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Current (https://current.org/2015/04/as-spectrum-auction-approaches-consider-value-of-local-service/)
As spectrum auction approaches, consider value of local service
By Joseph Bruns | April 16, 2015
In coming months, public television station managers, boards and governing institutions will be attempting to determine the value of their broadcast services and weighing those assessments against the income they might earn by selling broadcast spectrum in the FCC's upcoming auction.
Interest in the auction spiked following publication of an FCC report projecting opening bids and clarification of the time frame for broadcasters to make decisions. The auction is scheduled for 2016, but stations have until this fall to notify the FCC of their intent to participate.
Bruns (Photo: WETA/Cable Risdon Photography)
Depending upon their market, broadcasters have a number of choices, including declining to participate altogether, putting their spectrum up for outright sale in the first phase of the auction, moving their transmissions from UHF to VHF or entering into agreements with one or more stations to combine broadcasts into one channel, putting vacated channels up for auction.
There are many unknowns, and perhaps some unknowables, at this point. But for commercial stations, the business decision is clear-cut. The station has a determinable business value based on revenue, cash flow and profit. For the commercial station owner, the proposition is fairly simple: Is broadcasting a better investment than taking a potentially large payout and using the after-tax proceeds in another business enterprise? The future may be uncertain, but the choice to cash out now, perhaps at a premium price, or retain the current operating model is a business decision.
For a noncommercial public television station, the decision is less straightforward, however. How do you determine the value of a public station for which public service, not return on investment, is the bottom line? What is the value, today and in the future, of being able to offer free, ubiquitous educational programs such as Peg + Cat, a program designed to teach preschoolers basic math skills? What is the value of the unflinching investigative journalism presented by Frontline? How do you place a dollar value on preserving and telling the core stories of America, as programs such as The Roosevelts and Finding Your Roots have done? Or of providing local news and programs not available on commercial channels?
Over the years, many analysts have attempted to apply commercial "valuations" to noncommercial public-service entities. They have tried to put a monetary value on institutions such as museums, parks, universities and libraries. Some may find these attempts useful, but many others think they inevitably miss the mark.
Yet with the spectrum auction approaching, public television managers, boards and governing institutions will be faced with the challenge of determining a price point at which they would be willing to relinquish some or all of their broadcast capability.
How, then, does a public television station determine its value to the community to balance against the financial windfall it could reap by participating in the auction? The answer has to lie in the value of the community service it can provide now and in the future with its full technical capacity versus the value of the community service it could provide with a fraction or none of its means of delivering those services, but perhaps with more cash.
In some cases, participating in the auction could make sense. For example, two public stations serving the same community could merge or share a channel and continue to provide or even expand the range of public-service programs provided from a new, stronger financial base. Program offerings could be rationalized, and the added resources could help to provide new local services.
In other cases, stations will be firm in their belief that no amount of money offered in the auction could entice them to compromise their mission and their service to their community. They did not "earn" the potential windfall, and they hold their broadcasting license in trust for the community. For them, while additional resources for providing even greater service would be nice, the trade-off would not be a good one.
In addition, they may see potential in the eventual adoption of a new broadcast standard, ATSC 3, to provide new services such as broadcast to mobile devices, "over-the-top" applications and enhanced services to donors and members as opportunities to expand service and build additional revenue streams. Of course, other colleagues will see the better signal compression promised by ATSC 3 as enabling them to feed more content in narrower bandwidth.
Another critical decision for a participating station involves setting a "reserve price." The reserve price is the lowest bid a station will agree to accept for each auction option they are participating in. While the reserve price does not need to be disclosed, it is essential that stations take considerable care in setting these marks — and that they exercise the discipline of sticking to them once the auction commences. This, essentially, is the "value" that the station places on their spectrum in the auction.
As stations engage in deciding whether and how to participate in the auction, and in the critical calculation of their reserve price, I suggest that they include the following in their analysis:
Review your mission statement. If you don't have a mission statement, write one. You don't need to pay for a consultant, and it doesn't have to be written in stone, but reach consensus on what you strive to do for your community. Then analyze how effectively you are meeting that mission.
Consider whether another public television station is serving all or a substantial portion of your community. Are you both making effective and efficient use of your resources, including your broadcast spectrum? Could you provide better or broader service to your community by entering into an agreement? Is institutional pride standing in the way of offering better public service?
Evaluate whether you making full use of your broadcast spectrum with the programs serving your community. Are you spectrum-constrained? If you had more dollars but less spectrum, what would you do differently?
Learn about the potential of ATSC 3. While many uncertainties still surround this new standard, it may be a "game-changer" for broadcasters. Depending on how you look at it, ATSC 3 will allow either enhanced services or greater data compression, or both.
Do some scenario planning. If you sold all or part of your spectrum, what exactly would you do with the proceeds? Would your community approve? Would you expand your public media service to the community? Would it expand the diversity of your audience or contract it? Will it leave a part of your community unserved? What would your spend-down plan be?
Consider the community's investment. Many donors and supporters have given time and money over the years to build your station's value. They are analogous to investors. How will their interests be served by your choice?
Analyze the trade-offs. Is it worth it? Would giving up some of your capacity to provide public service be offset by the additional resources you would have available to provide enhanced services? Will you be willing to spend those resources to realize those improvements? There will be a great temptation to tuck the proceeds away in "endowment." Is that the best use of funds?
Maintain your skepticism about the potential proceeds. Keep in mind that particularly with regard to the spectrum auction, "price" is not the same as "value." The price offered will be determined by the scarcity of available spectrum in your market. You will determine the value based on the service you provide, which will be reflected in your reserve price or by your decision not to participate in the auction.
As a nonprofit public service organization, your fiduciary responsibility is not to maximize financial value. Your responsibility is to maximize service to your community. As you decide whether and how to participate in the spectrum auction, keep that foremost in mind.
Joe Bruns was CFO at KQED in San Francisco and COO at WETA in Arlington, Va., before his retirement in 2013. He has since served on the board of trustees at WETA and as a consultant to CPB. Views are his alone.
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The Institute of Australian Culture
Heritage, history, and heroes; literature, legends, and larrikins
Chapter 23 [Out of the Silence, by Erle Cox]
31 May 2018 by IAC · Leave a Comment
[Editor: This is a chapter from Out of the Silence (1947 edition) by Erle Cox (1873-1950).]
Chapter XXIII
It was on the morning of the following Saturday that Alan was seated in the "temple" in deep argument with Earani. For the first time there was even a shadow of a cloud between them. Dundas was leaning back in his chair staring at the ceiling, and there was deep concern in his eyes and a frown on his forehead. Earani was half reclining on a couch near by. Her splendid bare arms were thrown across the head of the couch, and her round chin was resting on her entwined fingers. She was apparently unmoved, except for the perplexed look in her eyes as she watched the man.
"Even now I cannot understand, Alan. You say it would not be right for me to go with you to-day, yet you give no reason. What is the play you go to join in that I may not see?"
"Oh, Earani! There is nothing in the play that you might not see. There will be women taking part, but —" He paused. One of the penalties of secrecy was upon him, and he was wriggling to try to save her feelings from the truth he could not put into words. For some perverse reason she had demanded that he should take her with him to Glen Cairn that day. As he paused she went on, "Then there will be women there?"
"Twenty or more," answered Alan grimly, and through his mind there flashed a picture of them all.
"So, Alan," she said persuasively, "that is why I wish to go with you. I would like to meet the women of your world and talk with them. Sooner or later I must. Why not now?"
"Earani, you must trust me. I know Barry would agree with me, too. We must prepare for your reception before you can make your appearance. They would not understand." It was doubly hard to refuse anything she asked when she pleaded.
"Alan, I think you are cruel," she said softly.
This was too much for Dundas. "Earani, Earani," he said, almost bitterly. "With all your science, and with all your generations of eugenics, Eukary could never make a woman anything but a woman."
Earani rose to her feet and looked down at him. Then she laughed long and softly, swaying herself slightly as she stood. "Alan. Oh, Alan! That was mighty truth. It seems but yesterday that Andax hurled the same reproach at me. 'After all, what use to give you a man's brain when you are a woman?' Oh, Alan! You should have heard the scorn he put into the word." And then she broke off to laugh merrily. "Tell me, Alan, and look at me when you answer. Would you have me anything else?"
