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Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens just premiered to the biggest box office weekend of all time, and we took the weekend to rapturously enjoy it and avidly dissect the theories percolating across the Web. Here are 14 of our favorites, exploring the mysteries behind—and futures in store for—Rey, Kylo Ren, Luke Skywalker, Supreme Leader Snoke and more.
****Nothing but spoilers from here on in!****
1. Rey's preternatural ability with the Force is a skill we've never seen before. "This theory suggests that Rey is so strong with the Force that, rather than requiring Jedi training, she can simply 'reverse-engineer' vital skills by encountering others who exhibit these powers," writes the Guardian. Very cool idea, and a nice break from the nonstop speculation about her lineage. (Don't worry, we'll get into that, too.)
2. Supreme Leader Snoke is actually tiny. This one's straightforward and it's everywhere. The eerie, non-human Snoke, in his several conversations with Kylo Ren, seems to be huge, but he only appears by hologram. Is he going full Wizard of Oz on us? Does Kylo even know, if so?
3. Luke Skywalker gave Snoke those scars. Snoke has to have seen his share of action if he's risen to this top dawg spot, right? And who better to duke it out with than the greatest Jedi in the known universe? [The Guardian]
4. Maz Kanata and Yoda were tight. "I do believe that Maz and Yoda at one point had crossed paths," J.J. Abrams has been quoted as saying. "But that is not something, of course, due to the events of past films, that happens in this one." Did the 1,000-year-old wisewoman and the 900-year-old Jedi master do some important collaborating somewhere along the line?
5. Supreme Leader Snoke is Darth Plagueis, the legendary Sith lord that soon-to-be-Emperor Palpatine hyped up to Anakin in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Telegraph writes:
"As well as Smeagol and Lord Voldemort, Snoke closely resembles the images we have seen of the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis the Wise in relation to an Expanded Universe novel (which is no longer canon thanks to Disney's buyout of the franchise), who trained, plotted to found the Empire with, and then was killed by, Palpatine."
Support for this theory comes from the fact that the theme composed John Williams gave Snoke is super similar to the one that plays during Palpatine's speech about Darth Plagueis in Episode III. Listen to them both together here. [via Reddit]
6. The whole thing is a direct parable to the tale of King Arthur and his kingdom. Redditor fantoman lays it out in two concise paragraphs. Kylo Ren's medieval-looking hilted lightsaber; Captain Phasma's metallic armor; Rey is a peasant on the come-up; Luke's lightsaber is Excalibur. On and on, wonderfully. A particularly special bit:
"Even most of the places they go are like European settings, with normal forests and lakes. You could imagine a LOTR or Game of Thrones battle happening in front of Maz's castle, in the snowy woods, or Luke's island. Luke of course, would be Merlin."
7. Kylo Ren is a double agent with serious game. From Redditor vrso3g:
"My theory: Kylo is a double agent of sorts. He saw through Snoke's manipulations, but also believed Luke was too soft. So, he joined the First Order not because he was completely on the Dark Side, but because he wanted to get close enough to the Supreme Leader to kill him. Of course, joining the Dark Side corrupted him, but he has, or had once, a good motive. He may even have slaughtered his many enemies, including his own father, in order to gain Snoke's trust."
Effing love this theory. The conflict between the Light and the Dark raging inside Kylo Ren is one of the most intriguing and unique aspects of The Force Awakens.
8. Han Solo is still alive. Some folks think that! It's not easy to come back from being chest-stabbed by a big red lightsaber and being chucked into an endless-looking abyss, but Han's a resourceful, resilient chap. (Also, relatedly, not an easy character to say goodbye to.)
9. Kylo Ren had help killing Han Solo. Help given by Han Solo. "When Kylo was handing over his light saber to Han he had intentions to go with Han, but then the dark side won," says Redditor Sorge74 of a theory he or she has seen going around. "Han realized this and actually turned on the light saber himself so his son would have one less sin tying him to the dark." Believable and emotional!
10. Luke's exile is bigger than Kylo Ren. That's pretty much a foregone conclusion, but here's an idea: Maybe he didn't disappear just because he failed at keeping his trainee nephew away from the Dark Side—he went because he failed at training his entire new class of Jedi. Maybe that ties in with the Knights of Ren, a shadowy group we hear mentioned approximately once and see in Rey's lightsaber-touching vision for approximately a second.
11. Rey is the daughter of Luke Skywalker and who knows who. Luke's lightsaber—previously Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber—calls out to Rey in the basement of Maz Kanata's joint. Rey sees Luke (among, let's be honest, a bunch of other things) as she touches the lightsaber. She's also quickly mastering the Force, a la Luke. There's an extremely limited pool of known Jedi who could've given her those all-important midi-chlorians. Rey's the one to go to Luke in the end.
And on and on and on. Some folks think she was even a student of Luke's, one who had her memory wiped when she was sent to the desert planet of Jakku.
12. Rey is Han and Leia's daughter, a.k.a. Kylo Ren's sister. Kinda seems like the next obvious choice, that if she's not Luke's daughter, she's Leia's. Rey and Kylo—birth name Ben Solo—being brother and sister would certainly have more heft than a cousin v. cousin situation, but it's extremely suspicious that Han and Leia wouldn't betray this secret at all, either in private or around Rey. Han is visibly paternal toward her, though, and she rules at flying the Millennium Falcon. Kylo Ren also sneers that Han must seem like the father she never had. Here's Redditor JayMoots really bringing this theory home:
"The answer is, it's because Han and Leia believe their daughter is dead. I'm confident that it will be revealed that Rey, as a young child, was at Luke's Jedi Academy at the same time as her older brother Ben. When Ben went nuts and slaughtered the other Jedi-in-training, everyone assumed that he killed his sister too. But he didn't. He kidnapped her and hid her on Jakku. He changed her name to Rey (similar to his his new name, Ren) and told her to wait there for him to come back. He had no intention of ever coming back, of course, (as Maz Kanata hinted to Rey in the lightsaber scene) but he also could not bring himself to murder his little sister. The Light was still too strong in him."
