its Baseball cupped clad half dollar, the U.S. Mint’s Baseball gold $5 coin (KM# 578) was named “Best Gold Coin” in the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2014. Both coins are part of the 2014
PS Audio is a leader in AC power regeneration, making it a top choice among audiophiles. Earlier this year, the company released a new line of power regenerators designed to provide squeaky clean AC. Power Conditioners vs Power Regenerators There is a big difference between
Dr. Dean Kotlowski is the newest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). A professor of History at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, Kotlowski will serve as the CCAC’s historian for the next four years. Established in 2003, the CCAC advises the Secretary of the
The U.S. Mint recently named Joseph Menna as its Chief Engraver. Menna, who has worked for the Mint for 14 years, is a talented artist, his work earning him numerous Krause Publications’ Coin of the Year awards in various categories. He will now oversee the design development aspects
Finland’s 10 euro (KM-226) marking the 70th anniversary of peace after World War II won “Best Silver” Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2015. Finland also took home an award for its 5 Euro Lapland reindeer coin (KM-224), which was named the “Best
The Japan Mint won the “Best Contemporary Event” category for Krause’s Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2015. The gold 10,000 yen, (Y.248), dated 2015, is the third in a series commemorating the Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction. The Great East Japan earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011.
Italy won in the “Most Artistic” category and Coin of the Year for coins dated 2015 with the 10 Euro, silver, 70 Years of Peace, KM387. The obverse and reverse of the coin was designed by Maria Grazia Colaneri. Ms. Colaneri received the distinction of
Britain’s Winston Churchill 2015 Brilliant Uncirculated £5 (KM-1298) coin won “Best Crown” for coins dated that year in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The Royal Mint released the coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Churchill’s death. With the release of the 2015
Austria’s 100 euro Capercaille (KM#3246) was named the Best Gold Coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. The stunning coin is part of the Austrian Mint’s Wildlife in our Sights series, which celebrates the diversity of Europe’s native wildlife
The Cook Islands’ $2 Space–Time Continuum coin (KM#1693) was named the “Most Innovative” coin dated 2015 by the international panel of judges in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The revolutionary coin features a magnetic sphere at its center, which can be removed. The
Canada took home the honors for the most historically significant coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2015. The $20 silver Canada, In Flanders Field, KM#1860 coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lt. Col.
The U.S. Mint won the “Most Inspirational” coin category for 2015 dated coins in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for the USA March of Dimes $1 KM#604 silver dollar. The coin commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Salk polio vaccine. The reverse design
The United States Mint won “Best Circulating Coin” for its America the Beautiful Program quarter honoring Kisatchie National Forest. The USA Kitsache 25 cent KM#598 was the Mint’s second win in the 2017 Krause Coin of the Year Awards. In 2010, the United States Mint
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) has two new members, both of whom were sworn in on November 14, 2018. Samuel H. Gill will represent the interests of the general public, replacing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar whose appointment expired. Robin Salmon, who is specially qualified in medallic art and
The United States Mint launched the first coin pursuant to the American Innovation $1 Coin Act (H.R. 770). This is the beginning of a 14-year dollar coin series that recognizes American innovation, commemorating innovation and innovators from each state, each U.S. territory, and the District
The Royal Canadian Mint won the Krause Coin of the Year Award’s Most Inspirational Coin category for coins dated 2016 with a $20 silver coin honoring Mother Earth. Designed by artist Alexandra Lefort, the coin features a 3D droplet with an inset full-color image of Earth, conveying
The Republic of Latvia’s 5 Euro silver “National Entrepreneur” was named the most artistic coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for coins dated 2016. The multi-faceted coin features a QR code, highlighting that it is possible to combine the art of the
China’s bi-metallic “Year of the monkey” 10 Yuan coin won the Best Circulating category in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for 2016 dated coins. In addition to the stunning design, the coin features new security features. The commemorative circulating 10-yuan coins are legal tender of
Australia won the Best Silver Coin in the Krause Coin of the Year Awards for its 2016 $5 silver “Northern Sky Cassiopeia” dome-shaped coin. It is the first of a three-coin series featuring the Northern Sky constellations. It was designed by B. King. The Australia Mint’s previously
In a somewhat surprising selection, the Krause Coin of the Year judges selected France’s Joan of Arc coin as the “Most Historically Significant Coin.” The 200 Euro gold coin is the third issue in the multi-year Women of France series, which pays tribute to three
At the Krause Coin of the Year Awards, Austria won in the Best Bi-Metallic Coin category for coins dated 2016 with its 25 Euro niobium silver depiction of “Time.” The latest addition to the Austria Mint’s award-winning series uses its two-tone niobium core and outer silver
As the world awaits the judging for the 2017 dated coins, we continue our review of the 2016 dated coins that won each category of the Krause Coin of the Year Awards. The awards for these coins were presented at the World Money Show in
It was no surprise that Germany’s 5 Euro “Planet Earth” would win the Most Innovative category and go on to win the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2016. The polymer ring is a revolutionary product that not only serves as an anti-counterfeiting
2016 and 2017 were years of seemingly endless controversy, but the international panel of Krause Coin of the Year judges preferred non-controversial commemorative topics to win the best contemporary event and most historical categories for coins dated 2016. Switzerland’s 20 Euro commemorative for the Gottardo
When the U.S. Mint makes a mistake, coin collectors often rejoice. Rare 1943 bronze cents are a stellar example, intriguing numismatists ever since 16-year-old Don Lutes Jr. found one in change from his school cafeteria in 1947. According to coin experts, there are 17 confirmed
The Normans: From Raiders to Kings, by Lars Brownworth, Crux Publishing, 2014 While William the Conqueror is found in most history books, many do not know the Normans conquered as far as Italy. In his book, The Normans: From Raiders to Kings, Lars Brownworth tells
Marijuana legalization is a controversial topic on both the state and federal level. While there is no shortage of opinions on the topic, there aren’t a lot of facts. Thankfully, that could soon change with the introduction of the Marijuana Data Collection Act. The federal
Drobo is known for providing simple yet safe data storage solutions. You don’t need any advanced technical knowledge to use it, but it is powerful and secure enough for small businesses. Data stored on the Drobo will be almost impossible to lose. The technology of
How could the same company that makes the Maestro M9 even consider releasing an amplifier to go with it as noisy as the Director D2800? After installing the 8 channel Director D2800 in my rack to deliver the music signal from the Maestro M9 to
Collectors love a good mistake. The Krause nominators made a whopper of a mistake and no one in the broader panel of judges caught it. In fact, the coin received the plurality of votes to win the category of best crown. The winner of the
Athelstan: The Making of England by Tom Holland is an excellent short biography of the first king of a unified England. The book is part of the Penguin Monarchs series, which offers expert accounts of England’s rulers in a short, highly readable format. As vividly detailed in the
The OPPO 205 is the best CD/DVD/Blu Ray player on the market with a high-end DAC chip. Unfortunately, OPPO Digital is discontinuing its line of high-end Blu-ray players and headphones. The OPPO UDP-205 Ultra HD is an audiophile’s dream machine, having received numerous great reviews and
Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life by Robert Dallek opens a window into the President’s mind and psychological profile of this ambitious man who used his family name and privilege to its best advantage. There are many good biographies of FDR, but none portray him as much
As New Jersey begins to talk about marijuana legalization, the value of hemp should not be overlooked. Hemp and marijuana are both from the species cannabis. However, because hemp contains nearly no delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it can’t be used as a psychoactive drug. Rather, it has
If you own a smartphone, digital camera, tablet or similar device, you’ve probably been asked to conduct a firmware update. You’ve likely also wondered what is it and why is it necessary? In basic terms, firmware is software that is embedded in a piece of hardware,
Apple recently unveiled iOS 12 at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2018. Now, the question is whether the new software version is truly revolutionary or whether Apple is becoming too complicated? Apple continues to unveil new versions of its iPad and iPhone software. While each
A collection of 18 Native American portrait galvanos sold for a total of $64,560 at Heritage Auction’s recent Long Beach Expo. The works are widely regarded as Edward Warren Sawyer’s most significant contributions to medallic art. Sawyer trained with Hermon Atkins MacNeil, who designed the Standing
Last November, during the Presidential election, was the time to express concern for the ideological makeup of the United States Supreme Court for this generation Not now. It is too late. When America voted for Donald Trump as President, they may or may not have
A gold coin believed to be carried around by President George Washington is headed to auction this summer. In August, the 1792 Washington President gold eagle will be auctioned without reserve at the American Numismatic Association’s annual World’s Fair of Money Convention in Philadelphia. According
The engineers at DJM Electronics did it again! The GigaFOILv4 inline filter for Ethernet noise dramatically improves upon the original GigaFOIL and delivers a lower noise floor for digital music transmitted through an ethernet cable that anyone, even the staunchest of anti-tweakers and the hearing
Illinois is the latest state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. While this is certainly notable progress, it may not help the amendment become part of the U.S. Constitution. The Equal Rights Amendment, which was first presented to the states for ratification in 1972, contained
Geer Steyn became the fifty seventh recipient of the J. Sanford Saltus Award for excellence in medallic art at the biannual conference of the International Art Medal Federation (FIDEM) in Ottawa, Ontario on May 29, 2018. Donald Scarinci, Chairman of the Saltus Award Committee of
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) is currently accepting applications for new members. The CCAC was created in 2003 by Congress under Public Law 108-15. Its role is to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and designs of all U.S. coins and medals. The
Congress is currently considering the “Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2017.” The coins would be minted in 2020. As the name suggests, the bill calls for the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the landing
Notwithstanding the popularity of e-books and recorded books, the death of paperback and hardcover books has been greatly exaggerated. Many people prefer books for Kindle and iPad. Why not? You can carry your entire library with you and electronic books take no space in your
1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed, by Eric Cline, Princeton University Press 2014 What is the most important date in history? Eric Cline selects the date, 1177 B.C. and shows how civilization collapsed. He offers an intriguing look how the advances of civilization up to
While many of the country’s founding fathers practiced law, until the 20th Century, a law degree was not required to do so. Neither Alexander Hamilton or Franklin Delano Roosevelt had university law degree. Alexander Hamilton will finally get one — Albany Law School plans to
AXPONA continues to be the “go to” event for audiophiles. The largest high-end audio show in North America, was held April 13-15, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Every year, the show has expanded due to demand, and 2018 was the largest AXPONA
A rare 1787 New York Brasher Doubloon was recently sold for more than $5 million. The transaction, which was brokered by Heritage Auctions, sets one of the highest prices ever reported for an American coin. The Brasher Doubloon is one of the rarest and most historical of