She stood watching him, her splendid grey twin stars full of mirth, and the curved red lips parted, showing a snowy line beneath. Her glorious face was framed in the masses of her silky hair that hung to her knees, and she crossed the white hands on her breast in an attitude of mock humility.
Dundas leaned forward slightly. He knew it was deliberate coquetry, and this was not the first time she had displayed it, but in spite of himself his hands went to his eyes for a moment as if to shut out something too dazzling for sight. Then he looked at her again, and shook his head. "God forbid you should ever be anything but yourself, Earani," he answered slowly, almost in a whisper.
Then her mood changed suddenly, though a mischievous smile still played on her lips. "Ah, well, I will not worry you, Alan," she said. "To-day I will read, perhaps, or stay here and think of things I must do. But you — go, and do not think about my foolishness any more." She walked with him to the first landing. A few days before, Dundas and Barry, under Earani's supervision, had erected an elevator in the shaft of the great staircase. It was a piece of machinery that Earani had produced from one of the galleries, and which had since been a source of wonder and delight to the men on account of its simplicity and perfection. The hardship of the journey to and from the homestead had been no small matter when constantly undertaken, and their new means of transport had been a welcome relief.
Alan stepped into the cage, and placed his hand on the controlling lever. "Well, I shall see you this evening, anyhow, for I shall be back by dusk. Till then —" He waved his hand as the cage shot up into the darkness. But Earani stood for some moments after he had disappeared. Then she made her way to the galleries below, and busied herself amongst divers strange implements. Every now and again she paused and smiled, and had Alan seen that smile his serenity would have been badly shaken.
Saturday afternoon was "the" day on the Glen Cairn tennis court. Even the golf club admitted its social superiority. As in all country towns, few of the men had leisure during the week to play, but the Saturday gathering brought them in not only from the town itself, but from a dozen miles round. The club courts formed a common meeting-ground and the centre of the social part of their lives. The club leased a corner of the town park, and had surrounded itself with a dozen rows of pepper trees that had flourished so that a stranger might walk past it without knowing that within the sacred grove lay the holy of holies of Glen Cairn society. Whoso held the right to pass the white gate labelled "Members only" knew himself to be one of the elect. Truly a democratic community were the good citizens of the borough and the shire of Glen Cairn, but the citizens who engaged in retail trade might not rub shoulders with the citizen who worked like a labourer for five and one-half days of the week but who did not engage in retail trade. With the exception of George MacArthur, old Tom Gaynor, the storekeeper, easily led the procession so far as this world's goods were concerned, and he alone knew what sums the various members of the club owed him for goods sold and delivered, but not even the majesty of the rabbit-trimmed mayoral robes could carry him one step beyond that white picket gate. Not that it troubled Tom to any extent, but it is on record that Tom's better half had been heard to express herself with freedom and fluency (and she could be both free and fluent of speech) on what she called the "dashed cheek of them tennis club people." In justice to the men of Glen Cairn, however, let it be put on record that the committee of the club was almost entirely feminine.
It was a rare, golden winter afternoon, with just the first hint of coming spring in the air, and the day had drawn even a larger assemblage than usual. On the verandah of the clubhouse and round the courts were gathered the youth (there was plenty of it) and the beauty (not quite so much) of the district, likewise the matrons who gathered there for reasons best known to themselves.
When Alan arrived, accompanied by Rickardson, his presence was hailed by a volley of good-natured chaff that disturbed him not one whit. At the last moment he had written to Mistress Doris to say that, though he would appear on Saturday, he would not play, pleading want of practice. He made his way by slow stages towards the club-house; truth to tell, by no means anxious to face a group that his eyes had taken in the moment he came out on to the courts. There in one corner, were seated, in canvas chairs, Mistress Doris, Madam Kitty, and Marian Seymour. He felt in his heart that what had passed between him and Marian on that memorable night was no small thing to her. With another girl, perhaps a kiss pressed on unreluctant fingers, or a few soft words whispered during a moonlight drive, might mean but little, but with Marian he knew this meant much more, and not even the glory of Earani could drive from his mind the memory of the look he had seen in her eyes that night, and no amount of attempted self-deception could make him feel anything but guilty on her account. And so he put off the inevitable meeting.
He lingered beside the tea table, where Bella Pook was performing a miracle as great as that of the loaves and fishes by pouring tea from a two-pint teapot for nearly fifty people. It was no small relief to him then, when Rickardson, who had picked up MacArthur, came his way again, and under their escort he approached the group. With all his shortcomings, it was hard to dislike MacArthur, and his cheerful absence of self-consciousness made him proof against the arrows of feminine disapproval. Dundas knew that George had more than once come under the ban of the matrons' displeasure, and that the last occasion was all too recent, and it amused him to notice how calmly the culprit disregarded his punishment, and made himself one of the little party in the corner.
Marian greeted Alan without a trace of restraint, but, on the other hand, without the slightest warmth. That she was deeply hurt by his conduct she would not try to conceal from herself, but she would rather have died than let him know how bitterly she resented it. So that Doris, who watched their meeting with a true matchmaking interest, found but little in it to satisfy her curiosity. At the first opportunity she flashed a wireless to Madame Kitty, but found that that interested spectator was also out of her bearings.
"Mrs. Bryce," said Rickardson, "I caught this —" and he put his hand on Alan's shoulder, "in the reading-room of the club. Rara avis, is it not? You will notice that it is not even wearing seasonable plumage. I asked it why, and it said it had given up tennis. Miss Seymour, do you think that the leopard can change its spots?"
Marian shook her head. "Mr. Dundas has been away for so long that I have almost forgotten whether he plays or not. Used you to play?" she asked, turning to Alan. There was nothing in the words themselves, but there was an inflection in the voice that stung one of the hearers, and caused a momentary exchange of glances between two of the others.
Alan disregarded the question. "The foundation for the statement is a remark of mine that I am too much out of practice to play in a tournament. You ought to know what discount to allow for Rick's statements, Mistress Doris."
"What I want to know," asked Madame Kitty, "is whether you intend to stay out of your shell now you have come out? Because if not, I simply decline to renew our acquaintance until you do. If you intend to lead a patchwork existence, you needn't expect me to."
Alan replied, "I don't know yet, but I hope to become normal before long. Where is your man?" He deftly robbed MacArthur of the cushion he was settling for himself, and, despite the protests of its indignant owner, sat on the floor of the verandah with his back against a post.
When the squabble had subsided Kitty answered: "My man, as you call him, should be here somewhere," and she glanced round the courts.
"So he is," said Rickardson, "only he happens to be obscured for the moment by the bulk of the Rev. John Harvey Pook. If you twist your neck, Dun, you might see him."
Alan remained passive. "I don't care enough about Pook to twist my neck to look at him," he answered, and then, as Kitty rose to find her man, Alan took the vacant chair, and left the cushion to be wrangled over by the other two, with Doris as umpire.
Marian had remained silent, looking absently away, but, finding Alan so close to her, she turned reproachful eyes on him. "Have you been ill?" she asked in a low voice.
Dundas shook his head. He knew there was more than one question in the words. "No," he answered slowly, "not ill, but worried a bit."
"Dr. Barry has been much at 'Cootamundra,' and as we heard nothing of you, I thought perhaps that would account for things," said the girl quietly.
Dundas turned from the soft, accusing eyes. "I did call," he said meekly, "but you were away."
"Oh! but that was ages ago. Just after the night — I saw you at the bank," she added quickly. "You do not blame me for not being there, surely? How could I know ——?" She stopped suddenly.
Neither had noticed for the moment that a strange hush had fallen on the chattering gathering, until Marian looked up with the words cut short on her lips and her eyes fixed in wonderment. Dundas watched her in astonishment. He saw Marian's hands clasp themselves, and she bent forward, looking across the court. Then she said slowly as if unconscious that she had spoken. "Oh! how lovely, how wonderful!" Almost immediately afterwards MacArthur's voice cut in behind him: "Great Scott! Ricky, it's a wandering angel."