13. Obi-Wan Kenobi is Rey's ancestor; parents TBD. The Jedi master's voice—both in the Alec Guinness iteration and the Ewan McGregor one—is one of several that calls out to Rey in her intense vision while first touching Luke's lightsaber. "She shares Obi-Wan's accent," Redditor nyteryder79 volunteers in a 17-point argument. "I think this is a key; In the film, no one else on Jakku had this accent." A more detailed note:
"She fights like Obi-Wan. Compare her lightsaber duel with Kylo Ren to the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Vader in A New Hope. Her's is all defense and she moves her lightsaber just like Obi-Wan did with it extended out straight in front of her and moving it in a circular pattern."
In the same thread, user harten66 goes one further: "No, obi-wan had a daughter, Luke married her, together they had Rey. This would make Rey daughter of Luke and Granddaughter of Kenobi." Powerhouse!
14. Or Rey has no father and her mother is nobody special. If you understandably forgot this giant revelation from the prequels, Anakin Skywalker was almost definitely the product of immaculate conception, part of what led him to being identified as the Chosen One. Maybe that happened again with Rey, although who knows who her mother would've been in that situation. Not Leia. This also doesn't explain why she would've been pointedly abandoned on Jakku.


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the north island report: about that rain
Occasionally it's cold enough for freezing rain or light snow, but that will be brief bursts. Mostly it's been around +3 to +8 (high 30s to mid-40s F), cloudy or raining. Since moving here, I've yet to put on a winter jacket. I've been wearing a fall-weight jacket, or else a rain jacket that's just a shell (my new find from L.L. Bean).
So for winter, it's warm and it's wet.
Here's the thing. Wet weather has always made me feel bad physically. Yep, that's the dirty little secret I didn't want to talk about before we moved. In the back of my mind, I was concerned about potential fibro/arthritis flare-ups. But... nothing. I've been completely fine.
I don't have an explanation for this! I do have a theory. Could it be that what was difficult for me wasn't the rain itself, but rather the barometric pressure change? And that in a climate with a lot of rain, the pressure is more consistent?
Sadly, there's no sign that I no longer have these conditions or that they're improving. So this air pressure theory is all I can come up with. I'm sure some readers will weigh in.
And here's the other thing.
Several people have advised and suggested that the rain shouldn't stop us from walking or hiking, as long as we're dressed for it. I now have a good rain jacket -- the first I've ever owned. And after discovering my hiking boots are no longer waterproof -- in fact they now immediately result in wet feet -- I found two different pairs of waterproof boots, which I'm very happy about. (No link because the boots are getting their own post!)
I've seen many colleagues come to work wearing a rain jacket and rain pants, and quickly slide them off and continue on their day. I don't have rain pants yet, and I'm not sure I can find ones that fit my size and shape, but I'm going to look into it. They do seem like a very good idea.
However... you can suit up for the rain and stay dry -- but it's still raining, and being outside is still unpleasant. I have a friend who is an all-weather walker. She lives in southern Ontario and she walks for an hour every day, no matter what the weather. I would very much like to do this, especially here where I usually won't have to deal with snow and icy sidewalks, or incredibly hot and humid weather, both being prohibitive to me. But walking in the rain for a sustained period of time seems very unpleasant.
There is a recreation centre in town, with a pool. I could return to swimming, which I did avidly for 20 years, until I started graduate school in 2009. But there are other issues with that, and I'd much rather be outdoors. I'd like to learn a new attitude about walking in the rain, but I'm not sure that's realistic.
11 comments:
- Amy said...
Glad so far you are feeling good. Does the rain last all winter? Or is it sporadic as rain is, for example, in the East? Maybe with rain pants and the right boots and hat and coat, walking in the rain won't be as unpleasant. I hope so!
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 8:01:00 AM
- drf said...
Hey...it's called the Wet Coast for a reason! Still, the summers are extremely dry, and for the last few years very smokey. By October you will be welcoming the return of rain?
From a very, very windy Vancouver,
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 10:45:00 AM
- laura k said...
As far as I know, it rains all winter, with scattered days of not-rain here and there.
Vancouver Island has two distinct climates -- the south and east coast that faces the mainland, and the north and west coast that is on the Pacific Ocean. In the south and east, summers are hot and dry. But the north and west are a rainforest, and right now we're in the rainiest season (I believe). Wikipedia:
A notable feature of Vancouver Island is the extension of summer dryness to latitudes as high as 50°N. Only in the extreme north of the island near Port Hardy is the rainfall of the driest summer month as much as one fifth that of the wettest months from November to March. West coasts of other continents at similar latitudes have a practically even distribution of rainfall through the year.
Mound of Sound or Jay F might tell us more.
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 11:48:00 AM
- laura k said...
Still, the summers are extremely dry
Not in Port Hardy. :)
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 11:52:00 AM
- Jay Farquharson said...
What is it that you find uncomfortable about walking in the rain?
With good rain gear, and layering, you should be immune to the physical effects of the rain.
Is it the sound? The impact on the view and sound from the hood? How one has to adjust the path for puddles? Something else?
In light rain, I wear a waterproof baseball cap, so I can feel the rain. When it's medium, a wide brimmed waterproof hat. When it get's heavy, hood up over the baseball cap to cover the face and keep the hood from slipping down.
For rainpants, gortex pants from MEC with built in gaiters, zippers on the sides with velcro, elastic waist.
Wind and rain make their own ever changing music. Over here, one can often see the rain coming from miles off, ripping across the sky and falling in sheets to the ground. Often one is still standing in bright sunshine when the rain is falling. Sometimes if starts off in a gentle fall, building to a massive drumming cresendo, then hail, then back to nothing. Sometimes, when the wind is up, it comes in sideways. Watching it can be very "centering", as much as watching a deer graze, an eagle fly, a hawk "surf" the updrafts.
It's effects on land and water can be as interesting to observe. Trees bending from the water, how dry spots on the ground and bark are created, how the colours of tree, rock, ground change. Rivulets and streams filling and flowing, small minature rapids and waterfalls forming where there was dry ditch. Watching how it forms ringlets on the lake or ocean surface, or watching sheets of raindrops change the surface of the water, offen pushed by the wind. Noticing how the rain falls unevenly, pools and gathers unevenly, and how little things, like where the moss, or Solomon's Seal, or Oosier Dogwood grow, are all shaped by water.