There are new remasters of the Rolling Stones album collection, but no current remaster is as good as the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs box set released in 1984. If you want the best sounding stereo versions of the Rolling Stones hit albums, the Mobile Fidelity
David J. Ryder is now the new Director of the U.S. Mint after being confirmed by the Senate on March 21, 2018. The Mint has not had a permanent director since Edmund C. Moy left it in January 2011. Long-Standing Vacancy at U.S. Mint Ryder
What should have been an obverse coin design depicting women empowered in the fight against breast cancer instead became a design of women who are angry and in protest. There is a subtle difference in expression between power and anger. Unfortunately, the US Mint got
President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt remains one of the most popular and influential politicians to ever hold the country’s highest office. While his life and political career are chronicled in countless books, Edmund Morris’s Theodore Roosevelt Trilogy, which includes “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt,” “Theodore Rex,”
Trip Advisor announced last week that Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos Islands is the Number One Best Beach in the world. The announcement came along with the release of the list of best beaches in the Trip Advisor annual Travelers’ Choice awards. According to TripAdvisor,
There is never an excuse for bad grammar, but does it warrant a $5 Million Dollar legal settlement? A Maine dairy company recently agreed to settle an overtime lawsuit for $5 million, and the lack of an Oxford comma was at the heart of the
Don Everhart, retired Lead Sculptor at the United States Mint, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Coin design at the World Money Fair in Berlin on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Everhart created more than 100 coins and medals for the United States during his
Germany won the 2018 Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2016. The winner is the 5 Euro silver “Planet Earth” coin with the new polymer ring technology. The coin was designed by Stefan Klein. An easy win in the Most Innovative category,
The Turks & Caicos Islands are open for winter tourists, rebounding quickly after being ravaged by two hurricanes last fall. The island chain’s resorts reported a strong holiday season of nearly 90 percent occupancy and strong first quarter bookings. This is great news given the
Last week, after years of prodding by members of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the collector community, the United States Mint finally announced a medal program. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a bullion sales program and is likely to do more to
The 2017 Brookgreen Medal was designed by Heidi Wastweet. Her unique design features the first square-shaped medal in the series. The prestigious Brookgreen Gardens medals collection is now one of only two series of American Art medals that exists. It follows the tradition of other
Sometimes Silicon Valley would rather push the boundaries of “coolness” than provide a more functional upgrade to an important every day product. That is what happened at Apple with the introduction of the iPhone X. Touted as “the future of the iPhone,” Apple’s attempt to
The U.S. Supreme Court returned to full strength in 2017 with the nomination of Justice Neil Gorsuch. He was sworn in on April 10, 2017, despite a Democratic filibuster. As expected, Justice Gorsuch has voted very conservatively since joining the bench. The Trump Administration has
There are thousands of books about the U.S. Supreme Court, each trying to offer a different take on the country’s highest court. “Table for 9: Supreme Court Food Traditions & Recipes” is one of the few books that actually succeeds at doing so. In her
Mary Beard’s latest book, “SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,” explores the early history of Rome by using a flashback technique. The reader is grounded in the period of Roman history that they are most likely to know—the time of Julius Caesar—so they can wander
Tom Uram has been elected to the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Board of Governors for the 2017-19 election term. Uram is also a member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and President of the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN). Uram was sworn-in to his new
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) recently approved designs for a Congressional Gold Medal to collectively honor to the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The medal will be awarded “in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.”
As the Vikings conquered most of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of the British Islands circa 800 AD, only Wessex survived. It’s king, Alfred, fled his capital to take refuge in a swamp and regroup his surviving troops. Perhaps there, in that swap, Alfred conceived one, united
The Turk & Caicos Islands got hit with the one-two punch of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In good news for both tourists and T&C businesses, the recovery efforts have proceeded quickly in most areas. The majority of restaurants and resorts will be open for the
Now that it looks certain that the United States Mint will soon have a properly appointed Director for the first time since George W. Bush’s nominee, Ed Moy, was sworn in as the 38th Director of the United States Mint on September 5, 2006, the
Author and Hall of Fame basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the latest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). While many Americans know him as an author or as an NBA legend, the coin collector community knows him as a collector of 1850 to
Krause publications added Michael Chou to the group of nominators for the Krause Coin of the Year Award for coins dated 2016. Michael joined Cliff Mishler, George Cuhaj and myself to supplement Krause’s knowledgeable staff of prominent numismatists when the group gathered in Iola, Wisconson
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with the flooding rains of Harvey and the destructive winds of Irma. Not surprisingly, Puerto Rico is still reeling several weeks after the nearly category five storm passed directly over the island. The United States has been hit hard during
There is a difference between a power strip and a surge protector. A power strip operates like an extension cord, while a surge protector protects your equipment from sudden spikes in the power coming from the street. If all you need is an extension cord,
Through the perspective of Oswulf the Englishman, “1066” provides a unique and compelling look into of the Norman conquest of England. If you are looking for an introduction to this period in history, this is the perfect book. The narrator, a monk, takes the reader
Titles 1 through 22 are quarter leather editions. Titles 23 through 50 are full leather bound editions. Raised bands on spine with gilt lettering. Gilt page edges and cover design. Ribbon page marker. Marble design endpapers. Some titles may vary depending on availability at the
When hurricanes hit the United States, they are major news events; but when they destroy Caribbean nations, even online Internet news about them is scarce. In the Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma, at least 14 people have died, with the death toll rising as
Donald Trump is not the first President to be involved in thorny constitutional issues. However, his Presidency may very well stem the tide or even reverse the trend toward the imperial presidency that began in the 19th Century and accelerated during the progressive era and
A contingent of state and federal officials recently gained entrance into the famed vaults at Fort Knox, prompting one politician to describe the experience as “seeing a leprechaun on a unicorn.” It was the first time that the United States Bullion Depository, which holds $186
The Easton Press Library of the Presidents is a set of 82 volumes, including biographies on 43 U.S. Presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush. Each collector’s edition is elegantly leather bound, decorated in gilt, with silk end papers and placement ribbons. The Easton
As law students prepare for their first day of law school, the Short and Happy Guide series should be on everyone’s book shopping list. The series of easy to read books provides concise summaries of law in each major area. The books are great for
Gryphon Editions publishes nicely bound library editions of important legal classics. The publisher offers a subscription that entitles the buyer to obtain one volume a month. Some of the titles in the series are books that every lawyer must read. Unfortunately, finding a complete list
Anyone who likes Jethro Tull or follows the remastering genius of Steven Wilson must listen to Stand Up: The Elevated Edition. Wilson has done it again with his amazing 5.1 mix of a music classic. Stand Up, first released in 1969, was Jethro Tull’s second
Richard Posner might well be one of the most important legal minds of our time even though his Theories of judicial interpretation have not been embrassed as widely as other theories like originalism. Jude Posner is a member of the United States Court of Appeals
New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is dedicated to documenting the ever-changing patterns of modern and contemporary art, and it doesn’t get more modern than its latest addition. The museum recently acquired the original set of 176 emoji. The emoji set is a gift
Fifty years ago, the Beatles made music history with the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. To commemorate the groundbreaking album, the band recently released a four CD box set that features a brand new stereo mix and a 5.1 channel mix. At
The ubiquitous Red Book is the gold standard for coin collectors. The expanded version, aptly named Mega Red, includes 1,504 pages that are more than 30 percent larger than those in the standard Red Book. The latest version is now on sale. Mega Red’s coverage
The U.S. Supreme Court always save the best for last, and this term is no exception. While the vacancy on the Court dominated the headlines, the justices still considered several important cases. Issues still left to be decided in the coming weeks include the extraterritorial
No cell phone has a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) that is very good. To get any good sound out of a cell phone or an iPad you need a third-party DAC. The Chord Hugo 2, like the original Hugo and the Mojo is a
Portable high resolution audio (HRA) players range in price from the Pono or the Questyle at under $600 to the flagship Astell & Kern at just under $5,000. Selecting the right player at the right price has been confusing to the point of creating consumer
The American Medallic Sculpture Association (AMSA) recently announced the winner of the American Medal of the Year Award. Susan Taylor, a Canadian artist, won for her Remembrance medal. It honors the heroic efforts of the Taylor’s grandfather, George Edie and his fellow comrades who fought in
Ron Howard’s new film, Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years, is a masterful film about the early success of the Beatles. The documentary cover the band’s touring days from 1962 to 1966. Following their 1966 concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the Beatles largely retired
Audience recently announced three new AC power cords — the Au24 SX powerChord, Au24 SE-i power Chord, and powerChord SE-i. Incorporating its latest advancements in materials and engineering, Audience promises to again revolutionize high-performance audio systems. Audiophiles who understand the difference that power cords make in a high-end
While the medals displayed at the biennial FIDEM exhibit held in Belgium last year in September, 2016 tended to deflect attention from the anger and despair in the world that led to the rise of populism, the selections for the Whitney biennial this year embrace
In States like New Jersey where cars are a necessity rather than a luxury, one would not think a gas tax is a fair source for state revenue. When the NJ State Legislature decided otherwise and voted for a 23-cent per gallon gas tax, electric
The Who marked the 50th anniversary of their debut album, My Generation, by releasing a new massive box set. The five-disc box set features a remastered edition of the album in mono and many never-before-released tracks. While it is a great way to commemorate a first album by
After selecting the right speaker for your room and picking good components to deliver optimum sound quality there are still four often overlooked items—connecting cables–that can make a big improvement on the sound performance of a mid-level audio system. They are the power cords, analog
The placement of legal citations is one of the most controversial legal writing topics. On one side of the debate, traditionalists maintain that case citations should remain in the text. On the other side, a growing number of lawyers and judges think citations should be
Don’t expect audiophile sound quality from the new Apple wireless earbuds, officially called AirPods. However, they are extremely comfortable and the technology behind the new earphones are impressive. When Apple announced that it was eliminating the headphone jack from its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, there
The U.S. Constitution has taken center stage in several recent political battles and high-profile lawsuits, highlighting that it has become a symbol as well as the document upon which our Democratic Republic is based. For many Americans, the Constitution has deep personal meaning as well.