Alan turned in his chair, then shot to his feet electrified. There, across the courts, apart from all others, stood Earani — Earani, whom he had left to "think of things she must do, or read;" but, beyond doubt, if he were awake, Earani.
She had robed herself in the same pale blue gown that she had worn when he had first seen her. Her massed shining hair was twined in two arm-thick strands that fell before her from either shoulder. The dark blue cloak was thrown back, leaving the marble arms bare beside her, and the sunlight flashed and glittered on the jewelled belt about her waist. Even in the first astonished moment there flashed through Alan's mind the thought of how absolutely insignificant she made the whole throng look in comparison. There was a dignity in her carriage that stamped her as a being apart. She stood with quiet unconsciousness of the sensation her appearance had caused, and she glanced round with her great grave eyes in frank, unconcerned curiosity, meeting the scores of strange eyes as she did so without a trace of embarrassment of self-consciousness. As though drawn by the intensity of his gaze, her eyes turned to Dundas, and as she saw him a radiant smile flashed into her face. One white hand fluttered towards him, then her voice, clear as the ring of crystal, cut into the astonished silence: "Alan, I was afraid for the moment that you were not here." For a second every eye turned towards Dundas, and then went irresistibly back to Earani, who commenced to move towards him.
Alan made up his mind in a flash. He saw before him a staggering contretemps, but, come what might, his place was beside Earani, to take with her whatever might come, and with a great throb of love and pride in his heart, he strode out to meet her. She waited until he was close to her, and then said in a low voice: "I wanted to come, and I came. It's no use being angry with me. Show me your friends." He laughed recklessly. If he must face the music no one would have the opportunity of seeing him flinch, and he turned with his head high and faced the gathering on the verandah. He met the battery of questioning eyes with his own unabashed, and Barry, in spite of his own inner consternation, whispered a "Well done, Condor!" as the two came forward together. Barry felt certain that he himself had some stiff moments to face, nor did he prophesy in vain.
Now the members of the Glen Cairn Tennis Club were on the whole decently and normally behaved people, but it took more strength than they possessed collectively or individually to meet this abnormal situation. Here, out of the blue sky, so to speak, had appeared a feminine stranger of surpassing loveliness, and clothed, as one matron afterwards affirmed, in a princess robe and an opera cloak — a stranger, be it remembered, whose coming had been unheralded, and of whose presence in the district they were totally ignorant. And this radiant being had publicly and unmistakably addressed Dundas by his Christian name before them all. So now, as the two approached, each one of the assembly on the verandah forgot everything else in an overwhelming curiosity. Alan's eyes met those of Barry, and in spite of himself the look of amazement in his friend's face caused reckless amusement to gain the upper hand, for Earani had also seen Dick, and walked directly towards him with outstretched hand, and said, "Why, Dick, dear boy, I'm so glad to see you here, too! You didn't expect me, did you?"
Barry turned a helpless look on Alan. He heard beside him the gasp of amazement from Kitty, and Alan hastened to the rescue. "Mrs. Barry, I want you to know Miss Earani." He choked over the prefix. It seemed as idiotic as saying Mrs. Venus. "She is a great friend of mine, and has already met Dick" — ("No doubt about that," he heard a whisper behind him). "Earani, this is Doctor Barry's wife."
Earani turned from Dick to look at the perplexed face of Madame Kitty. "I have wanted to know you for a long time," she said, in a smiling, friendly voice. "I have heard much about you from Alan."
Now Kitty did not for a moment doubt the fealty of her man, but the easy familiarity of the speech to Dick roused in her the jealousy that is latent in even the best of women. "I do not remember hearing Dr. Barry speak of you, Miss — Earani," she answered, noncommittally.
"Oh!" answered Earani. "That is proof that he can be trusted, for I made him promise that he would not speak of me to anyone, even to you, and you see he has obeyed me."
The word "obey" was an unfortunate choice, and the flush in her face and the light in her eyes told Alan that, for Madame Kitty at least, Earani would take no little explaining. But the moment's tension was relieved from an unexpected quarter, for the Reverend John Harvey Pook (no one ever thought of shortening that collection of names) heaved his black bulk into the arena to meet what fate had prepared for him.
"My dear Dundas," he said, in his blandest tones, "may I have the honour of being one to welcome your charming friend?"
Earani faced the interrupter. Her steady eyes swept him from head to foot. Without turning, she spoke, "Alan, who is this man?" as one would say, "What is this creature?"
Grasping at any chance that would give Barry breathing space, Alan introduced the reverend gentleman by his full name, omitting not one syllable. "I may add," put in Pook, "that I am the vicar of the parish of Glen Cairn. You can hardly have been long in the district, or doubtless we would have met before." There was an evident question in the remark, and Earani's answer came unhesitatingly. "Oh, yes, I have been here quite a long time now. I am living with my friend, Alan. But you would not know that." She added the last sentence as an after-thought. Alan's eyes never left Pook or Earani, but a sixth sense told him of the sensation that went through the crowd at the frank avowal. He knew they were on the verge of a catastrophe, but he felt helpless to avoid it.
There could be no doubt as to the surprise on the face of the parson, who blundered on, "Oh, then, Miss Earani, your mother will be with you, too?"
"No," came the reply, simply. "My mother has been dead for many years. Alan and I are quite alone together, except when Dick comes to see us." She spoke so clearly and simply that no one present could miss a word.
For the first time Alan looked round the silent, breathless circle. His eyes went from the flushed face of Madame Kitty to the scandalised countenance of Pook's wife and master, and past that again he saw the eyes of Doris Bryce set in relentless judgment. He knew, none better, the verdict of the onlookers, the feminine portion at any rate. The masculine opinion found vent somewhere in a low whistle that gave Dundas a furious desire to slay the whistler then and there. The slow-working brain of Pook seemed entirely unable to assimilate the fact that he was in the presence of a tragedy. "But," he blundered on, "I do not understand. You have someone else with you, of course?"
This was too much for Alan. "Pook, my friend," he said shortly, "is this a catechism class?"
"It appears to me ——" began Pook, who had at last grasped the situation; then he caught the look in Alan's eye, and broke off stammering.
"It appears to you," prompted Alan with deadly politeness, when Earani, who had become aware of the cold hostility that surrounded her without in the least understanding it, broke in — "Alan, what is a vicar?"
"A vicar," said Alan, struggling with a wild desire to laugh at the effect of this simple question on the countenance of Pook, "a vicar is a clergyman."
"Oh!" — she looked the reverend gentleman over with mild interest — "you are one of the priest class. I might have known." Pook was plainly qualifying for apoplexy. "What creed do you teach, priest?"
He was a low churchman, and to be publicly told that he belonged to the priest class, and then to be addressed as "priest," was more than Pook could endure. It savoured too much of the Rome his soul anathematised. "Young woman," he stammered, waving an ineffectual paw, "I have been a minister of God for five and twenty years ——"
What more he could have said was cut short by Earani's clear, incisive voice — "Man, you have been a minister to your stomach for much longer."
There was a gasp of amazement at this frank generalisation, and here and there a scarcely smothered laugh went up. Dundas, horrified, attempted to interfere. "Oh! that is not right, Earani."
"But, Alan," she persisted, "I tell you it is right. Look at him. He eats too much. His very brain is fat."
Before Alan could utter another word Mrs. Pook flew to the rescue, purple with fury. "How dare you! How dare you speak to my husband in such a manner?"
"Are you his wife?" asked Earani calmly, disregarding the fury of the demonstration.
The good lady gaped. "His wife! I am his wife. You — you ——"
"Then God help your offsprings. It would be a crime to let two such people breed." Earani spoke with calm decision. There was no warmth in her words. They were uttered as a matter of fact.
"John Harvey — come away — at once! Must I stay here to be insulted by this shameless woman?" She caught the outraged vicar by the arm and drew him off the verandah. There was a general movement amongst the scandalised womenfolk, and Earani watched the movement with mild surprise. "Alan," she asked, "are these people all fools? What have I done that these women hate me? I feel they do, even the wife of Dick;" and she turned to Kitty, who met her with one blazing glance and turned away.