Rain often offers the opportunity to see wildlife and wildlife behaviours you wouldn't normally see, if you look. It can be as simple as rescuing earthworms from puddles before they drown, watching a bee drink from a stilled raindrop, frogs and salamanders, normally sheltering in moist cover during the day, becoming active in daylight. Noticing which ducks and seabirds prefer sheltering on the beach, or driftwood, or docks rather than staying in the water, watching a disgrundled owl, out in the low light of the day, seeking shelter under the boughs of a cedar and irritable shakeing off like a Golden Retriever. Peering into a stream and watching the fish, because with the rain breaking the diffraction effect, for the time, you can see them, long before they see you, quite the turnabout.
I hope this helps.
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 1:26:00 PM
- laura k said...
That sounds lovely, Jay.
I have trouble articulating what makes being out in the rain unpleasant for me. It's hard to see, for one thing. My glasses get wet, and I end up walking with my head down.
I enjoy being outside when it's snowing, as long as it's not icy. But rain... it's just gross.
Dogs also love the snow and hate the rain, so walking in the rain means leaving the pup at home.
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 2:46:00 PM
- Jay Farquharson said...
Brimmed hats, from baseball hats to Australian Slouches help keep rain off the glasses, and a chunk of "shamwow" type cloth in an inside pocket can clean off any fogging or raindrops.
Other than two gortex jackets, ( MEC Tiaga and a Pategonia one), I've never found a rainjacket that allows you to hold your head up in heavy rain or snow. The one thing the two jackets have in common is a stiff brim that projects forward of the forehead. The Patagonia one was made for climbing, so you could look upwards as much as 45 degrees with out getting a face full of water. When that one wore out, ( mountaineering and rock climbing on the Coast), I replaced it with an MEC one with not as great a brim, and a long brim baseball hat sprayed down with 3M Weatherproofing. Worked great for sailing and paddling in the winter as well.
Being a Wet Coaster from 15 years old to 50, rain never bothered me, and of course, the dogs needed a walk/run every morning, one after work, and one after dinner. Dogs are very emotionally sensitive animals. If the rain bothers you, they will know it and as pack animals will respond to the Pack Leader. All my dogs through out time, loved the rain. Puddles to drink from everywhere, mud, glorious mud, and of course, the rain washes away all the old smells, so everything they sniff is fresh, new, bold, vibrant, not masked by days or weeks of older scents or scent trails.
After Casey had her two TPLO surgeries however, she became sensitive in her hind legs to the cold. Engineered chunks of embedded stainless steel will do that. So, on the Coast, she had two rainjackets that covered her back and legs, just past the knees, with an open chest and belly so she could cool off. A plain goretex one for summer, a fleece lined goretex one for winter. Digger was never bothered. When we moved over here, she got a snowsuit and booties as well.
One of the first home reno's I have always done, since my first home, is instal a hot water outdoor dog shower and a dry outdoor closet for dog towels, to go with the rubbermaid full of more dogtowels in the trucks.
I hope this helps.
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 5:44:00 PM
- laura k said...
With respect Jay, my dogs haven't hated rain because I dislike it. They hated rain. It's true that dogs are sensitive to our emotions, but they are also individuals with their own likes and dislikes. In my experience, most dogs do not like their coats becoming sodden.
I've been walking dogs in all weather, beginning in 1987, and continuing every day since then. My dogs have always been urban or suburban, so perhaps their experience walking in wet weather on sidewalks has been different than the joyous puddle-jumping you describe.
Unfortunately, we can't give other people our likes and dislikes. I love cold weather, love to bundle up and walk in the biting cold. I hate hot weather; all I want to do is stay inside in air-conditioning. Naturally I have friends who feel exactly the opposite. I could write a love letter to the cold, but they are never going to enjoy it. They can tell me how 25C is not even warm, but I'm done in.
I'll definitely look into rain pants, and I'm already enjoying my new rain jacket and boots. Hopefully these things will help me get daily outdoor exercise. But that's the most I can hope for.
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 6:02:00 PM
- Jay Farquharson said...
Here, we get the heat, 38, the cold, -35, the rain, sideways and road flooding, and the wind, ( gusts to 140 kmh tonight). Watched some trees splinter and blow over, so chainsaw in the truck the next few days.
None of my dogs, ( Lab X, Golden, Rottie/Lab/Shepard, Pit/Border, Belgian/Border) ever minded being sodden. Part of it is you can't walk a dog 3 times a day in YVR, or take them on hike or to the dog park in the spring/winter/fall in the YVR with out them spending most of the time being sodden.
After a hot shower by the back lawn, Casey and Digger would go all "zoomie", Digger so much you could barely towel him off, he's be so wiggly. Constantly towelling his nose and bridge would slow his wiggles down and he would grunt with pleasure.
Growing up in the Maritimes with Labs and Lab X's, wet dog became my favorite smell in the world.
And on the Wet Coast, it sure beat what can happen after spawning season. I've only had two dogs that never rolled in dead salmon. Sugar, who was my fishing partner for 12 years, who was only interested in live fish, and Casey, who had some Princess properties, like her dog bed, pillow and blankie had to be perfect.
Hopefully, all of you will adapt well. Make special effort to enjoy every fall/winter/spring day with sunshine as much as you can. Most people who move to the Wet Coast from other parts of BC and the world, find themselves ground down by the grey. It's the one part of the Wet Coast I don't miss at all.
Take care,
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 7:03:00 PM
- Dusty said...
I found out today that vegan Nanaimo bars are called Tofino bars.
This amuses me.
- Friday, December 21, 2018 7:01:00 PM
- laura k said...
That's hilarious!
- Saturday, December 22, 2018 6:41:00 AM

subset: commoncrawl


text: Dementia #1 Posted April 10, 2012 I'm a little worried. And obviously this is all just me freaking out about 'what ifs'...but I'm curious what contracts the actors have signed.Conan Stevens dropped out, so now we're going to have to have a new Mountain. Now Elyes Gabel gets a better job and they kill Rakharo.As the series goes on, more actors are going to be noticed. Will we have a new Mountain every season? Will Rakharo's brother/cousin take on the role? Will whole stories have to be rewritten? Right now, they're not huge deals. But......I'm scared. Hold me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Thoughts and observations on the radio/TV station and wireless tower trading markets. A look at the impact and integration of new media into station operations. Station values, stations for sale, radio and TV station news, towers, and more from a Director of Media Services Group and co-publisher of Inside Towers.