Known for his duck walk and signature guitar licks, Chuck Berry left an indelible mark on rock and roll music. Berry died on March 18, 2017, at the age of 90. Born in 1926, Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry is often referred to as the “father
There is no shortage of Americans who have the compassion to save an abandoned dog from death or rescue an animal from an abusive or neglectful owner. It has even become trendy to adopt a pet from a rescue center and contribute a few dollars
Featuring some of the world’s best artists and DJs, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival turns a city park into a massive dance floor. This year, the annual Ultra Music will be held on March 24, 25, 26 in Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park. While the theme is
Even though it is still cold in most parts of America, the few nice days hint at Spring and thoughts of a visit to Washington DC for the Cherry Blossom season. It is time to find a good hotel and visit Washington, D.C. for the
The U.S. Mint recently announced that the 2017 American Liberty 225th Anniversary Gold Coin design will feature Liberty as an African-American woman. The new $100 gold coin joins part of a series of coins depicting Lady Liberty in a new and modern way. “Lady Liberty,
Five Chiefs: A Supreme Court Memoir by John Paul Stevens John Paul Stevens is one of the longest serving justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. His book, Five Chiefs: A Supreme Court Memoir, provides a broad sweep of the history of the country’s highest court from
Bob Dylan fans who have been chasing bootlegs can now have the real deal. In November, Columbia/Legacy released a massive 36-disc box set that features every known recording from Dylan’s 1966 tour of the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. Bob Dylan is frequently described as
Italy took the top award for coins dated 2015 at the Krause Coin of the Year ceremony held during the World’s Fair of Money in Berlin on Saturday, February 5, 2017. Both the United States and Finland took home two category awards. Four of the
Finland and the United States were the top winners in the first round of judging in the Coin of the Year competition. Each nation won two of the 10 categories, while Italy, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Austria, and the Cook Islands each won in a
Always count on PS Audio to do it first and do it better than anyone else. The DirectStream Memory Player allows the high resolution layer of an SACD to play back through a DAC. For audiophiles with the best DAC’s, the SACD is finally free
“Review: Theodore and Woodrow: How Two American Presidents Destroyed Constitutional Freedom by Andrew Napolitano, Thomas Nelson 2012″ Some people do not see history as isolated moments, but as a stream flowing in constant motion. Andrew Napolitano is one of those great minds whose grasp of
Even after the November election Sen. Ted Cruz vowed to continue to block the appointment of a replacement Supreme Court justice. The Republican senator maintains that the country’s highest court does not need nine members to operate and may even be better off with fewer
At some point they will run out of live King Crimson to remaster and re-issue, but for now there are still many performances to share and treasure. The newest deluxe box set, On (and off) the Road, features 19 discs and covers all of the
If you got a Canada Goose jacket for Christmas, you should consider returning it. While the jackets are very popular, a coyote suffered a long, agonizing death for you to have the fur on that coat. Concerns about ethical animal treatment have largely driven fur
While there are a number of all-inclusive resorts that cater to kids, Beaches seems to have come up with the winning formula. It’s facility on Grace Bay in Providenciales is packed with families during the holiday weeks. The resort has been named the “leading all-inclusive
Whether America won the War of 1812 or lost it is a matter of perspective. The important people and key battles also depend on point of view. So the coins commemorating the event by the United States and Canada make an interesting collection. The War
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So it’s not surprising that 76 percent of Americans reported using emojis at work, according to The Atlantic. Nonetheless, the use of emoticons and emojis are frequently the subject of office etiquette debates, with many arguing
This fall, the “The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World” released a new box set. Rolling Stones in Mono contains 186 tracks, 56 of which fans have never been able to hear in mono since the dawn of the digital age. Many albums
Donald Trump has the Electoral College to thank for his presidency. As we learned again this year, the candidate who receives the most popular votes does not necessarily become president. To become president, a candidate must receive 270 or more Electoral College votes. Under the
“1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold” won the 2016 Numismatic Literary Guild Award. Michael Moran and Jeff Garrett teamed up to write a book that chronicles how the discovery of gold in California impacted the U.S. Mint and the nation. “The arrival of Colonel Mason’s
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)’s new exhibit is completely digital. The exhibit, which is available via the museum’s website, extensively chronicles all of MoMA’s exhibitions from 1929 to the present. MoMA opened its doors in 1929, featuring its first major exhibition, “Cézanne, Gauguin, Seurat,
Not everyone supported American independence in 1776. Some colonists remained loyal to England throughout the conflict. During the war they were treated well and protected by the British but after George Washington’s victory at Yorktown, the supporters of the revolution scorned the loyalists openly and
Tom Hayden, best known for his ardent social activism, recently passed away at the age of 76. Hayden, who helped found Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), spent his life advocating against war and injustice. The Nation magazine named Hayden one of the 50 greatest
The American Numismatic Society is leading the way for numismatic ebooks. While the ebook has captured the commercial market for fiction and non-fiction books, numismatic booksellers like Whitman and Krause Publications have not been so quick to produce electronic versions of their reference books. The
The federal government recently won a decade-long legal battle over the ownership of rare Double Eagles coins. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision ordering a Philadelphia family to surrender ten 1933 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagles found in a safe deposit
People have started to figure out that the reason digital music does not sound as good as vinyl has less to do with the studio mix burned digitally as 1’s and 0’s, and more to do with the “timing” of the playback of those 1’s
Labunski, Richard; James Madison & the Struggle for the Bill of Rights, Oxford University Press, 2006 Broadwater, Jeff; James Madison: A Son of Virginia and a Founder of the Nation, University of North Carolina Press, 2012 Stewart, David; Madison’s gift: Five Partnerships That Built America,
A revolutionary new technology allows collectors to quickly identify or verify a coin’s provenance. The website, Ex-Numis, uses image recognition software to locate coins illustrated in auction catalogs. The new technology is the brainchild of Dr. Jonas Flueck, a professional numismatic dealer and an auctioneer
Queen released a complete Studio Album Collection in vinyl last year. It was priced at $300 and it became an instant collector’s item. It is not quite up there with the Beatles box set produced by the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs in the 80’s which
Ron Dutton (http://www.rondutton.co.uk/) won the Best of Show at FIDEM 2016 on September 10, 2016 for his group of medals, “Sun Terrace Beam,” “Totem of Memories,” “Hill Terrace Vines” and “Memories of Times Past.” These four medals are made of Brass, and wire and measure
The Turks and Caicos Hotel Boom all started when All-Inclusive Resort Pioneer Opened in TCI. Turks and Caicos was not always a mecca for tourists. In fact, many Americans had never even heard of the island chain when astronaut John Glenn splashed down in the
While the inner workings of the U.S. Supreme Court are largely shrouded in mystery, Jeffrey Toobin pulls back the veil in his book, “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court.” Published in 2007, “The Nine” spent four months on the New York
Zinio touts itself as the “world’s largest newsstand.” For those who love to read magazines, there is truly no better app on the market. As far as apps go, Zinio has been around for a while and has established itself as the leading magazine platform.