Alan determined to make one desperate effort to retrieve the position. Mistress Doris had held her ground, watching the proceedings, and beside her, with stormy eyes, stood Marian. Dundas drew Earani towards her, the crowd parting before them. "Doris, there has been a terrible misunderstanding," he said, as he reached her. "I want to try and explain."
Doris looked at him with level eyes, taking no notice of Earani. "How long did you say your friend had been living with you, Mr. Dundas?"
Alan had never heard that voice before. "Six months, but ——" He got no further.
"I think there has been a misunderstanding — but — it will not continue. Marian, dear, are you coming?" and, taking the girl's arm, Doris swept past as though Earani and Alan were non-existent. Her move was the signal for a general exodus, for Doris held no little power in the land, and scandalised matrons gathered their little flocks and fled, carrying in their train their mankind.
Dundas recognised the futility of a struggle against such overwhelming odds. He shook his head in answer to a mute inquiry in Dick's eyes, and felt relieved when he saw Barry turn away reluctantly with his wife and follow the crowd. Some of the men would have gladly waited, but, realising that it was "not their funeral," thought it better to leave. In a few minutes all who were left on the deserted courts besides Earani and Dundas were Rickardson, MacArthur and Bryce. Alan did not know that his old friend had been present until he found him standing by his side.
Earani had watched the flight in silence. There was the flicker of an amused smile about her lips. She turned to Alan at last. "Alan, what is it that I have done? You were right when you said that your friends would not understand me, and you might have said that I would not understand them."
"I'm afraid, Earani, there is too much to tell to explain now. What you have done cannot be helped. We must leave the rest to time. I think the only thing to do now is to go back to 'Cootamundra.' At least, before you go, you must know these three, the only ones who have stayed," and he nodded to the men who stood looking on.
Earani shook her head. "No, Alan, I have lost you too many friends to-day through my folly. Not now, but later, when they understand." She turned and stepped from the verandah. Dundas made as if to follow, but she waved him back with a smile. "Stay there. I go the way I came." She walked swiftly; before he could move, she had turned the corner of the clubhouse. A moment later Dundas ran in the direction she had taken, but when he reached the corner the tall, cloaked figure had vanished. He looked round dazed. It seemed impossible that she could have gone beyond his sight in the few seconds, even the close-growing peppers could not have hidden her completely, but the fact remained, she had gone as though the ground had swallowed her up.
Alan turned back to the verandah and met the questioning eyes of the three. "She's gone," he said.
"Gone where? How?" asked Bryce. It was the first time he had spoken.
"I haven't the faintest idea, but she's gone," said Alan, and his mystified air showed that he spoke the truth.
MacArthur laughed. "Well, Dun, she said that she would go the way she came, and she did, because I happened to be looking across the courts when she arrived, and I'm prepared to swear that the lady didn't walk on from anywhere. She just happened. One moment she wasn't and the next she was. Do you get me? Most disconcerting. Dun — is she — pardon a question — is she real?"
"Oh! ask Pook," said Dundas savagely. Then, after a moment, "Good Lord! What a mess!"
Then Rickardson spoke up. "Look, Dun, Mac and I only waited to know if we could do anything. For any mortal thing we can do we're yours. Only say the word."
Alan shook his head. "Good pals, but it's no use. Nothing could stop the talk. Jove! Mac, you'll be a plaster saint compared with me now. If you're going back to the club you might drop a hint that I'm not receiving visitors."
"All right, Dun," said MacArthur. "We'll leave you to Bryce. But, remember, call on us at any time"; and the two swung off together to discourage gossip at the club in their own peculiar fashion, with blind faith in their friend in his trouble.
It was not until their figures were hidden in the trees that Dundas turned to Bryce, who stood by, tugging at his moustache, and eyeing his friend with profound perplexity.
"Well, Hec," he said, "and the verdict is ——?"
"Judgment reserved — for the moment," answered Bryce, pushing both hands deep into his pockets. "Let me hear your version, Alan. To put it mildly, you'll admit there's an explanation due."
"How much did you hear?" asked Dundas.
"Pretty well everything, I think. Enough, anyhow, to shake my faith in human nature. Enough, almost, to shake my faith in you. Alan, what devil's scrape have you got into?"
"Listen, Hec. You've known me since I was a little shaver. You know me better than any man does. If I give you my word of honour that, in spite of appearances, although what she said about our being alone at 'Cootamundra' is true, for it is true, will you take my word that to me she is sacred?" He spoke in a low, earnest voice, and looked Bryce appealingly in the face.
Bryce's hand shot out. "Dun, I'd take that word of yours, and, thank God for it. I do believe you. But can you help me to make others believe?"
Dundas smiled grimly. "Hec, that's just the point. You'll believe me blindly, and MacArthur and Rickardson. Barry knows, too. But the trouble is I can tell you nothing, for a while at any rate. Afterwards the whole world may know. But at the moment — well — I just can't, that's all."
"If you have to make a mystery of her, Alan, what on earth possessed you to bring her here to-day? It was suicidal."
"I didn't," came the brief reply. "Another thing, Hec, if I were to tell you the idea that's in my mind concerning her arrival here you'd jump about ten feet into the air with shock."
Bryce rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, Dun, here's the situation. You've disappeared for nearly six months. All attempts to rout you out and explain matters were futile. Then, without warning, you are publicly claimed by ——. May I go on?"
Dundas nodded.
"By the most" — Bryce paused again, searching for a word. "Don't you see, Alan, that it's her overpowering beauty that damns her and you hopelessly in the eyes of every woman in the place. Gad, man! Whatever they thought of her, they would pardon you if it were not for that. Why her face is enough to drive anyone crazy. Can't you see how hopeless it will be to try and explain?"
Dundas threw up his arms. "Dash it all, Hec! I know. I know, but I don't care a damn. Let them think what they like. One thing I can promise you is that before long every woman who turned away to-day will give her eyes almost to be able to say that she knows her. I won't try to explain to Mistress Doris — you saw our meeting?" Bryce nodded. "Only try and get her to think more kindly. Tell her she'll be sorry some day that she doubted."
"Dun, what about Barry? He seemed to be pretty well involved."
Alan laughed. "Afraid poor old Dick will have a bad time. The only thing is that perhaps Kitty will be too busy with me to remember him. Anyhow, it was a purely professional matter."
Bryce grinned under his moustache. "I hope your theory may prove correct, only if a client at the bank who resembled a goddess from Olympus addressed me as your friend addressed Dick — well, I'm afraid I couldn't plead business to Doris as a getaway — at least, with any hope of success."
"I'll trust old Dick to get clear," said Alan with a chuckle. "Taking it all round I think that was about the liveliest ten minutes in the history of Glen Cairn. I'll get home now, I think."
"But," said Bryce, "what about Miss Earani. How will she manage?"
Alan looked round thoughtfully. "No need to worry, Hec. As she said, she'll go the way she came, and," he added, "I've an idea that she's well on her way now."
They walked off together in the direction of the town, Alan chaffing Bryce that he would damage his reputation being seen with the culprit of the day. In spite of his apparent good humour, Dundas was bitterly angry with all concerned, with the exception, perhaps, of the real offender. They parted at the club, and a few minutes later Alan was pelting down the main street behind Billy. He was biting his underlip savagely, and his cheeks were burning with anger. As he had turned out of the club yard he had been obliged to make way for a buggy driven by a girl, who looked him through with contempt in her eyes.
A man who had been shooting that afternoon, and who had not heard the "very latest," turned up at the club afterwards, and gave a description of how Dundas had passed him on the way home driving like one possessed, and when in answer to questions he affirmed that Dundas was alone in his dogcart, the hum of talk rose a few degrees higher.
Erle Cox, Out of the Silence, Melbourne: Robertson and Mullens, 1947 (first published 1925), pages 281-301
[Editor: Changed "interesed spectator" to "interested spectator". Replaced the single quotation mark before "Earani, this is" with a double quotation mark. Added a full stop after "I do not understand".]
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text:
Page 12 of 664 First ... 291011121314152262112512 ... Last
Holy fucking shitballs of all the crisps you could have mentioned you picked the one brand and one flavour me and the nob I work with constantly fap over!!?? :o
/banned for being a witch.
Bobby does a 39p packet of beef grills too :mushy:
You can't get them in supermarkets.