Monday, December 20, 2010
2011 Broadcasters' Calendar available from Pillsbury
2011 Broadcasters' Calendar is available from Pillsbury. Click HERE. Thanks to the Nevada Broadcasters for the heads up!
Media Services Group
Friday, December 17, 2010
Lew Dickey removed from Farid's Christmas card list
Lew Dickey has plenty of fans as well as detractors. And I'm squarely in the camp of the former. Yes, he's been a great customer over the years (he bought over a hundred stations through Media Services Group), but there is more to it than that.
Lew is a broadcaster. He was literally raised in the business. He has seen it from all sides (and is probably one of the best researchers ever to serve the industry -- pre-Cumulus). He knows how to run a radio station and is as comfortable doing so in Atlanta sized markets as he is in Savannah sized markets.
And he's smart. Not just well educated (B.A. from Stanford and MBA from Harvard), but radio street-smart. If he succeeds in his effort to acquire Citadel, he will know what to do with it and how best to integrate the two very different cultures.
I believe that Lew has had his eye on Citadel for a long time. And now that it has emerged from bankruptcy court with a squeaky clean balance sheet, and station prices are at a decade's low level, what better time?
Plus, Lew never took my stock in his company to zero.
The drama will be fun to watch. If Lew is successful, look for some new station acquisition opportunities in the new year. For one thing, the deal will likely require some spin-offs (in markets where both companies compete). For another, transactions like this have a way of fostering new, unrelated deals. They establish a pricing comparable. Potential buyers and sellers will pay close attention to the multiple on the deal.
Last but not least, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! Let's have a prosperous 2011.
Media Services Group
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Two more transactions announced
1) Fort Wayne, IN Area FM Station Is Sold
Godwin-Starkes Property Management, LLC, an Indiana limited liability company has agreed to purchase the assets of WNUY-FM licensed to Bluffton, IN from Independence Media of Indiana, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and IM IN Licenses, LLC, an Delaware limited liability company. Godwin-Starkes Property Management, LLC through an affiliated company, owns WQSW-LP Fort Wayne, IN.
The purchase price is $350,000.
Bob Heymann of the Chicago office of Media Services Group and Stephan Sloan of
Media Services Group's Providence office served as the exclusive brokers representing the seller in this transaction.
2) Tennessee Temple University has agreed to purchase the assets of Radio Station WUUS (AM), licensed to Rossville, GA (serving Chattanooga, Tennessee), from 3 Daughters Media, Inc. for $175,000.
Eddie Esserman of Media Services Group's St. Simons Island, GA, office represented Tennessee Temple University in this transaction.
Both transactions are subject to FCC approval.
Congratulations to Bob, Stephan and Eddie on getting deals done in a tough financing environment!
Media Services Group
Monday, November 29, 2010
Great article in RBR on the FCC assignment and transfer process
Click HERE for the link.
Media Services Group
Monday, November 22, 2010
Two more station transactions close
M&M Broadcasters closed on the purchase of KRHC AM/KBEY FM, Burnet;
KHLE FM, Kempner; and KHHG FM, Hamilton; all Texas, from Munbilla Broadcasting Properties, LTD.
Bill Whitley of the Dallas office of Media Services Group served as the exclusive broker for this transaction.
Big Toe Communications, LLC completed the acquisition of the assets of radio stations WHPI-FM, Glasford, IL; WPIA-FM, Eureka, IL; WZPN-FM, Farmington, IL and
WWCT-FM, Bartonville, IL, from Independence Media Holdings, LLC.
Stephan Sloan of Media Services Group's Providence office represented the seller in this transaction.
Well done Bill and Steph!
Media Services Group
Friday, November 19, 2010
New white paper: Financing Broadcast Properties 101
You can click here for the free download (email registration required): Financing Broadcast Properties 101
Media Services Group
Monday, November 15, 2010
BBN Closes Tennessee FM
Eddie Esserman of Media Services Group represented Tennessee Temple University in this transaction.
Congratulations Eddie!
Media Services Group
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Radio station owners fall into two camps: Pick one!
The last two years in the radio business have not exactly been a walk in the park. Defaults, bankruptcies and receiverships have been rampant. A ton of equity vaporized in a sea of debt. It has not been a good time for station owners, especially those "faint of heart" or with highly leveraged balance sheets.
All of this has precipitated a lot of gloom and doom talk on Wall Street, in the industry trade publications, and in the convention hallways, suites, and bars.
From my perch, it seems that station owners fall into one of two broad categories:
1) Those who believe that radio's best days are behind it and that the end is near, or
2) Those who believe that the current low station prices present the buying opportunity of a lifetime. The business will recover and even thrive in the new environment.
Let's look a little more closely at each assumption:
1) Radio is dead. Long live Radio!
• Old media is over. New media wins.
• Radio has lost the kids.
• We're too little, too late to the digital party.
• Who needs a transmitter when you can stream?
• There are too many "cooler" new media options.
• Who buys radios when you can buy a smartphone or iPad for your information and entertainment?
• The Internet will soon occupy the dashboard.
2) Shopping at the bargain rack!
• Radio is still a high cash flow business.
• We can and will compete in the digital world.
• Fortunes were made in the last major downturn (think Lowry Mays).
• Regulatory relief may be the catalyst for reigniting the business (think elimination of the subcaps).
• Newspapers have lost their strangle-hold on retail business.
• There is no better megaphone for generating web traffic than radio.
• Radio still drives customers on Main Street.
• HD holds long-term promise.
• In the face of competition, radio has maintained its ubiquitous reach.
Pick a camp. Now.
Yeah, this sounds self-serving (after all, I am a broker). But, it is now time to place your bet. Here's my logic:
If you're in the "Radio is Dead" camp, the best thing you can do is cut your losses. With station values headed south, your station(s) will never be worth more than today's valuation. If you're under water with your bank, hand 'em the keys. Get out now while you can.
If you believe that you can buy good radio businesses from the bargain rack, then step up. You will buy solid businesses at historic lows. The seller's pain will be your gain. Get on board before prices take off. Build great clusters and hire from the incredible talent pool stranded on the beach. There is no better time than now.
It is time to select the scenario you believe will pan out in radio's future. To do otherwise is to leave your personal future to fate. Hold 'em or fold 'em. One school will be right. The other . . .
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Media Services Group
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Click HERE to get the report.