Those who are about to begin their first year of law school have no idea what to expect. They have heard from those who have been through it before that it is a lot of work and that it can be terrifying. While there is
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently adopted admission to the Bar by motion. The state now joins 40 other states and Washington, D.C., in permitting out of state lawyers to practice without passing the New Jersey state bar exam. Although admission by motion is accepted
A special committee will select the designs for the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin, which are intended to raise breast cancer awareness, along with millions of dollars for research. President Obama signed the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act into law on April 29, 2016. The
The Bahama Islands are unique in that they rise up as a rocky plateau from the ocean floor. The chain’s 700 islands sit on vast platforms of carbonates that are thousands of meters thick and date back millions of years. The Bahaman Archipelago consists of two
Dick Johnson’s new book project is generating a lot of buzz, and it’s not even finished yet. The ambitious Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology will be the definitive reference book on the subject for the next century and will be impossible to surpass, ever!
In between re-mastering some of the greatest Progressive Rock albums of all time, Steven Wilson also managed to record two impressive albums of his own over the two years. In January, Wilson released “4 ½,” which followed 2015’s “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” Every audiophile is familiar
The warm weather makes it a lot more enjoyable to explore New York City, including its prime tourist attractions like Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, High Line, and Central Park. During the summer, the city also offers many free activities, from Shakespeare in the
Are you looking to try something new this summer? Look no further, as the Whitney Museum of American Art offers an eclectic experience for all, regardless of their taste in art. The Whitney Museum of American Art is a glorious place to visit this summer,
The Teddy Bear and Theodore Roosevelt are a part of the childhood of every American. However, not everyone makes the connection between the cute stuffed bear and the straight talking, progressive era ex-President. In 1903, a Brooklyn candy store owner put two stuffed toy bears
Following the trail blazed by NETFLIX, the Teaching Company’s “Great Courses” are now being offered for $14.99/month. Below are the top five “Great Courses” across all genres: How to Listen to and Understand Great Music: The course, which is now in its third edition, is taught by
Great Courses presents college lectures that are downloadable and create a classroom experience in your home, car or workout. Soon they will offer a subscription service for people who don’t want to pay for each class they take. The Teaching Company’s extended learning platform offers
Anyone who has had to return to their CD collection and rip it for a second or third time knows that CD’s are not dead. Hard drives are not forever. When they age they will inevitably become corrupted and the information on them may be
Kanye West is no stranger to hyperbole, but his latest antics could lead to significant legal liability. In February, West tweeted: “My album will never never never be on Apple. And it will never be for sale… You can only get it on Tidal.”Is Kayne
Will the Tesla Model 3 Live Up to the Hype? The Tesla Model 3 —still only a prototype — is generating a lot of excitement. Since its unveiling last month more than 400,000 potential buyers have placed pre-orders. It takes just $1,000 to make a
America’s Cup returned to New York City last weekend for the first time since 1920. The Hudson River provided the backdrop for the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series. New York is the fifth regatta leading into next year’s 35th America’s Cup, which will be held
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are home to the third largest barrier reef in the world. In addition to providing some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities on the planet, the barrier reef keeps the pristine waters of Grace Bay Beach so clear
After extensive public debate, Jacob Lew, Secretary of the Treasury, announced that Harriet Tubman will replace President Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill and the reverses of the $5 and $10 will also be redesigned to include several other notable women in
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), the high-end consumer audio show held last weekend at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Il, is one of the best events of the year for audiophiles. While this is only one of about a dozen national high end audio shows,
Synergistic Research has become a market leader of innovative audiophile products. While teaks of all kinds find no shortage of skeptics, the Grounding Block from Synergistic Research is a tweak based on solid science and it works. It has always been known that a well-grounded
Laura Poitras has her first solo exhibition, Astro Noise at the Whitney Museum. The exhibit features immersive works of art that address the viewer with the scope of the mass surveillance by the National Security Agency using materials from Eric Snowden. The title of the
Steve Roach and Dennis B. Tucker recently joined the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Both members have backgrounds in journalism — Roach is editor-at-large for Coin World, while Tucker is the publisher of Whitman Publishing Company. The eleven-member CCAC play a vital role in U.S.
At its March meeting in Washington DC, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) considered the designs for a three coin set—gold $5, silver $1, and clad $1/2 dollar—to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Boys Town. It was the first time that obverses and reverses
The Haitian mango is in season—early March until the end of May. Mango ice cream does not taste like the mangoes you buy in the grocery store. That’s because the mangoes sold all year in supermarkets come from Ecuador or Peru. The taste of Mango’s
DJM electronics has made the first Ethernet noise filter that might be helpful for an audio signal. It is called the GigaFOILv3 Ethernet Filter and it is currently priced at $1,000. It is commonly accepted that EMI causes Noise in power cables. When that
The whole world now knows what anyone who has ever been to Turks & Caicos has always known: Grace Bay beach on the island of Providenciales is the number one best beach in the world. While Grace Bay is regularly named one of Trip Advisor’s
“The Bill of Rights: The Fight to Secure America’s Liberties” by Carol Berkin, Simon & Schuster, 2015 If you read only one book about the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, read Carol Berkin’s The Bill of
Book Review: “The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty” by Timothy Sandefur; Cato Institute (2014) Every now and then a person comes across a book, an idea or an event that so fundamentally affects them that they are
Even at Mr. Groupers in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) the local restauranteur is forced to serve frozen grouper. For the first time in history, the country has implemented a closed season for the Nassau Grouper. Pursuant to an order from the Turks and
One of the most popular vibration control tweaks, and probably the one that most audiophiles use in their systems is the Stillpoint Ultra SS. The Ultra’s are priced at about $300 each and you need at least three of them. Stillpoints have been around for
Vibration control is a good area for a tweak because not all components absorb vibration efficiently. Rather than add to the cost of the component, manufactures often ether ignore vibration or deal with it as cost effectively as they can to keep the component in
Steven Wilson has delivered a clean, very musical remix of this classic progressive rock album, which in a short time has become the “final word” on the album. There can be little doubt that this remix is far superior to anything that has been done
While an Apple product still does not exist, there are many excellent portable digital music players like the old Apple i-Pod that can deliver high resolution audio sound. So, yes, the digital music library of 24 bit music that you downloaded from HD Tracks and
With more than 1,000 art galleries, New York City is one of the greatest metropolitan areas for shopping around for art. From Chelsea to Brooklyn, each gallery offers a unique opportunity to discover new talent and find one-of-a-kind pieces that appeal to your particular tastes.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently entered its eleventh term with Chief Justice John Roberts at the helm at the Court’s seventeenth Chief Justice. During Robert’s tenure, the Court has been at the center of important and often controversial legal battles, from same sex marriage
For the first time in ten years the United States won top honors with the Baseball Hall of Fame clad half dollar coin as the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dated 2014. The United States won two awards at the first round of
Cameras aren’t allowed in the U.S. Supreme Court, which makes the work of court sketch artist Arthur Lien all the more valuable. His renderings of the justices, the lawyers, and the parties are often the only visual depictions of the high-profile proceedings that the American
John Marshall: The Chief Justice Who Saved the Nation, by Harlow Giles Unger; DaCapo Press (2014) John Marshall: Definer of a Nation, By Jean Edward Smith; Henry Holt & Co (1996) John Marshall, who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
It is time to head to Miami Beach for the best international art show of the year. Galleries from all over the world display their best work at Art Basel Week in Miami Beach. This year’s event takes place from December 3-6, 2015. First launched
It is highly probable that the U.S. Mint will issue commemorative coins to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 in 2019. If so, Congress most probably will require a special joint committee for design review as they did for the World War 1 commemorative
When it comes to high-end power cables, Shunyata is the king. So every time Shunyata replaces their top of the line cable with a new model, “attention must be paid.” In 2009, the King Cobra CX by Shunyata was their flagship power cable. Priced at
“Making Sense of the Constitution: A Primer on the Supreme Court and its Struggle to Apply Our Fundamental Law,” Southern Illinois University Press, 2012 There are dozens of books written for the general public that summarize the things people need to know about the United
Bose is one of the best in the business when it comes to speakers, so it’s hard to ignore the hype surrounding its SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II. After taking a listen, the praise is well deserved. The SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II connects wirelessly
Liberty’s First Crisis, by Charles Slack, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2015 “The greatest enemy of liberty is fear…When [people] feel threatened, their tolerance shrinks.” Liberty and freedom in America have been threatened many times since the United States Constitution was drafted in 1787. People around the
A small ceremony was held at the United States Mint Headquarters in Washington DC on Thursday, October 8, 2015 to honor Gary Marks for his two terms of service on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Marks served as a public member of the CCAC,
On October 8, 2015, after the vote on the 2016 Lions Club Commemorative coin, I grabbed Gary Marks by the hand. I looked him in the eye and thanked him for his service on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) on behalf of all Americans
It is difficult to believe that ten metal cylinders half the size of a fingernail tacked to the walls of a large listening space could have any effect on the acoustics. Synergistic Research calls them HFT-2—and they work. So it wasn’t much of a stretch
The Magna Carta is celebrating its 800th birthday this year. To mark the historic occasion the United Kingdom, Australia and several other countries are minting commemorative coins. The Magna Carta was executed on a field in Runnymede in 1215 after an assembly of English barons
The Velvet Underground box set: The Verve/MGM Albums in Mono recreates the band’s 1960s sound, while adding a modern kick. Although some people debate whether the remaster detracts from the raw purity of the raw Warhol warehouse sound of the original mono issues, the albums
The Great Dissent: How Oliver Wendell Holmes Changed His Mind—and Changed the History of Free Speech in America by Thomas Healy, published by Picador (September 9, 2014). Every so often you find a book that you never suspect will be one that you just can’t
The Chord Hugo is simply the best portable amplifier/DAC on the market. Whether you use it with your computer or with a portable transport to carry when you are out and about, the Hugo has no equal. Perhaps the $2,500 retail price is steep for
Social Media Hashtags are becoming so popular that they have gained legal recognition as intellectual property. As their value to businesses grows, they are also becoming the subject of lawsuits involving trademark infringement and false advertising. Hashtags started on Twitter as a way to link
The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing recently announced the creation of a series of Hi-Res Audio Production Guidelines. The new guidelines are a key step to ensuring that real high-resolution music is produced and sold to the public. While the Recording Academy Producers &
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to 889 Nobel Laureates. Recipients receive a gold medal. Yet, even though 889 gold medals have been presented, very few have ever been offered for sale. In May, Leon Lederman auctioned his 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics,
Forget Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman. There is a new rising star on late night — astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. This spring, National Geographic debuted StarTalk, a late-night talk show devoted exclusively to science. “There’s no monologue and no band,” Tyson told the Washington Post.