They're only for the more select members of society like you and me and that nob who go to Newsagents staffed exclusively with Asians of the Indian variety.
Obviously ben has never heard of them as he can't read :snooty:
Plus I read somewhere that he hates foreigners and Jews.
I gave up on TWD shortly after they killed off Beth. Not much to care about after that.
Thank fook for that.
I was doing a spot of stalking this morning of old threads and noticed that you were on exactly 13,000 posts.
You'd not posted for ages so I thought you may have decided that the numbers meant something, like, and that something meant you had to leave the internets.
I don't know what, mind. Perhaps something symbolic to do with your wart and Hallowe'en.
:eyebrows: Not every economically deprived area.
Sup, intercunts. Agreed, for the most part, about the general TWD consensus. I've watched it four times and I'm still not desensitised. Pure extraneous torture porn. And wasted emotional crunch, from a dramatic point of view, given the comic steering more prevalent in the show now and the nature of spoilers, and TV's pathetic reaction to them.
In an effort to deflect the obviousness of a Glenn cliffhanger, the writers had clearly chosen to give Abraham the lesser of the brutality as a shocker, with Glenn's panel for panel skull excavation in technicolor. They sough to switch us, naively in spasticland, oblivious to the immense likelihood that all this wank would be leaked online before they even called it a wrap. A badly wrapped wrap. With kebab sticking out all over the joint. So they killed two fuckers, who'd we'd become unfortunately invested in for the sake of spoiling a spoiler already existent throughout the known universe.
As for the brutality. Yes, it's a little bit much for me, even in comparison to the splatter-porn of previous seasons. Though, I can't help thinking, that this kind of TV is a necessary pushing of the envelope, if even only to be set against the hypocrisy of sex and language being tabooed. It was filthy an it was nasty, but nobody died.
It's all Daryll's fault anyway.
Nicely put. The lurid violence getting approved for air, while the resultant guttural profanity emanating from the on-screen spectators could not is completely absurd, as you say.
It's a show about zombies, and it's incredibly difficult to suspend disbelief (in retrospect, to be fair) when his pregnant wife to be doesn't utter 'fuck' at least once in reaction to his slaughter.
Anyway, that thing about Abe getting smashed first to make Glenn's rollocking more of a shock has been described on a few sites I've been to as a 'fake-out'.
People are just accepting this term without question.
Take-out is fine, it's taking food out of the fucking restaurant. Make-out is okay too as it's a euphemism. Fake-out is nothing, it doesn't make sense, it just rhymes so now it's a thing.
If you hear someone saying it, beat them to death with their kids.
That beating him with his kids stuff was a bit prophetic, innit. That would make me Negan and Dave would be Rick. Ha.
Our News Agent is 100% indifferent. She's also a large lady.
You can say good morning and she'll say nothing back. Maybe they don't celebrate mornings or something else.
You can take your £1 bag of enjoyment to the counter, hand her a tenner and say "sorry I don't have coins". No reaction. You can say to her " I bet your Gods are all zoo animals in people clothes" and still nothing... I like her.
Why the fuck would you want to converse with a fat newsagent.
Gold.
Don't celebrate mornings :glag:
I also like how you're so damn polite that you apologise for having money in order to pay for the goods she has for sale.
Some people just like to chat :eyebrows:


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Come to TechTalks to meet our technical guru and to find out more about embedded software solutions that we develop in our Automotive Excellence Center from Timisoara.
We cover many areas: from In-vehicle infotainment, connected cars or advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are our focus.
Wipro is one of the most competitive player at international level in software automotive industry. With 6 innovation labs at global level and a network of +2000 Engineers we developed a long-standing excellent relationships with more than 50 global automotive clients. The Automotive Excellence Center from Romania – the first center from Europe, will be playing a significant role in developing the emerging technologies of the future, like autonomous driving, car as a communication hub, in-vehicle infotainment for European market and not only.
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text:
Camp Arrowhead *
19-year-old Sophie Walker attends a summer camp to help her get over the loss of her mother. She attends as a worker and is initially made fun of by some rich girls at the camp. But when the rich girls realize they need another girl for the archery team, they invite Sophie to join. Meanwhile, Sophie has met a mysterious man in the forest named Percy who claims to be an archery coach. Sophie gets Percy the job as team coach and Percy proceeds to turn the girls into lethal archers. Along the way, Percy also helps Sophie come to terms with the loss of her mother – in an unexpected and magical way. Enjoy Carlee S.'s review of Camp Arrowhead. 19-year-old Sophie Walker attends a summer camp to help her get over the loss of her mother. She attends as a worker and is initially made fun of by some rich girls at the camp. But when the rich girls realize they need another girl for the archery team, they invite Sophie to join. Meanwhile, Sophie has met a mysterious man in the forest named Percy who claims to be an archery coach. Sophie gets Percy the job as team coach and Percy proceeds to turn the girls into lethal archers. Along the way, Percy also helps Sophie come to terms with the loss of her mother – in an unexpected and magical way. Available now on ITunes, Amazon digital, Google Play, Vudu and Fandango Now. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Carlee S. comments, "Camp Arrowhead is a heartwarming film with an inspiring message. It is a story about overcoming tragedy and never losing hope. When you have friends and you work together, sometimes miracles happen. It is a fast-paced film with lots of laughter and adventure." Katie F., adds, "The production is very professionally made and the cast are incredible. Chloe Lukasiak (Dance Moms) plays her performance as the stuck-up, posh and snobby brat, Devon Dupree, especially well. Tori Keeth (Henry Danger) takes on the lead role as the heart broken Sophie Walker, with great emotion and feeling." Calee N. adds, "Camp Arrowhead is a family-friendly film filled with laughs, drama and the hope that you have an open-mind." Sammi B. wraps it up with, "The message in this film is that kindness and forgiveness (especially of yourself) will make everything better. It feels religious by using symbols such as a cross and angel and talking about heaven. The message is positive. I just don't like that everyone's problems are solved so easily at the end."
Camp Arrowhead
By Carlee S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 15
https://youtu.be/ZegGEb2gMCc
Camp Arrowhead is a heartwarming film with an inspiring message. It is a story about overcoming tragedy and never losing hope. When you have friends and you work together, sometimes miracles happen. It is a fast-paced film with lots of laughter and adventure.
The storyline is about 19-year-old Sophie Walker (Tori Keeth) who recently lost her mother and volunteers at a summer camp to avoid staying with her cousins. A kind and mysterious man named Percy (Donnie William) gives her and her friend archery lessons and they both become ace archers. The camp bully, Devin Dupree (Chloe Lukasiak), really wants to win the archery competition and she is determined to win the competition no matter what. Along the way, Sophie comes to terms with her loss, in an unexpected and magical way.
One of my favorite parts of the film is the talent show scene. The songs are beautifully written and performed. Sophie sings a heartfelt song that touches everyone dearly. The emotions she expresses and the lyrics of the song really pull you in and grab your attention. Percy sings an upbeat song that leaves everyone feeling good and lifts the mood. Other characters also give talented performances. Chloe Lukasiak portrays her role as the bully in a believable way. Jennifer Aquino who plays Candace and Carter Southern who plays Tyler also bring their characters to life. The campground setting is perfect for the film. The natural setting, the camp buildings and the archery equipment really makes it all seem very real. I really enjoyed watching the characters develop and grow while they at camp.
The messages in this film are about forgiveness and love always prevail. Forgiveness allows peace and love and leaves viewers with hope.
I give Camp Arrowhead 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this movie to ages 7 to 16, plus adults. This film is available now on digital channels including iTunes, Amazon digital, Google play, Vudu and FandangoNow.
By Katie F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
https://youtu.be/HAiQ_Wv4Tuw
I really enjoyed this fun and adventurous movie! Camp Arrowhead is set in an authentic American summer camp. The actors all give genuine and believable performances. The film delivers a positive emotional message and feel-good factor.
This story follows 19-year-old Sophie (Tori Keeth), whose mother has recently passed away and she hasn't been the same since. She joins her best friend, April (Joy Regullano), to work at Camp Arrowhead as her father thinks it would be a good idea for her to work through her grief. She wanders into the wood and meets an unusual old man who might just offer the help she needs and, when the archery team require some new recruits, Sophie and April are up for the task. They join the archery team and learn about the importance of family, friendship and teamwork.