Media Services Group
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Thoughts from the 2010 Radio Show
The meeting was decidedly more upbeat than the last two years' shows (though that is not saying much considering the gloom and doom we've been through). Station revenues are up year-over-year and it has been a long time since we could make that claim.
On the station trading front, our suite activity was robust. There still aren't a lot of deals getting done, but at least the talking has resumed (after eighteen months of virtual silence). The missing ingredient continues to be bank financing. Despite renewed optimism about the prospects for the radio industry, there was little optimism that the bankers were returning any time soon. Trading will remain lackluster until the banks embrace the industry again.
Let's hope that next year's Radio Show in Chicago is a time for celebration.
Media Services Group
Thursday, September 23, 2010
FM Auction 91 List
Media Services Group
A climb up the tallest tower
A guy climbs a 1,768' tower (video): http://video.yahoo.com/watch/8244494?fr=yvmtf
Media Services Group
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
When to Hire a CFO
Media Services Group
Monday, September 20, 2010
Robert Prather of Gray Television talks with B&C
Media Services Group
Friday, August 27, 2010
Who says radio isn't fun any more?
Rumor has it that an NTR Revenu line item has been added to her 2011 budget: Crop Dusting
Media Services Group
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
More news-talkers moving to FM
A strong case could be made that the big AM News-Talkers like WSB have kept the AM band alive. News-Talk listeners have been content to seek out their programming on the AM band. If all of the major AMs throw in the towel for the FM band, who will be listening to AM? My guess is that AM will be dominated by niche players in the future: foreign language, religious, and other specialty programming.
Station prices are based on supply and demand. It looks like AM supply will be increasing at the same time that demand is decreasing.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Media Services Group
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Inc. magazine's business plan presentation
Media Services Group
Monday, August 23, 2010
Have your tried mind mapping? (Article from Inc. magazine)
I use software from Mindjet (MindManager) and can recommend it highly. For project management, ResultsManager is a great add-in.
Media Services Group
Friday, August 20, 2010
MSG transactions for the first six months of 2010
Sale Announced: 01/10
Calls: WMNE-AM (now WHTY-AM)
Buyer: Travis Media
Seller: Radio Disney
Market: West Palm Beach-Boca Raton
Market Rank: 47
Price: $500,000
Gross Revenue (BIA): $150,000
Sale Announced: 3/10
Calls: FM CP
Buyer: Chadrad Communications Inc.
Seller: Big Cat Broadcasting, LLC
Market Rank: Unrated
Price: $85,000
Gross Revenue (BIA): N/A
Sale Announced: 2/10
Calls: KCUV-FM, KJAC-FM
Buyer: Moreland Properties, LLC
Seller: NCR Broadcasting Inc.
Market: Denver-Boulder
Market Rank: 20
Price: $5,000,000
Gross Revenue(BIA) : $800,000
Sale Announced: 3/10
Calls: KDJQ-AM
Buyer: Iglesia Misionera Pentecotes, Inc.
Seller: KDJQ, LLC
Market: Boise, ID
Market Rank: 100
Price: $325,000
Gross Revenue (BIA): N/A
Sale Announced: 4/10
Calls: WCKZ-FM, FMW204BF
Buyer: Star Educational Media Network
Seller: Northeast Indiana Public Radio
Market: Orland, IN
Market Rank: Unrated
Price: $225,000
Gross Revenue (BIA) : N/A
Sale Announced: 5/10
Calls: AM CP
Buyer: Acme Broadcasting III
Seller: Pamplin Broadcasting Inc.
Market: Reno, NV
Market Rank: 121
Price: $20,000
Gross Revenue: N/A
Sale Announced: 7/10
Calls: WHPI-FM, WPIA-FM, WZPN-FM, WWCT-FM
Buyer: Big Toe Communications, LLC
Seller: Independence Media Holding, LLC
Market: Peoria
Market Rank: 150
Price: TBA
Gross Revenue: $1,350,000
Media Services Group
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A number of broadcasters support the AM/FM Subcaps
If the subcaps are repealed, it will result in new capital coming into our capital starved industry. I predict that a number of broadcasting companies may be saved from bankruptcy if the subcaps are removed on a timely basis.
The subcaps are no longer (if ever) justified. You can read the details in the Reply Comments. Essentially, if you operate in a market where ownership of four FMs and two AMs is allowed (or four AMs and two FMs), the removal of the subcaps would allow you to own six stations, regardless of flavor. If they are repealed, unprofitable clusters can swap/trade/buy/sell and improve their strategic and financial positions.
Repealing the subcaps will awaken a stagnant industry, introduce fresh capital, and open doors for new minority ownership. Let's hope that the FCC sees the wisdom of eliminating an antiquated burden on broadcasters.
Click here for the filing: Reply Comments
That is my opinion. What is yours?
Media Services Group
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Syd Small of Acccess.1 passed away last weekend
Here is the story from NYDailyNews.com.
Syd was a good guy. He will be missed.
Radio industry second quarter revenue results
Media Services Group
Dave Martin's post on "Eating your own dog food" (station website)
"Eating your own dog food"
Media Services Group
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Time to set appointments for the Radio Show in Washington
If you would like to set up an appointment to meet, please drop me a line at:
I hope to see you in DC!
Media Services Group
Monday, July 12, 2010
Radio stations for sale with seller financing
We have three such opportunities, any one of which might fit a first time buyer profile. Cash down payment requirements vary, beginning around $250,000 for a qualified buyer. The stations are located in NC, VA, and WV. Two of the opportunities are in rated markets. Contact me if you would like to look more closely.
We also have a two-FM cluster with some cash flow in a rated Midwest market.
If you belong to LinkedIn and haven't already joined our group "Radio/TV Station Buyers," you can click here to do so: Radio/TV Station Buyers
Media Servces Group
Thursday, June 24, 2010
RAB and NAB Looking to Cancel Dickstein Shapiro Conference at Radio Show: BIG MISTAKE!
The NAB wants to cancel it this year and fold the sessions into the regular show format. I am told that the RAB's Jeff Haley is leading the charge. Big mistake.
For many, the conference is the one NAB event that is relevant. A number of the participants fly in specifically for the event in the morning, take a few meetings in the afternoon, then fly home. The NAB will lose them as Radio Show attendees if the current plans hold.