After forty years, Yoko Ono has finally made her official debut at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. “Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-1971” opened on May 17 and runs through September 7, 2015. While Yoko Ono is most well known as John Lennon’s
To get closed back headphones better than the Masters & Dynamic MH40, retailing at $400, you would need to spend four times the price and buy either the Audeze LCD-XC or the Fostex TH900. Both of those retail for over $1,600. The Masters & Dynamic
After waiting more than two years since the last Mint Director officially resigned, the White House announced last week that Matthew Rhett Jeppson would be nominated as Director of the Mint. Jeppson currently serves as the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Mint. Once sworn
A verified statistic shows that lawyers suffer from depression at triple the rate of non-lawyers. Recently, research has also proven that the rigors of law school can be harmful to the health of students. In a recent law review article, entitled “Killing Them Softly: Neuroscience
Earlier this year, a 1792 Half Disme sold for a record $1.41 million dollars at Heritage Auctions’ U.S. Coin Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Signature Auction. The historic coin is generally recognized as the first circulating American coin struck under authority of the Mint Act of
There are almost as many choices for connecting cables and power cables as there are for components and speakers. Here are some thoughts about picking the right ones for your system. Let’s assume that you are currently using the stock cables that came with your
The Koss 330 Headphones are the best small headphone available at any price. The Koss 330 Headphones are just under $100, these headphones are one of the best values in high end audio headphones. One listen will make you look in the mirror to verify
The Harvard Law School Library won the Webby Award for the best legal website of 2015 by developing Perma.cc Perma.cc addresses a significant yet largely unknown issue in the legal industry known as “link rot.” The term refers to the condition of Internet links no
Law school enrollment dropped again, according to the latest statistics from the American Bar Association (ABA). In total, first-year enrolled has plummeted nearly 30 percent from its peak in 2010. According to the new ABA data, almost two-thirds of ABA accredited law schools experienced declines
Bob Dylan – The Original Mono Recordings (MONO-88697761051) recreates the first eight Dylan albums as they were intended to be heard. Even the album cover and labels look like the originals and recreate the feel of opening the album as it was the first time.
No review disputes that the PS Audio DirectStream DAC (DSD) is musical bliss. Some reviewers have called it the component of the year for 2014. Where reviewers get edgy on PS Audio is not about the fact that it so amazing but about the science
George Orwell’s 1984 depicted a spy society as a parody of communism gone global. Edward Snowden revealed the reality of George Orwell’s spy society in the most unlikely and unpredictable place– 21st Century America. The extent of the federal government’s spy network data surveillance activities
The 1792 Silver Center Cent was the first coin officially struck at the First United States Mint. It also remains one of most significant in U.S. history, despite not being as well-known as other rare coins. The Coinage Act of 1792 (also known as the
U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts is America’s top jurist, legal big dog, Number 1 custodian of the United States Constitution. Yet, earlier in April, he was simply known as American Citizen “Number 49.” Along with 50 other citizens of Montgomery County, Maryland, the Chief
The Whitney Museum of American Art has come home to Greenwich Village. The new Whitney Museum building is located at 99 Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District within walking distance from its original home at McDougal Alley. Founded in 1930 by sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney,
In order to make a noticeable improvement in sound quality with a power cord you should expect to pay not less than $500 for a 1 meter cord. Cords to consider at this price point are the Audioquest NRG 10, Audience PowerCord SE or a
It is not always the case that a high resolution 96kHz/24bit sounds better than a CD at 44mHz/16bit. More often than not, the remastering matters more than the bit rate. This is one of those times. The high resolution Blu-ray and, presumably, the digital download
The Whitney Museum of American Art is kicking off the celebration of its new building with a block party sponsored by Macy’s on May 2, 2015. It will also offer free admission to the museum from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The new home of
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II continues to age gracefully both in life and in coin. The Royal Mint recently unveiled the fifth effigy of the monarch, who has spent more than 63 years on the throne. The new design will be used on British coinage as
Visitors to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia now have the opportunity to view three key pieces of American History all in one place. The National Constitution Center recently opened a new exhibit that includes one of the twelve surviving copies of the Bill of
LinkedIn™ is the world’s largest business social network and it continues to grow. Research shows that forty percent of LinkedIn™ users check their accounts daily, which makes it an important part of every lawyer’s marketing strategy. Here are a few tips: Keep your profile current. It is
Billed as the “Definitive Edition CD,” Steve Wilson’s remaster of Close to the Edge,” by Yes is exactly that. It is perfection—the final version of a classic album. Many people who were listening to music in the 1970s own more than one copy of Close
Those big books that list just about every major law firm in every state could be found in every law firm’s library. Martindale-Hubbell charged big money to buy them and even bigger money for law firms listed in them. Like everything else today, the only
Good writing is not enough to make a good lawyer. Law practice is a challenging business with thin profit and law students remain unprepared for it when they graduate. Some law schools are beginning to incorporate more business-oriented classes and seminars into their curriculum. As
Maria Carmela Colaneri of Italy’s Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato received the Krause Lifetime Achievement Award in Coin Design at the World Mint Director’s Conference held in Berlin on January 31. She accepted the award in Italian to great applause. Maria Carmela Colaneri is best
For Americans traveling to Turks & Caicos there is no need to worry about converting money or returning home from vacation with a pocket full of coins you will never use. The official currency is the U.S. dollar. Like 50 countries across the globe, he
Susan Gamble, an artist for the United States Mint, passed away in January at the age of 57-years-old. Her legacy to the United States of America is her art and through that art she will be remembered forever. In 2007 Susan Gamble designed the reverse
Even though the Beatle’s A Hard Days Night was produced before Help, the new 5-1 mix of the earlier film has the better surround mix. The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night was reissued on Blu-ray and DVD last summer. It marks the 50th anniversary of the
Four massive sculptures by renowned Chinese sculptor Sui Jianguo are currently on display at New York’s Doris C. Freedman Plaza. The monumental sculptures are part of Sui Jianguo’s “Blind Portraits” series. While the large bronze do not quite resemble portraits, they were created “blindly.” Sui
While the educational requirements of law school are certainly rigorous, practical skills training is lacking, according to many critics of the current model. In the United States, attorneys can practice after just three years of law school. By comparison, a surgeon must complete four years
Wang Jianwei: Time Temple recently debuted at the Guggenheim Museum. It is the Beijing-based artist’s first solo museum exhibition in North America. The exhibit also marks the first of three commissions of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chinese Art Initiative at the museum. According
New Year’s Eve might be especially noisy in New Jersey this year after a New Jersey court recently ruled that a Boonton teen can bang on his drums all he wants, much to the frustration of his neighbors. A Superior Court judge ruled that the
Dr. Seuss had it right when he said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” If you need to find a gift for the person who does not want anything, do
Austria took top honors winning the Krause Coin of the Year for coins dates 2013 with its 50 euro gold coin, KM-3218, depicting Gustav Klimt’s, “The Expectation.” It is the second coin in Austria’s five year series celebrating the painter’s work. It was a big
The Numismatic Literary Guild “Book of the Year” honor was recently awarded to a book about New Jersey colonial coins. New Jersey State Coppers: History, Description, Collecting by Roger S. Siboni, John L. Howes and A. Buell Ish won the guild’s top honor for specialized
The PS Audio DirectStream DAC (digital to analog converter) is a Stereophile Magazine product of the year for 2014. Many audiophiles who have compared it with other DAC’s have called it a “game changer.” For non-audiophiles, a DAC replaces the sound card in your computer
What do the U.S. Supreme Court and the National Football League have in common? Surprisingly enough, both have generated “fantasy leagues” in which participants try to successfully pick the winners and losers. The work of the country’s highest court is serious business. After all, the
The Fédération International de la Médaille d’Art (FIDEM) or International Medal Art Federation recently held its 33rd congress in Sofia, Bulgaria. The FIDEM, which was founded in 1937, aims to promote and diffuse the art of medals at international level, to make the art known
Maya Lin, who is best known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is set receive the art world’s top honor this week. The prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize is awarded annually to “a man or woman who has made an outstanding