The production is very professionally made and the cast are incredible. Chloe Lukasiak (Dance Moms) plays her performance as the stuck-up, posh and snobby brat, Devon Dupree, especially well. Tori Keeth (Henry Danger) takes on the lead role as the heart broken Sophie Walker, with great emotion and feeling. Donnie Williams plays the role of Percy, a character who is mysterious and helpful in a warm and friendly manner. The supporting cast are great and each plays their role to a high standard, adding to the overall performance. The set is very realistic and in keeping with the storyline. I especially love the cabins. They look so warm and cozy. The music helps set the scenes whilst not distracting from the movie, and the character performances. My favorite part is towards the end of the film when Percy leaves a surprise gift, that leads Sophie to a very special place. I don't want to spoil it for you all, so can't say any more than that.
The message of the film is of uplifting friendship, and that time helps to heal emotional pain. We watch the girls struggle through a social divide, initially clashing, then put their differences aside and forming a bond through teamwork. It also teaches us the importance of forgiveness, no matter what you've done.
I give Camp Arrowhead 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 15, plus adults. This film is available now on digital channels including iTunes, Amazon digital, google play, Vudu , and FandangoNow.
By Calee N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11
Camp Arrowhead is a family-friendly film filled with laughs, drama and the hope that you have an open-mind.
With Sophie's dad going away for work all summer long, she decides to work at Camp Arrowhead with her close friend for the summer. Camp life has its challenges, especially since Sophie's mom died just a few months ago. With the help of new friends and a mysterious older man named Percy, Sophie learns the art of competitive archery and the gift of being able to communicate with her mom.
I enjoyed this movie because the plot is unpredictable and has a happy ending. Directors Timothy Armstrong and Fernando De La Cruz created a movie that generates a range of emotions. The magical theme was a surprise and includes some plot twists. Actor Donnie Williams' performance as Percy makes the magical character believable, while at the same time creating a well-loved movie character. Tori Keeth, who plays Sophie, creates a character that you hope will be able to find happiness. With the strong supporting cast you find yourself rooting for multiple people. The cinematographer, Ferguson Sauve-Rogan supports the film's message by creating authentic settings that carry the magical and realistic theme throughout the movie.
A common theme of the movie is to believe in yourself and have faith. Many of the characters in the movie confront and overcome difficult obstacles. Although the movie promotes many positive messages, some subtle racial inequity exists. Most likely this is not what the producers wanted, but it provides a good opportunity to bring awareness to discrimination in films and creates the chance to have an open and honest conversation about racism.
I rate Camp Arrowhead 4.5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 7 to 14. You can watch Camp Arrowhead now on iTunes, Amazon digital, Google Play, Vudu and FandangoNow.
By Samantha B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
https://youtu.be/4tZdsDH9kJ4
Camp Arrowhead is a new feature film aimed at tween girls about friendship and loss that reminds me of a Disney Channel movie, but falls short. I wanted to like this film, but the pacing feels slow and the writing is awkward. The movie also solves all of its characters' problems too easily.
The storyline is about a 19-year-old girl, Sophie Walker (Tori Keeth), whose mother died a few months ago. She is angry at herself because she argued with her mom before she died and Sophie never had a chance to make up. Her friend is going work at Camp Arrowhead and invites Sophie to join her. At camp she ends up making friends with the rich mean girl campers, finds romance with the camp director's grandson who is in a wheelchair, and makes peace with her mom's death with help from a special friend.
The sets and locations are realistic. The costumes quickly identify teen girls at a summer camp. There are some special effects at the end, but they are not very high tech. My favorite character is Sophie's friend April (Joy Regullano), who is very upbeat and nice to everyone. The other lead character is Devin (Chloe Lukasiak), who is a stereotypical mean rich girl who is under lots of pressure to win at archery from her mean mom. She changes after she invites Sophie and April to join the archery team and they become friends. The movie has a strong moral message that is delivered through an older character, Percy, whom we later learn is not what he first appears to be. My favorite part of the film is the montage where Percy teaches the girls archery.
The message in this film is that kindness and forgiveness (especially of yourself) will make everything better. It feels religious by using symbols such as a cross and angel and talking about heaven. The message is positive. I just don't like that everyone's problems are solved so easily at the end. Most of the negative behavior such as revenge and cheating is handled when characters apologize or have consequences like getting disqualified.
I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 through 14. This film is available now on digital channels including iTunes, Amazon digital, google play, Vudu, and FandangoNow.
kids reviewsmovie reviews


text:
Q: How can root@% grant a user to select all entries in information_schema.Tables MySQL 5.7.24
After creating a user, it can
select count(*) from information_schema.Tables

and get 50, let's say.
And root@% can get 300 with the same SQL.
how can root@% grant the created user to select all entries in information_schema.Tables.
if I
grant select on information_schema.Tables to test_user;

it says:
1044 - Access denied for user 'root'@'%' to database 'information_schema'

So, I want to know, how to grant the created user privileges on information_schema.

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text:
Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. A.D. 138-161)
In going through some of my photos of Athens, Greece, I came across a shot I had taken of a bust of Antoninus Pius.
Antoninus Pius. Reigned A.D. 138-161. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.
My priority in the limited writing I've done on Roman Emperors has been to deal with those who reigned during A.D. 1st century, i.e., those that intersect with biblical history. For example, click here ("Roman Emperors During the Gospels and Acts) and here ("Emperor Galba: the Year of Four Emperors). But here we offer at least a brief introduction to the life and reign of this 2nd century emperor, Antoninus.
Antoninus Pius was born in A.D. 86 at Lanuvium in Latium. He spent his youth at Lorium, not far from Rome. He married Annia Galeria Faustina. When Lucius Aelius Caesar, Emperor Hadrian's (r. A.D. 117-138) adoptive son and heir died in January 138, Hadrian then adopted Antoninus, February 25. Antoninus ascended the throne upon Hadrian's death, July 138.
Michael Grant states that Antoninus's "deferential attitude" to the Roman senators "prompted them to confer on him the unusual title of 'Pius', honouring (sic) his religious and patriotic dutifulness" (The Roman Emperors, 83).
Antoninus Pius. Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.
Regarding the land and people of Judea, Grant writes:
There Antoninus Pius soon modified, without completely abandoning, his predecessor's [Hadrian] veto on circumcision; that is to say he allowed Jews to circumcise their sons but forbade them to admit converts to the rite, thus weakening Jewish competition with the actively proselytizing Christians. Moreover, the ban debarring Jews from entry into Jerusalem was maintained, and indeed enforced by the construction of a ring of military posts round the city (86).
However, Grant's last statement above is contradicted by Nigel Rodgers, who stated, "Later, Antoninus Pius (reigned AD138-161) quietly revoked his predecessor's decree and allowed any Jews, who wished to, to return to the now utterly desolate site of Jerusalem" (Roman Empire, 219).
Interestingly, as emperor, Antoninus never left Italy (Rodger, 35); "Antoninus himself never once left Italy throughout the course of his reign" (Grant.86).
At his death, his adoptive son Marcus Aurelius said, "Remember his qualities so that when your last hour comes your conscience may be as clear as his" (Grant, 88).
Gibbons lavished much praise on the period which included the reign of Antoninus:
If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world, during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus. The vast extent of the Roman empire was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom. The armies were restrained by the firm but gentle hand of four successive emperors, whose characters and authority commanded involuntary respect. The forms of the civil administration were carefully preserved by Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the Antonines, who delighted in the image of liberty, and were pleased with considering themselves as the accountable ministers of the laws. Such princes deserved the honor of restoring the republic, had the Romans of their days been capable of enjoying a rational freedom. (Gibbon, E. (2004). The history of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. (H. H. Milman, Ed.). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
That kind of praise and honor somehow puts me in mind of Proverbs 21:2: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts."