A number of brokers are so incensed about the NAB's actions that they are considering running their own conference down the street from the NAB's (and would probably invite Dickstein's Lew Paper to run it as he has for the last two decades). At a time when the NAB and RAB are working hard to maintain the Radio Show's relevance, how can they get this one so wrong? If you agree, make your thoughts known to Jeff Haley and your NAB contact.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Media Services Group
Friday, April 16, 2010
Observations from this year's NAB Show
On a side note, the Encore is hosting Garth Brooks in its showroom. Loree and I saw his show Sunday night and it was fabulous. He does over two hours just with an acoustic guitar. No band. No fire, smoke or flashing lights. If you get a chance, see the show.
The official NAB attendance numbers were up over last year and our experience bore that out. Unlike last year when there were few bankers, buyers or sellers in our suite, this year consisted of wall to wall meetings. I think that is a good leading indicator of the health of the station trading business. The difference between this year and last was striking.
The same can be said about attitudes. A year ago, most of us had the feeling of staring into the abyss. Fast forward twelve months and you get the sense of a new optimism about the broadcasting industry (though fear abounds about the economy). There is a strong sense that the "bottom" is in the rear view mirror. I concur. In fact, I think that the New York Times sale of WQXR last year was the bottom. Things have steadily improved since.
As for station pricing, my partners and I went into the convention with the sense that buyers were offering up 6x BCF and sellers were asking 8x (with some deals likely to get done in the sevens). Our meetings with prospective buyers and sellers supported our thesis. I believe that 6x to 8x range to be an accurate assessment of today's trading market.
Inventory is still tight. I know that ours is and conversations with other brokers and buyers suggest that we are not alone. We expect a far greater supply of inventory by the fall Radio Show.
I also found it noteworthy that we had some bankers in our suite (and they were not all there to talk about workouts). Some lenders appear to actually be gearing up to make media loans again. That too is significant.
There was a lot of chatter (and a few conspiracy theories) about the $500 million equity investment with Lew Dickey. As I mentioned before, we view it as a sea-change event for the industry.
As always, regulatory matters were front and center in Las Vegas. One conversation raised an interesting point regarding the FCC's attempted TV spectrum grab. If the current FCC commissioners think that broadcasting is no longer relevant (as seems to be the case), how can they then take the position that multiple ownership rules make any sense? We're either relevant or we're not. They can't have it both ways.
The NAB Show proved that the deal market is back, at least compared to last year. There is much healing still required. And things won't materially improve until the lenders re-enter the marketplace. But finally, we appear to be moving in the right direction.
That's how I saw the convention. What about you?
Media Services Group
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The bottom is in
This deal brings renewed life to station trading. We have weathered the storm. Congratulations Lew!
Media Services Group
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Fellow radio broadcasters: don't you wish the iPad included an FM tuner, especially one capable of receiving HD? How did we miss this?
Media Services Group
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Stations for sale: new opportunities
• 4 station cluster (2 AM / 2 FM) in a Mid-Atlantic college market. $700k revenue
• 4 FM station cluster in rated Southeastern market. Turnaround priced to sell. Seller financing.
• Small market ABC affiliate TV station
• 4 FM station cluster in rated North Carolina market. Seller financing.
• AM/FM in North Carolina resort market. Seller financing.
• 2 FMs in Southwest rated market.
• 2 FMs in Midwest rated market. Positive cash flow.
If you are interested, please contact me for an NDA (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Media Services Group
Let's get together at the NAB
I hope to see you there!
Media Services Group
Monday, March 22, 2010
Good FCC information website for broadcasters
Media Services Group
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Are Broadcasters About to Spend Another 24 Months in a Flaming PR Dungeon?
We spent a couple of years reading and hearing about the destruction of free over-the-air broadcasting. Satellite radio was Radio's Death Star. It would own car radios. Broadcasting was obsolete.
Guess what. XM and Sirius merged and morphed into the niche business it was always destined to become.
Here we go again. Pandora will likely go public in the near future. The hype, much like that with satellite radio, will become deafening as the Wall Street banks line up to rake in big fees from the IPO and run-up of the stock.
Are broadcasters going to again sit idly by and suffer another two years in the PR dungeon?
Pandora is a cool application. It probably has "legs" in the marketplace. But it is another niche product. It cannot beat "local." It will not beat us at what we do best.
Broadcasters need to unite to tell their story of free, over-the-air radio. We do not need to spend the next two years listening to "Pandora's Radio Death Star" story. We have incredible reach in every community in the country. Pandora does not now, and I predict, will not ever have it. Let's tell the world what Pandora really is… a "cool" niche product.
Those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Media Services Group
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Most Talked About, Least Understood: Social Media
Media Services Group
Monday, March 1, 2010
Regent Communications Announces Consensual Restructuring Agreement With Senior Lenders
Regent announced a restructuring this morning which includes a prearranged Chapter 11 filing. Oaktree Capital Management L.P. will assume control. If that name sounds familiar, Oaktree backs the GAP companies and Triton Digital. The press release is HERE.
Media Services Group
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Spring Thaw Has Started Early
The frozen station trading market is starting to thaw. Media Services Group has actually announced some sales and some closings in recent weeks (including Jody McCoy's Denver sale) after months of dormancy. With our size and scope, we're a good barometer for the state of the marketplace. And pressure is rising.
The credit markets remain a problem, but I take Salem's recent debt placement and Clear Channel's recent upgrade as positive steps. Some sellers in the small markets are now considering seller financed transactions.
Reports from the station operators around the country are generally upbeat about QI business (albeit against easy comps). It appears that national business has turned the corner. The spring thaw has begun a little early this year.
Media Services Group
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
See you in a week
As we will not have access to the web, cell phones, or email, these pages will be silent for a week. We'll chat again after we return on February 11.
Media Services Group
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Greg Merrill
Greg has served as a Court Appointed Receiver for District Court Boise (KDJQ-AM) and has been involved in Bankruptcy cases and/or served as expert witness in:
•Boise, Idaho Federal Bankruptcy Court
•Salt Lake City Federal Bankruptcy Court
•Expert witness in Phoenix, Arizona; Eugene Oregon; Seattle, Washington; and Bakersfield, California
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Providence office
Bob Maccini commenced his broadcasting involvement at Old Stone Bank, Providence, RI where he managed the bank's Communications Lending Group for five years. Subsequently, he founded and managed Chapman Financial Services, a subsidiary of Chapman Associates which provided investment banking services to the broadcasting industry.