![By Mikamote (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://donaldscarinci.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Master_p-02-600x400.jpg)
As the legal market grows more competitive, many law firms are marketing more aggressively and creatively. In an effort to stand out from the pack, a Kentucky law firm that specializes in personal injury recently retained rapper Master P to promote its services. If you
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee CCAC recently approved the designs for the congressional gold medal honoring the Lake Superior Band of the Fond du Lac Chippewa Code Talkers. The medal is part of Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medals Program, which recognizes the dedication and valor
Everything by Gentle Giant should be heard in 5.1 Surround Sound. Steven Wilson’s remix of The Power And The Glory in hi-resolution stereo and 5.1 Surround sound must make band members as happy as their fan cult. Dubbed “one of the most gifted and ambitious
The VPI Nomad may do as much to bring music listeners back to vinyl as the iPod did to bring listeners to the MP3 digital download. The Nomad is VPI’s new entry level turntable. It includes an Ortofon needle, a built in phono pre-amp and
Dr. Herman J. Viola, who specializes in the history of the American West, was sworn in at last week’s meeting of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) for a four-year term. The CCAC provides recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury on the themes and
New York Audio Show was held on September 27, 28 and 29 at the Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn offering 45 rooms of new audio gear to eager audiophiles, industry experts and enthusiasts. Maybe because of the suitability of “small” products for “small” New York City
Maybe it won’t be as big as the Beatles, but the Magna Carta is on its first U.S. Tour in 800 years. It’s the Beatles for government and history nerds! The original document was executed on a field in Runnymede in 1215. An assembly of
Lisa Gornick’s skills as an author and a psychoanalyst come together in her latest novel, Tinderbox. The gripping and often disturbing novel explores the inner-workings of a New York family dealing with more than one skeleton in the closet. Myra Mendelson, a psychotherapist living in
Jeff Koons does everything big, from the size of his sculptures to the price tags on his artwork. The new exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art is no exception. “Jeff Koons: A Retrospective” takes over nearly the entirety of the Whitney’s Marcel Breuer
The Yes Album proves that music can sound better decades after its original release. The progressive band’s breakthrough album was recently released in 5.1 surround sound. The Yes Album was first released in the United Kingdom on February 19, 1971 (CAT# 2400 101) and eventually
BKS Iyengar, Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja, left his body on August 20, 2014, at the age of 95. Called Guru-ji by the hundreds of thousands who love him, and affectionately nicknamed “Biks” by some practitioners of Iyengar Yoga in America, B.K.S Iyengar is the foremost exponent
Recent rumors about the new Apple operating system appear to be true. Apple’s iOS 8 will allow for high definition audio playback (HRA). This certainly explains why Apple has acquired Beats Electronics to upgrade their in-ear earphones. Apple has announced that they will offer high-fidelity
While the costs of legal education continue to increase as employment prospects decrease, you could argue that a law degree does not have the same value it had in the past. Maybe it doesn’t, but a recent study out of New Jersey has found that
In his notes on the 2014 remix, Steve Wilson said, “I think that A Passion Play is a historically underrated work of art that deserves to be reevaluated.” Thanks to his remix in 5.1 Surround Sound to celebrate the album’s 40th anniversary, Jethro Tull’s masterpiece
In the age of the “selfie,” painting a portrait may seem like a lost art. But it is very much alive at the National Portrait Gallery, which recently held the BP Portrait Awards. The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of
Forty years after its initial release, the 5.1 Surround Sound Blue-ray audio re-master of The Who’s, Quadrophenia, may well be considered the definitive final version of this rock classic. After giving this disc a listen you will conclude that it is un-improvable. By the end
People who read a lot of written judicial opinions often rejoice when they come across one that is actually well written. So many of them are dry and confusing with overdone precision. However, some judges can go too far to keep their writing fresh and
In addition to a standard definition of high resolution audio (HRA), in June, 2014, the music industry also agreed on standard labels they will use so music lovers can identify the source of the high resolution digital recording they are buying. As previously reported in
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jim Dwyer’s latest book, False Conviction, provides a disturbing yet necessary look at the flaws of the U.S. criminal justice system. His book is a technological as well as a journalistic masterpiece and is only available as an iBook. False Conviction
The U.S. Mint will make history this week when it shows the world that it can produce the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medall from concept to finished product in just over one month. No private mint could have met the deadline set by Congress on
From records and reel-to-reel tapes to cassettes to eight-track tapes to CD’s to SACD and DVD-audio, the next generation of music delivery is digital. The standard for High Resolution Audio, the best quality digital sound available, has finally been set. After a long period of
Mary N. Lannin, the newest member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), attended her first meeting in Philadelphia on May 19, 2014, where she reviewed designs for the 2015 March of Dime Commemorative, the 9-11 Congressional gold medals, and a Code Talker medal. The
During the course of their tenures on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices Antonin Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have engaged in many heated debates. But do they make good theater? Budding lawyer and musician Derrick Wang thinks so. He recently composed an opera entitled
The 2014 Whitney Biennial ended this week. It is the last to take place in the Whitney Museum of American Art’s building at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street. The Museum is moving downtown to its new location in the spring of 2015. The Museum’s
The legal profession doesn’t enjoy the same cachet it once held. The number of students enrolling in law school dropped 11 percent in 2013 and is down 24 percent from 2010 figures, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). This number is pretty shocking and
Not only does New York steal some good theater from London, but the Frieze Art Fair has now become a New York art show and part of the established New York art scene. Direct from London, the Frieze Art Fair landed on New York Randall’s
I realized in the taxi to JFK en route to a 7 AM flight to Chicago to attend the AXPONA audio show that I had left my Bose QC3 noise cancelling headphones at home. After only one cup of coffee I had to endure the
At a show dominated by the excitement of High Resolution (HR) audio and the delivery systems that are becoming available to play it, VPI introduced a high quality but affordable consumer turntable which might be considered the first of its kind in the post CD
While there are still a few holdouts who say that power cords and analog connector cables don’t make a difference with sound or video quality, they are now a minority. However, the debate remains active about digital cables. Digital cable Naysayers point out that the
Grace Bay Beach, which runs across the northwest coast of Providenciales, an island in Turks & Caicos, was named by Trip Advisor as the second best beach in the world. Trip Advisor is the largest travel website on the internet. Many seasoned travelers rely on
The legend of a Vermont town being home to America’s first patent is no more. For decades, Pittsford, Vermont celebrated being the hometown of inventor Samuel Hopkins. On July 31, 1790, Hopkins received the first U.S. patent for an improvement in “the making of Pot
Monsignor Peter Baldacchino, affectionately called, “Fr. Peter,” was taking out the trash when Archbishop Wenski called to tell him that he had been elevated to Bishop. “We do everything. We wash the plates, we wash the laundry,” Fr. Peter said as if annoyed by the
Let’s talk beer—Caribbean beer! A cold beer in winter might not be much of a treat on a cold March night in New York, but after a day on a hot Carribean beach, cold beer is the next best thing to an umbrella drink. But
While Jon Anderson is best known for his work with Yes, his first solo album, Olias of Sunhillow is his magnum opus. As if releasing a living thing that has been encased in amber for almost forty years, the 2014 re-master by Kevin Gray for
Spilling a hot drink from Dunkin Donuts made a New Jersey resident a millionaire. New Jersey resident Jennifer Fragoso’s lawsuit comes 20 years after McDonald’s Restaurants was sued by a New Mexico woman who suffered third-degree burns after spilling a hot coffee in her lap.
Feeling cold and cooped indoors during this long, cold winter? Eat a grapefruit. While it is cold, dreary and constantly snowing in the Northeast this winter, it is grapefruit season in the sunny Caribbean. So if you cannot make time to hop on a plane
The much-hyped Google Glass may be banned before the general public ever gets to try them on. The revolutionary device is essentially a mobile computer with a head-mounted display. It functions much like a smart phone without having to use your hands; it can take
When temperatures in the New York area are in single digits and snowstorms cause work closings and three hour commutes in dangerous icy conditions, it is time to book a flight to the Caribbean. Here’s a few tips on how to choose a Caribbean Island.