1 Comment	| Athens, Bible History and Geography, Italy, photography, Roman Emperors, Roman Empire, Rome	| Tagged: Antoninus Pius	| Permalink
In the Steps of Paul: Along the Appian Way
Yesterday (Sunday) between church services in Rome (AM) and Ciampino (PM), we had the opportunity to see portions of the Appian Way. This road was one of the earliest and most important Roman roads of the ancient republic, connecting Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. It was constructed in the years 312–264 BC.
The Appian Way. Paul walked on this road on his way to Rome, Acts 28:14-16. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
When Paul was traveled to Rome as a prisoner as recorded in Acts 28:11-16, he was met by Roman Christians who heard he was coming. They then walked with him back to Rome. This land portion of the journey was on this road, the Appian Way. In this photo you can see the original paving stone, scored by chariot wheels. Then in the upper portion of the road you can see reconstruction pavement.
Near this area of our photo there were burial sites, such as that depicted here.
A burial site along the Appian Way. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Click on photos for larger view.
3 Comments	| Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, New Testament, photography, Rome, Travel	| Tagged: Acts 28, Apostle Paul, Appian Way	| Permalink
The "Horns of Moses"
One of the innumerable attractions in Rome which we were able to see last week was that of Michelangelo's Moses, housed (among other artistic works/artifacts) in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli. The statue of Moses was sculpted by Italian High Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, who created this work in the years 1513-1515. This sculpture was originally commissioned in 1505 by Pope Julius II for his tomb.
Michelangelo's Moses, in Rome. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.
Moses is here depicted as seated, holding the two tablets of stone. Some suggest the intensity portrayed is meant to represent his holy anger when he cast down the stones upon being confronted with Israel's idolatry.
But to the point of this post, Moses is seen here with two horns on his head. This is based on a rendering of Exodus 34:29 in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible in use during Michelangelo's time. The English Standard Version renders the text, which speaks of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai after talking with God, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God." The Latin Vulgate renders the Hebrew word qaran, "to shine" as "horned." Hence the horns on Michelangelo's Moses.
The NET Bible contains this translator note:
The word qaran is derived from the noun qeren in the sense of a "ray of light" (see Hab. 3:4). Something of the divine glory remained with Moses. The Greek translation of Aquila and the Latin Vulgate convey the idea that he had horns, the primary meaning of the word from which this word is derived. Some have tried to defend this, saying that the glory appeared like horns or that Moses covered his face with a mask adorned with horns. But in the text the subject of the verb is the skin of Moses' face.
The statue stands 8 feet, 4 inches and is made of solid marble.
Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.
Click images for larger view.
2 Comments	| Art, Biblical Interpretation, Italy, Old Testament, photography, Rome, Travel	| Tagged: Michelangelo, Moses	| Permalink
St. Paul Outside the Walls
My group arrived safely Tuesday morning in Rome. We visited the Papal Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, as well as other stops, including the catacombs, as time permitted before dinner. This building was constructed to honor the martyrdom of Paul.
The facade at the quadriportico at the Basilica of st. Paul outside the Walls. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
As a result of the Edict of Milan in the year 313 AD, the official persecution of Christians cease. The Emperor Constantine had a basilica built over the tomb venerated as that of the Apostle Paul.
Group shot at the basilica. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Group shot at colonnade at basilica. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
All of our group is well. More to come!
3 Comments	| City Walls, Italy, photography, Roman Empire, Rome, Travel, Uncategorized	| Tagged: St..Paul Outside the Walls	| Permalink
At Rhegium, Italy, on the Way to Rome
Acts 28 narrates the Apostle Paul's voyage to Rome, traveling as a prisoner. Having wintered at Malta due to a ship wreck, the journey continued: "We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli" (vv.12-13).
At Rhegium, Italy, looking across Strait of Messina to Sicily. Paul's ship made a brief stop here. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible has this information on Rhegium:
Important Italian harbor visited by Paul in his journey to Rome (Acts 28:13). From Malta, Paul's ship traveled north to the Sicilian capital of Syracuse; then in the absence of a south wind they may have tacked into the Strait of Messina, finding good harbor at Rhegium. Another south wind carried them from Rhegium to Puteoli in the Bay of Naples—the ship's destination, since Puteoli was southern Italy's chief port, receiving the great Alexandrian grain vessels.
The Strait of Messina was well known to every Roman navigator. Passage here was necessary in order to gain access to Italy's west coast; but its obstacles were numerous. Obstructions, shallows, and the narrow width (c. seven miles from Rhegium to Messina) forced ships to stay at Rhegium until an adequate south wind arose.
The name "Rhegium" (modern Reggio or Reggio di Calabria) may have come from a Greek verb, meaning "to tear" or "rend." Sicily, it seemed, had been "torn from the mainland" and Rhegium was the nearest Italian port. (Vol. 2, p. 1857).
Rhegium, on the "toe" of the "boot" of Italy, across from the island of Sicily. BibleAtlas.org.
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At Rome
Tonight I thought I'd share a group photo taken today in front of the Arch of Constantine. The Colosseum can be seen at right.
Group photo at Colosseum in Rome.
There is 3,000 years of history in Rome. More later. Thanks for following our blog.
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Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius
We continue to share some photos and info from our recent trip to Italy. Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, was the citadel of the earliest Romans. The Campdoglio Piazza, created by Michelangelo in 1536-1546, encompasses Capitoline Hill.
At the center of the piazza is an equestrian (depicting horseback riding) statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, (r. AD 161-180).
Emperor Marcus Aurelius at Campdoglio Piazza in Rome. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
Wikipedia has this info:
The statue was erected in 175 CE. Its original location is debated: the Roman Forum and Piazza Colonna (where the Column of Marcus Aurelius stands) have been proposed.
Although there were many equestrian imperial statues, they rarely survived because it was practice to melt down bronze statues for reuse as coin or new sculptures in the late empire. Statues were also destroyed because medieval Christians thought that they were pagan idols. The statue of Marcus Aurelius was not melted down because in the Middle Ages it was incorrectly thought to portray the first Christian Emperor Constantine. Indeed, it is the only fully surviving bronze statue of a pre-Christian Roman emperor.
In the medieval era it was one of the few Roman statues to remain on public view. In the 8th century it stood in the Lateran Palace in Rome, from where it was relocated in 1538 to the Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill) during Michelangelo's redesign of the Hill. Though he disagreed with its central positioning, he designed a special pedestal for it. The original is on display in the Palazzo dei Conservatori of the Musei Capitolini, while a replica has replaced it in the square.
Click on image for larger view.
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In Rome: Fountain of Four Rivers
Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy, built on the site of the Stadium of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96). The piazza follows the layout of the open space of the stadium. One of the attractions here is the Fountain of Four Rivers.
Fountain of Four Rivers. Photo by Nancy Picogna.
The fountain, a work of the famous artist Bernini, depicts the four "river gods." Wikipedia: "Collectively, they represent four major rivers of the four continents through which papal authority had spread: the Nile representing Africa, the Danube representing Europe, the Ganges representing Asia, and the Río de la Plata representing America."
Info from http://www.rome.info/bernini/fountain-four-rivers/
Rome's love affair with fountains goes back to antiquity, whilst the city today can boast a collection of public fountains that has no parallel to any other city in the world! In Baroque Rome, fountains were seen as a reflection of the generosity associated with papal families.
The play of water over marble, no matter how humble the design, provided local Romans with entertainments and a much needed, secure supply of water which could easily be carried home. The popes saw this art form as an excellent PR exercise and exploited the concept to the advantage of their standing with the local people. Pope, Innocent X Pamphilj (reigned 1644-1655) eventually commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to sculpt Rome's greatest achievement in this genre, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, located in Piazza Navona, the ancient stadium of the Emperor Domitian and the site of the Pamphilj family palace. As early as 1647 Innocent had decided to erect an obelisk as a central ornament for the piazza in tandem with a fountain, as he methodically cleaned up and beautified what was one of Rome's most squalid neighbourhoods!
A competition was announced for design submissions by the leading artists of the day, with the exception of the gifted Bernini, who at the time was out of favor because of his close association with the previous papal regime, the Barberini.
The greatest artist of the day was not to be deterred however, arranging for the model of his fountain design to be seen by the Pope, upon which Innocent immediately ordered Bernini to begin the execution of his design, reputedly saying afterwards, "that the only way to avoid employing Bernini was not to see his designs."