Bob was one of our co-founders when Media Services Group was launched twenty years ago. Since, he has worked with numerous financial institutions in broadcasting related workout transactions and has been appointed as a receiver and examiner by various courts to oversee and sell radio and cable television companies.
Bob serves on the Boards of Saga Communications and GAP Broadcasting, and is President/CEO of Ando Media. He holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Holy Cross College and an M.B.A. degree in Finance from Babson College.
Stephan Sloan assists clients in a variety of investment banking, brokerage, appraisal, portfolio management, and expert testimony tasks. Stephan has helped clients obtain more than $40 million in senior debt and helped broker radio stations with an aggregate value of more than $200 million. He has appraised or assisted in the appraisal of radio, television, and cable television systems valued in excess of $500 million for clients that include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC).
Working closely with Bob in Media Services' Broadcast Portfolio Group, Stephan has helped financial institutions with problems in their broadcast and cable loan portfolios and in court-appointed receivership assignments. He has also been accepted in state court as an expert witness on radio station valuation, finance, and receivership matters. Steph attended Salve Regina University.
Ted Clark is an analyst in Providence. He joined the firm in 1997 and since that time has performed valuations of radio, television and cable television systems totaling in excess of $560 million. Prior to joining Media Services Group, Ted (or as we call him, "Dr. Clark") worked as a research scientist and software developer in the biotechnology industry. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Rhode Island and performed his graduate studies at Dartmouth College.
Media Services Group
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Radio Disney Group sells WMNE (AM) serving West Palm Beach
Eddie Esserman and Bill Whitley of Media Services Group were the exclusive brokers.
Congratulations Eddie and Bill (again!).
Media Services Group
Monday, January 25, 2010
KAKS-FM sale closes
Bill Whitley of Media Services Group's Dallas office served as the exclusive broker for this transaction and represented the seller.
Congratulations Bill!
Media Services Group
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Tom McKinley
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Call Report
But there are glimmers. Most broadcasters I have spoken with are reporting good first quarter pacings. Yes, the comps are easier, but it is a start. I met with a fund last week who has recently taken a position in the industry. I believe them to be "smart money." And I met with a broadcaster who believes that radio stations are attractive at the current pricing level. I continue to believe that things are looking up for 2010.
Media Services Group
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Jerry Johnson
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
2009 Non Commercial FM Sales ($1 million or higher)
1. Market: Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
Market Rank: 5
Sale Announced: 06/09
Calls: KKXT
Buyer: North Texas Public Broadcasting Inc.
Seller: Covenant Educational Media Inc.
Price: $18,000,000
Pop Count (60 dBu): 4,974,764
Cost per Pop: $3.62
2. Market: Pittsburgh, PA
Market Rank: 25
Sale Announced: 05/09
Calls: WAOB-FM
Buyer: Saint Joseph Missions
Seller: Sheridan Broadcasting Corp.
Price: $8,900,000
Pop Count: 2,132,539
Cost per Pop: $4.17 (this assumes no value for the AM properties)
Comments: Sale includes two AM properties, WAMO and WPGR
3. Market: Cape Charles (Norfolk), VA
Market Rank: 43 (Norfolk)
Sale Announced: 09/09
Calls: WAZP
Buyer: Educational Media Foundation
Seller: Delmarva Educational Association
Price: $4,000,000
Pop Count: 440,842
Cost per Pop: $9.07
4. Market: Toledo, OH
Market Rank: 92
Sale Announced: 01/09
Calls: WNKL
Buyer: Educational Media Foundation
Seller: Cornerstone Church Inc.
Price: $2,825,000
Pop Count: 354,869
Cost per Pop: $7.96 (This assumes no value for the AM property)
Comments: Sale includes WNWT-AM
5. Market: Rockford, IL
Market Rank: 149
Sale Announced: 05/09
Calls: WGSL/WQFL
Buyer: Educational Media Foundation
Seller: First Assembly of God Church
Price: $2,000,000
Pop Count (WGSL): 408,712
Pop Count (WQFL): 368,686
Cost per Pop: $2.57
6. Market: Oxnard-Ventura, CA
Market Rank: 118
Sale Announced: 01/09
Calls: KLFH
Buyer: Logos Broadcasting Corp.
Seller: Shepherd Communications Inc.
Price: $1,350,000
Pop Count: 346,992
Cost per Pop: $3.89
7. Market: Raleigh-Durham, NC
Market Rank: 42
Sale Announced: 10/09
Calls: WAJC-FM/WGPS-FM/WJIJ-FM/WPGT-FM and W214BJ (translator)
Buyer: Liberty University Inc.
Seller: Calvary Chapel of Cost Mesa
Price: $1,250,000
Pop Count (WAJC): 45,043
Pop Count (WGPS): 103,995
Pop Count (WJIJ): 16,566
Pop Count (WPGT): 37,330
Cost per Pop: $6.16
Comments: I ignored the translator for purposes of determining the Cost per Pop.
8. Market: San Luis Obispo, CA
Market Rank: 170
Sale Announced: 02/09
Calls: KESC
Buyer: University of Southern California
Seller: Lazer Broadcasting Corp.
Price: $1,200,000
Pop Count: 181,645
Cost per Pop: $6.61
9. Market: Ft. Wayne, IN
Market Rank: 108
Sale Announced: 07/09
Calls: WLAB
Buyer: Star Educational Media Network Inc.
Seller: Indiana District - Lutheran Church MS
Price: $1,000,000
Pop Count: 349,388
Cost per Pop: $2.86 (ignores coverage of translators)
Comments: Includes two translators.