While the Super Bowl may be over, talk about the advertisements is not. For the general viewer, favorites likely included Budweiser’s “Puppy Love” and Doritos’ “Cowboy Kid.” In the legal community, viewers were buzzing about the Super Bowl commercial produced by a personal injury lawyer
The readers of Conde Naste Traveler recently named the Turks and Caicos Islands one of “Top 10 Islands in the Caribbean & Atlantic.” The Turks and Caicos Islands consists of a string of islands, mostly uninhabited with a total native population of just a little
New York City does not show the love when it feels its “I ♥ NY” trademark is threatened, even if the potential offender has gone so far as to emblazon a similar phrase on his knuckles. Sam Penix , the co-owner of Everyman’s Espresso, a
E.L. Doctorow’s latest novel, Andrew’s Brain, hit bookstores on January 14. The best-selling author’s latest work is already generating buzz as a thought-provoking and powerful look into the mind of a man who, more than once in his life, has been the inadvertent agent of
While lawyers have begun warming to social media, courts are still hesitant to embrace the new technology. Half of the country’s court system currently do not use any form of social media, according to a recent report. The results are not surprising giving that social
While the list of judges who blog is relatively short, those who do are making headlines. Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf made his blog must read material when he recently commented on the irrelevancy of the Supreme Court. His blog, Hercules and the Umpire,
The book publishing industry as we once knew it is dead. E-books and on line information is more readily available, offers more variety, can present information in a multimedia format and is generally less expensive and requires no bookshelf space. For a glimpse at the
For the history buff or just for people who plan to stay up all night on New Year’s Eve, New Jersey knows how to ring in the New Year, with a real-time tour of the Battle of Princeton. Feel how it must have been to
After hearing the difference in sound quality the Shunyata Python Zitron’s make on my turntable set up, those who say that power cords and connecting cables don’t make much of a difference in sound quality are either just plain wrong or their preconceptions override their
The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that a corporation is a “person” for the purposes of the First Amendment. But what are our closest relatives in the animal world, chimps, entitled to? In a novel lawsuit, an animal rights group has asked a New York
Would “a rose by any name smell as sweet” if it was a lawyers name? Could a name help you when Climbing the Corporate Ladder? Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are the latest to celebrity parents to raise eyebrows for their child’s unusual moniker. The
Conventional wisdom amongst audiophile beginners is that the biggest improvement you could make to the sound of your home stereo is with good speakers connected to an amplifier by even better connecting cables that could equal the price of the speakers. Testing this wisdom on
Krause Publications has announced the winners in each of ten categories for coins dated 2012. These ten coins will compete for the coveted Krause Coin of the Year designation which will be awarded at the World Mint Director’s conference in February. France and Australia
Audio components on a rack pick up sonic vibration carried by the air in the room where the music is played. They also carry actual vibration from their own electrical movement and from the other components in the rack, which ultimately affects sound quality. Manufacturers
The introduction of the new Apple iPad Air is a good reason to take a look at how important these devices have become in our daily lives. Apple iPads have become the most used travel accessory next to cell phones. They are something between a
While Facebook offers many new ways to communicate, it has its limitations. For instance, it cannot be used to serve legal papers. After rap superstar Flo Rida failed to appear for a performance at the 2011 Fat As Butter music festival in Newcastle, Australia, concert
High end digital cable connectors probably provide the least noticeable improvement in sound quality, but to my surprise, there was a “subtle” (as defined in previous articles) difference. I tested the Audioquest Diamond USB mini to USB .75mm connection on my headphone mini system. The
Many business professionals are entering law school, not to become practicing lawyers but to understand the myriad of legal issues they encounter on a daily basis. The master’s degree programs are generally 24 credits and are geared exclusively towards non-lawyers. The programs are gaining in
While the prices of high end connector cables often exceed the price of the high end components they are attached to, the cables that carry the analog signal noticeably improves the sound quality of your system. Just like adding a good power cord, a high
Savant Systems has won many awards as a smart home operating system but it will never win an award in any audiophile sound publication. If you care at all about the quality of the sound coming from your audio system then do not use Savant
On September 28, 2013, the Princeton Battlefield Society will hold its Revolution at Princeton Event, which commemorates a critical battle of the American Revolution. Through artillery demonstrations, battlefield tours, and historical documents, the event takes visitors behind the scenes as General George Washington and his
The extraordinary efforts of the employees of the United States Mint to design, manufacture and distribute a Congressional Gold medal in just three months included a few firsts that could now be reported since the medal has been awarded. (PLEASE NOTE: The quickest Congressional Medal
Whether you should buy a power conditioner or a good surge protector depends on how bad the line power is that feeds your audio system. However, if you have thrown away the power cords that came with your audio components and replaced them with good
If upgrading power cords makes a significantly noticeable improvement in sound quality, then imagine the improvement that a clean power source could make! There are power conditioners and power re-conditioners that work wonderfully for music. They double as power strips and surge protectors as well.
A New York state Appeals court recently ruled that a $2,000 fine levied against an artist who uses “found objects” in his art was unconstitutional. The decision is being heralded as a victory for the “little guy” and basic common sense. Albert Prince removed discarded
A good power cord makes a big difference in sound quality, but how good is good enough? Once I picked the Audience Power Cord E for my HiFiMan EF5 amplifier and my HiFiman HE-500 headphone microsystem, I was ready to see whether a more expensive
Want better sound quality? Throw away any power cord that comes in the box with your audio components and invest in a quality power cord! A good power cord used on a music component improves the sound quality dramatically. To my ear there is no
Marcia Coyle’s new book, The Roberts Court: The Struggle for the Constitution, offers a unique look into the landmark decisions that have shaped the U.S. Supreme Court during the eight-year tenure of Chief Justice John Roberts. From controversial rulings on the healthcare law to campaign
From record album to tape player to CD and SACD or DVD audio, the future of recorded music is high definition and the future of music playback formats is the digital download. The leader in high definition music downloads is HD Tracks (www.hdtracks.com). For a
Some of the cases attorneys take never cease to amaze me. The fact that they win some of the more outlandish ones amazes me even more. Anyone who has taken the “Small World” ride at Disneyland knows that it sometimes takes days to get the
iTunes was great for small portable digital audio device playback, but if you want to hear digital music that has an analog warmth and quality then you need to download third party software from companies like Amarra for Mac and J.River for Windows. iTunes just
It always seemed logical that music CDs copied from a computer CD ROM drive would retain the same sound quality if played back by the same computer. The computer simply copies sets of 1’s and 0’s after all, right? Logically, it seemed that the sound
An amplifier just increases the volume and does not affect the quality of the sound coming out of your speakers or headphones, right? That is what I used to think, but that is WRONG! The thought that headphone amp is not a sound neutral device
Unless an alien spacecraft lands secretly somewhere near Cupertino, California between now and the end of the year to give new technology to the computer industry, the Meridian Explorer DAC is this year’s miracle audio product. After you replace your earbuds with good headphones, the
Throw away your earbuds! The single most important thing you can do to improve the quality of your digital sound is to buy a pair of good headphones. The variety of headphones to choose from in every price range is daunting to a first time
As the demand for portable digital music continues to outpace demand for other high fidelity options, many people are now looking to improve digital sound quality. There are twelve simple tweaks available to those who are tired of listening to poor quality iTunes downloads. It
On June 15 and 16th the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, will be fought again on the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield. This event will commemorate the 235th Anniversary of this important battle of the American Revolution. The battle, formally known as the Battle of Monmouth
While the death of the CD has been foretold for many years, the death of iTunes has not had as many predictions from the soothsayers. However, unless iTunes can add 24 bit/192kHz playback for high definition sound, offer a “lossless compressed” option in the iTunes
The New Hampshire Robin Hooders have proven that parking tickets have more to do with justifying jobs than protecting the public. The residents of Keene, New Hampshire fought back by creating a band of merry men and women modeled after Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
By Donald Scarinci: Many high end audiophile products such as amplifiers, speakers, headphones and even connection cords and power conditioners are sold with the advice that they will produce better sound when they are used. Many manufacturers recommend burn in for audio components before the
In a recent poll reflecting how the public views the ethical standards of various professions, lawyers ranked in the 19th percentile. Lawyers came in slightly below business executives in the 21st percentile and well below medical doctors, which rank in the 70th percentile. Unfortunately, it
Anyone who appreciates or collects the medals made at the United States Mint in the 19th Century knows Robert Julian and his magnum opus, Medals of the United States Mint the First Century 1792 to 1892 published by the Token & Medal Society, 1977. I
Three people were in a lifeboat after their ship sank. They were surrounded by sharks. One courageous person took charge of the situation, dove into the water and swam ashore. To the surprise of the survivors on the life boat, the sharks allowed the person
By Donald Scarinci: The second annual New York Audio show held at the NY Palace April 12-14 featured the biggest names in the audio and home theater market. New audiophile quality products were brought together for a hands on and ears on experience. Conference rooms
By Donald Scarinci: Patti Smith’s 2010 best-selling Memoir opens an intimate window into this New Jersey poet and punk rock star’s life. While not intended as an autobiography, the story about the relationship between Patti Smith and artist Robert Mapplethorpe contains autobiographical information that becomes
The U.S. Supreme Court may likely decide the legality of the long-standing practice of recess appointments. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently made headlines when it invalidated President Obama’s nominations to the National Labor Review Board. Under the U.S.