The Fountain of the Four Rivers depicts gods of the four great rivers in the four continents as then recognized by the Renaissance geographers: the Nile in Africa, the Ganges in Asia, the Danube in Europe and the Río de la Plata in America.
Each location is further enhanced by animals and plants of that country. The Ganges carries a long oar, representing the river's navigability. The Nile's head is draped with a loose piece of cloth, meaning that no one at that time knew exactly where the Nile's source was. The Danube touches the Papal coat of arms, since it is the largest river closest to Rome. And the Río de la Plata is sitting on a pile of coins, a symbol of the riches America might offer to Europe (the word plata means silver in Spanish).
Each River God is semi-prostrate, in awe of the central tower, epitomized by the slender Egyptian obelisk (built for the Roman Serapeum in AD 81), symbolizing Papal power and surmounted by the Pamphilj symbol of the dove.
The Fountain of the Four rivers is a theater in the round, whose leading actor is the movement and sound of water splashing over and cascading down a mountain of travertine marble. The masterpiece was finally unveiled to the world on June 12, 1651, to joyous celebration and the inevitable criticisms of the day. Then as today the Fountain of the Four Rivers continues to amaze and entertain visitors to Rome. Bernini triumphs yet again!
2 Comments	| Italy, photography, Roman Empire, Rome, Travel	| Tagged: Bernini, Fountain of Four Rivers	| Permalink
Goddess Artemis at Vatican Museum
There is a statue of the goddess Artemis housed in the Vatican Museum.
Goddess Artemis in Vatican Museum. Photo by Leon Mauldin.
This is the goddess mentioned in Acts 19, in the context of Paul's preaching efforts at Ephesus:
About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (verses 23-28).
The ISBE has this info:
She may, however, be identified with the Cybele of the Phrygians whose name she also bore, and with several other deities who were worshipped under different names in various parts of the Orient. In Cappadocia she was known as Ma; to the Syrians as Atargatis or Mylitta; among the Phoenicians as Astarte, a name which appears among the Assyrians as Ishtar; the modern name Esther is derived from it. The same goddess seems to have been worshipped by the Hittites, for a female deity is sculptured on the rocks at Yazili Kaya, near the Hittite city of Boghazkeui. It may be shown ultimately that the various goddesses of Syria and Asia Minor all owe their origin to the earlier Assyrian or Babylonian Ishtar, the goddess of love, whose chief attributes they possessed. The several forms and names under which she appears axe due to the varying developments in different regions.
Tradition says that Diana was born in the woods near Ephesus, where her temple was built, when her image of wood (possibly ebony; Pliny, NH, xvi. 40; Acts 19:35) fell from the sky. Also according to tradition the city which was later called Ephesus was founded by the Amazons, and Diana or Cybele was the deity of those half-mythical people. Later when Ephesus fell into the possession of the Greeks, Greek civilization partly supplanted the Asiatic, and in that city the two civilizations were blended together. The Greek name of Artemis was given to the Asiatic goddess, and many of the Greek colonists represented her on their coins as Greek. Her images and forms of worship remained more Asiatic than Greek. Her earliest statues were figures crudely carved in wood. Later when she was represented in stone and metals, she bore upon her head a mural headdress, representing a fortified city wall; from it, drapery hung upon each side of her face to her shoulders. The upper part of her body was completely covered with rows of breasts to signify that she was the mother of all life. The lower arms were extended. The lower part of the body resembled a rough block, as if her legs had been wrapped up in cloth like those of an Egyptian mummy. In later times her Greek followers represented her with stags or lions standing at her sides. The most renowned of her statues stood on the platform before the entrance to her temple in Ephesus. As the statues indicate, she impersonated the reproductive powers of men and of animals and of all other life.
We have previously referenced Artemis in posts here, here, here and here.
Leave a Comment »	| Bible History and Geography, Bible Study, Italy, New Testament, photography, Roman Empire, Rome, Travel, Turkey	| Tagged: Artemis, Vatican Museum	| Permalink
Michelangelo's Moses
One of the innumerable attractions in Rome is Michelangelo's Moses, housed in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli.
The main attraction inside is the statue of Moses, sculpted by Italian High Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, creating this work in the years 1513-1515. This sculpture was originally commissioned in 1505 by Pope Julius II for his tomb.
Michelangelo's Moses, 1513-1515. In Rome. Photo ©Leon Mauldin.
Moses is seen here with horns on his head. This is based on a rendering in the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible in use during Michelangelo's time. The text of our English Standard Version renders Exodus 34:29, which speaks of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai after talking with God, says, "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God." The Latin Vulgate renders the Hebrew word qaran, "to shine" as "horned." Hence the horns on Michelangelo's Moses.
Click on images for larger view.
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Hello to all the wonderful creatives out there!
My name is Sophie Hamernik and I am a creative of all trades, but primarily focus on Art Direction, Production Design, and Short Content Format Directing. In my spare time, I also focus on drawing, making zines, writing screenplays, and writing and performing my own poetry. I am advocate of the arts and love bringing imagination to life!


Why Should You Listen to Instrumental Music?
In the wide world of entertainment, a category much overlooked is the instrumental music category. Many teenagers seem to brush past this type of music because of the connection to classical music created by famous composers like Mozart or Bach, who tend to have a negative connotation to modern teens.
So every now and then instead of listening to Cardi B or Drake,ndulge in some wonderful Alexandre Desplat, Mark Isham, John Williams, or Jeremy Zuckerman.
If those names sound familiar, that's because they are the composers of famous movie and television soundtracks! Alexandre Desplat and John Williams are the composers of music from the iconic Harry Potter series and John Williams also composed the soundtrack of Star Wars!
So what benefits does instrumental music provide? Well, for starters studies show that listening to instrumental music reduces stress levels and can decrease your blood pressure, thus making your heart healthier!
Instrumental music can also spark creativity. This is helpful in today's world where everyone is trying to stand out; a small boost in creativity can be very successful!
This category of music also has been shown to fight depression as instrumental music strengthens the mind. With these types of benefits, I'm surprised we're all not jamming out to some Harry Gregson-Williams (composer of the Narnia series soundtrack).
The benefits of instrumental music are great for your average student and even your everyday worker! So put down the heavy metal music and pick up some instrumental pieces; it may just improve your life!


As president and CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, I am honored to lead more than 500 real estate professionals who serve cities and neighborhoods across North Texas, from our 10 busy offices. We cater to clients who are buying or selling homes, ranches, land and commercial properties.I was raised in Dallas and I hold a Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University. My wife, Nancy, and I have raised five children, who now live in Austin, New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Xiamen, China.
Since 1979, I have been part of North Texas' dynamic real estate industry. In 2010, I led the Briggs-Freeman brokerage, founded in 1960, to its affiliation with the renowned Sotheby's International Realty network. As of 2017, Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty was the No. 5 affiliate in the $108 billion network of 900-plus offices worldwide. That same year, our brokerage had more than $3 billion in sales across North Texas, and was the No. 1 seller of homes priced more than $1 million in Dallas, Dallas County, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Midway Hollow, Southlake, Westlake and Trophy Club. In 2016, we brokered the historic sale of the W.T. Waggoner Ranch, the largest ranch in the United States within a single fence, offered for $725 million and touted as the largest listing in the history of Sotheby's International Realty.
Aside from a strong commitment to the communities we serve, I also believe it's important to bring national and international investments to North Texas. I have a weekly letter — most often about North Texas and its limitless opportunities — in the advertising pages of The Wall Street Journal's Mansion section, and I frequently visit other U.S. cities, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, touting North Texas and its potential. I currently serve on the boards of the Dallas Regional Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber, VisitDallas (the Dallas convention and visitors bureau), YTexas and the advisory board of BBVA Compass bank.
There is only one place big enough for all these homes, headquarters, ranches and dreams — Texas. And we've known this since we began here in 1960: North Texas is the place to be. Major companies continue to move headquarters here. Hundreds of thousands of jobs continue to be added here. We continue to lead here. If you are buying, selling, moving up, downsizing or need land or commercial property, we are here for you — in the place to be in the state to be. Welcome.
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