Many travel junkies who want more than the standard tourist experience seek out blogs and websites from previous visitors who can give a fresh view of a country, and “The Expeditioners” blog and Facebook page falls into this category. The blog is operated by three
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up two same-sex marriage cases next month. While the oral arguments are expected to garner wide media attention, there will no television cameras inside the Supreme Court courtroom. Although cameras are now allowed in courtrooms across the country, the
Political themes and artwork are a common pair in many classic and contemporary works of art, and Michael Waugh’s latest exhibit at the Winkleman Gallery in New York does not disappoint. In its grand re-opening following Hurricane Sandy, the gallery is featuring Waugh’s “Offenses Against
When is the last time you got in your car to drive to a video store to rent a movie? Only a few short years ago, venturing to Blockbuster on a Friday or Saturday night would have taken at least an hour to battle the
In addition to losing a tough battle on the football field, the Fighting Irish did not fare very well in the courtroom either. The University of Notre Dame, a Catholic University, recently attempted to challenge part of the new federal healthcare reform on religious grounds.
Do you find art compilations that span several years of an artist’s career fascinating? If so, Song Dong’s new two-venue exhibit, “Doing Nothing,” may interest you. The contemporary Chinese artist features an exhibit that compiles two decades of his most promising work, a mixture of
Companies like Google receive hundreds of requests per week from co and government agencies seeking access to private user account information. Although Google complies with valid subpoenas, court orders, and warrants, the company has also expressed concern about overly broad requests and the need for
The Performance Space 122 kicked off its eighth annual Coil Festival in January, and audience members received the same eclectic and fresh mix of theater, dance and performance artists that have characterized this festival in previous years. The festival brought together groups of artists from
The traditional law school model is arguably in dire need of a makeover. But the legal community can’t seem to agree what a modern legal education should look like. Most recently, a proposal to allow law school students to eliminate their third year and sit
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently made headlines when he spoke during oral arguments. While this may not seem like news, it was the first time that the justice had spoken from the bench in nearly seven years. Even though the four words he
The newly constructed building for the mission church, Our Lady of Divine Providence, in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands is now adorned with new and inspiring art work, made specifically for the mission. The scenes in the series that now hangs on the new church
Arcane New Jersey laws that are still on the books often make for fun trivia or fodder for legal blogs. However, a recent California case reminds us that some of these laws can have real, and often unintended, consequences. Julio Morales was charged with rape
For seasoned lawyers who have been practicing for years, social media isn’t necessarily second nature. In fact, some don’t know the difference between tagging and tweeting. However, Pew Research estimates that 65 percent of adults log into social media every day. Therefore, like it or
The 12.12.12 Hurricane Sandy benefit concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden was one of those concerts that people will remember like the concert for Bangla Desh and Live Aid. It brought in millions of dollars to help victims. By the Robin Hood Foundation’s count,
Fine art in China has been attracting attention in the art community as the ever increasing prices for all genres of Chinese contemporary art in the market reflect. Ai Weiwei is one of the great artists working in China today and his exhibit, “Ai Weiwei:
More than two weeks after Hurricane Sandy ravaged through New Jersey, the expansive wreckage is a sorrowful reminder of the thousands of people who lost their homes and belongings. The damage is more pronounced in some areas more than others, but I think we can
Both finalists in this year’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery are featured artists at the Henoch Gallery at 555 W 25th Street in New York City. The Henoch is on my list of favorite Chelsea Galleries and this honor is
Andy Warhol never left New York. He is the subject of two outstanding exhibitions—one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and another at the Benrimon Gallery. “Thank You Andy Warhol” is the tribute exhibit at the Benrimon Contemporary museum in New York. Catherine Johnson, author
I am happy that my article about the Die Varieties of the Washington Before Boston medal has sent people back to their collections to look at the medals. I hope that more people will report their findings. A die emission sequence can only be theorized
Finally the experts are saying what I was always hoping they would say about my excessive coffee drinking—“It’s good for you.” The health benefits of drinking coffee have always been a source of dispute among leading medical professionals, many of whom go back and forth
September 8, 2012: Washingtonia was the topic of this year’s gathering of the colonial coin elite at Rodger Siboni’s home in New Jersey. New finds and discoveries were presented and some significant collections of Washingtonia were displayed. The highlight, in my opinion, was a New
For several months, my daughter has been working with José Cusi to help launch Cusi Travel, a locally owned tour agency in Cusco, Peru. The website they have been working on is now live and it looks great. Cusi Travel operates tours in and
It was a spectacular sight to watch the 2012 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks in New York City from aboard the “Incentive” on the Hudson River. I hope this video conveys the sense of patriotism and pride for America that all the guests shared that night.
Flying to Ajaccio, Corsica takes some careful planning. It is a lot like getting to Martha’s Vineyard, and the timing of the flights needs to be right. We arrived in Nice, France and waited five hours for our flight to Ajaccio. Ajaccio is on the
When the Johansson’s called and invited us to join them in the Mediterranean for a few weeks of sailing, it was impossible to say no. They are good friends from Sweden who we hadn’t had the chance to spend time with in several years. Sailing
If you have ever had your credit card compromised, you understand the havoc that identity theft can create. Now imagine if that happened to your business. Given the harm it can do to your reputation and bottom line, business identity theft should be on the
This week’s Dewey & Leboeuf bankruptcy is more evidence that the law business has changed radically since 2008. Law firms that insist on doing business as usual and continue to raise their rates each year will continue to see declining profits as clients seek out
The ANA Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture is awarded annually at the ANA’s annual banquet in August of each year. The award is made to a sculptor who “exemplifies the fine art of designing, sculpting and engraving.” Mel Wacks, Committee Chairman said,
At its meeting in Washington on Tuesday, June 26, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee of the United States Mint considered candidate designs for four medals in the Code Talkers Recognition Congressional Medal Program. Congress awarded these medals “in recognition of the dedication and valor of
Maybe it took the Beatles to reunite America and England after the Declaration of Independence, but it happened and the two are together again. Today, few Americans view British culture as particularly exotic or foreign. Except for the British accent, which is even less pronounced
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s seemingly rapid free fall has caught the attention of business analysts and bankers as much as the legal community. As a result, the legal industry today is undergoing the same scrutiny as the financial services industry did in 2008. While criminal allegations,
President Barack Obama grabbed the headlines last week in his support of same-sex marriage. The political pundits dominated the evening news with talk about the national political ramifications, and politicians defined each other’s position on the subject. However, few news accounts or talking heads considered
Judicial nominees who withdraw their names when they know they don’t have the votes for confirmation are never remembered very long. Philip Kwon, on the other hand, has made his mark on New Jersey history by either becoming the first or one of very few
One of my favorite parks in Bergen County, NJ is tucked away in a residential area of Wyckoff. I call it the bird museum but it is really called the James A. McFaul Environmental Center. It’s never crowded, and on a nice day, it is
Transparency, Institutional Critique and Performance Art dominate the 2012 Whitney Biennial. The curators of the Biennial attempt to take the pulse of the most current trends in American Art and put the snapshot on display in five floors of the Whitney Museum’s viewing space in
Archbishop John J. Myers dedicated the newly constructed Catholic church of Our Lady of Divine Providence at Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) on February 5, 2012. Damian Roderic Todd, the Royal Governor of TCI and over 700 people filled the new Church in Turks
By Donald Scarinci Israel won the coin of the Year for its 2010 Jonah in the Whale 2 Sheqalim coin. The coin had been selected as the “most artistic” category winner. Judges for Krause Publications nominated 95 coins issued in 2010 from around the world
Donald Scarinci, Managing Partner Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC 1100 Valley Brook Ave. P.O. Box 790 Lyndhurst, NJ 07071-0790 phone: 201-806-3386 Fax: 201-896-8660 Email: DScarinci@ScarinciHollenbeck.com City of Union City Hudson Cty Community College NJILGA Donald Scarinci is the founding partner of Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC. His practice focuses on
Photography English Language & Literature Numismatics DONALD SCARINCI 201-806-3386201-806-3386 DonaldScarinci@Yahoo.com Donald Scarinci was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1956. His book, “David Brearley and the Making of the United States Constitution” received favorable academic reviews when it was published in 2005. The
Starting a new venture in New Jersey is rarely an easy task, particularly given the growing number of rules and regulations impacting small businesses. However, efforts to help small businesses are underway to ease the regulatory burden and make New Jersey more business friendly. The Red Tape
Security breaches can often lead to costly business lawsuits and other legal headaches, just ask Sony Corp. The company suffered two serious data breaches last summer and is still dealing with the legal and public relations fallout. Sony’s security breach was ultimately the second-largest online data breach
One would think a casino operator and a church would be unlikely to agree on much, but in an opinion only a lawyer could love, they did indeed find common ground. It all arises out of a recent New Jersey Tax Court decision, which held that the