10. Market: Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
Market Rank: 70
Sale Announced: 06/09
Calls: WCIG
Buyer: Family Life Ministries
Seller: GEOS Communications
Price: $1,000,000 (plus Buyer assigns two translators to Seller)
Pop Count: 431,812
Cost per Pop: $2.42
Media Services Group
Monday, January 11, 2010
Top 50 TV Markets ranked by 2009 revenue (BIA)
1. Los Angeles, CA (1,193,900)
2. New York, NY (1,059,900)
3. Chicago, IL (635,600)
4. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (484,000)
5. Philadelphia, PA (435,300)
6. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA (412,300)
7. Washington, DC (401,700)
8. Houston, TX (387,500)
9. Atlanta, GA (367,000)
10. Miami - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (365,700)
11. Boston, MA (340,100)
12. Phoenix, AZ (292,500)
13. Denver, CO (260,700)
14. Tampa-St Petersburg-Sarasota, FL (253,400)
15. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne (243,100)
16. Detroit, MI (242,300)
17. Seattle-Tacoma, WA (231,000)
18. Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN (211,900)
19. San Diego, CA (178,300)
20. Cleveland-Akron, OH (173,600)
21. Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA (172,400)
22. Pittsburgh, PA (158,400)
23. San Antonio, TX (154,300)
24. Charlotte, NC (152,400)
25. St. Louis, MO (151,000)
26. San Juan, PR (150,900)
27. Baltimore, MD (149,900)
28. Indianapolis, IN (147,300)
29. Hartford-New Haven, CT (136,400)
30. Las Vegas, NV (135,500)
31. Columbus, OH (131,100)
32. Raleigh-Durham, NC (128,000)
33. Portland, OR (122,700)
34. Salt Lake City, UT (121,600)
35. Kansas City, KS-MO (120,800)
36. Nashville, TN (113,800)
37. Cincinnati, OH (113,600)
38. Milwaukee, WI (110,600)
39. Oklahoma City, OK (96,600)
40. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA (92,700)
41. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, FL (92,700)
42. Greenville-Spartanburg, SC-Asheville, NC (86,900)
43. Jacksonville, FL (86,400)
44. Louisville, KY (84,900)
45. New Orleans, LA (82,600)
46. Austin, TX (80,700)
47. Birmingham, AL (78,800)
48. Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM (78,600)
49. Memphis, TN (78,000)
50. Richmond-Petersburg, VA (75,500)
Media Services Group
Friday, January 8, 2010
Top 50 Radio Markets ranked by 2009 revenue (BIA)
1. Los Angeles, CA (698,000)
2. New York, NY (560,200)
3. Chicago, IL (441,100)
4. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (303,500)
5. San Francisco, CA (274,000)
6. Houston-Galveston, TX (267,800)
7. Atlanta, GA (267,500)
8. Washington, DC (245,000)
9. Boston, MA (225,200)
10. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL (223,400)
11. Philadelphia, PA (217,400)
12. Phoenix, AZ (190,900)
13. Seattle-Tacoma, WA (174,800)
14. Detroit, MI (159,500)
15. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (140,300)
16. Denver-Boulder, CO (137,800)
17. San Diego, CA (136,900)
18. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (110,000)
19. Baltimore, MD (103,600)
20. St. Louis, MO (99,200)
21. Orlando, FL (98,800)
22. San Antonio, TX (98,600)
23. Sacramento, CA (98,400)
24. Portland, OR (95,400)
25. Cincinnati, OH (83,700)
26. Pittsburgh, PA (81,600)
27. Puerto Rico (80,900)
28. Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC (80,700)
29. Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT (80,400)
30. Cleveland, OH (77,600)
31. Kansas City, MO-KS (76,600)
32. Austin, TX (74,600)
33. Las Vegas, NV (73,100)
34. Milwaukee-Racine, WI (73,100)
35. Columbus, OH (67,800)
36. Indianapolis, IN (65,900)
37. Raleigh-Durham, NC (64,600)
38. Hartford-New Britain-Middletown, CT (58,800)
39. Nashville, TN (58,000)
40. Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA (53,600)
41. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY (52,700)
42. New Orleans, LA (50,400)
43. Jacksonville, FL (50,100)
44. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL (48,300)
45. Oklahoma City, OK (44,500)
46. Richmond, VA (43,300)
47. Birmingham, AL (41,900)
48. Louisville, KY (41,800)
49. Nassau-Suffolk, NY (41,000)
50. Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI (41,000)
Click here for a list of all Arbitron rated markets: http://220.127.116.11/articles/Copy%20of%202009%20MARKETS%20RANKED%20BY%20REVENUE.XLS
Media Services Group
Thursday, January 7, 2010
If you're looking to acquire radio or TV stations, make sure we know about you!
A good way to begin is by completing a simple Buyer Profile form and faxing or emailing a copy to me. Click here for the form:
You can email a pdf of the completed form to me at: firstname.lastname@example.com. My partners and I can then do a better job of identifying potential acquisition targets for you. Obviously, we keep all of the information confidential.
My fax is: (904) 285-5618
Let's do some business in 2010!
Media Services Group
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Meet the Media Services Group partners: Bill and Mike Lytle
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Broadcast engineering formulas and information
Here is the list they provide:
- Ohms Law
- Simple Conversions
- T & H Pad Calculator
- Property Requirements for Standard Guyed Towers
- Property Requirements for an AM Ground System
- Ballast Formula for Non-Penetrating Roof Mounts
- Audio Terms used to descripe Audio Sound
Good luck with that!
Media Services Group
Monday, January 4, 2010
Will our listeners go GaGa for LaLa?
LaLa is a "pay" service where customers pay a dime to be able to permanently stream a song wherever and whenever they want. The company's growth was held back a a little known startup. Who wants their music library investment tied to a little known, probably under-funded start-up? But Apple is a different story. I'd trust them with my music and you probably would too.
Apple's iTunes arguably already controls the music business. They have the content. And with their myriad of cool appliances (iPhones, Nanos, iPods, Macs, etc.), they have the distribution platform. Plus, the technology provides a cache of the tunes . . . you can still listen when you're away from the Internet.
There is an appealing "anytime/anywhere" component to Apple/LaLa (sound familiar?). And this puts Apple into the streaming business, big time. Short term, that might bode well for our streaming businesses. Long term, different story.
Apple innovates. Consumers know it. And we (the broadcasters) have been a little short on innovation lately. It will be tough to "out music" Apple. They have a coolness cachet that we can't match, especially with their appliances. By the way, have you bought a radio lately? Drop by Target or WalMart and see what you think of your choices. But, I digress.
LaLa is developing an iPhone app. A subscription service is probably just around the corner. Pandora and XM/Sirius are likely the most immediate casualties, but we might be next.
So why didn't a broadcaster buy LaLa? Maybe because none of us have any cash at the moment. But even if we did, would we, as (mostly) a bunch of 50+ (mostly) guys, have had the vision?
How do we compete? We can't beat them with just music offerings on our interactive platforms. We have to provide more. We have to "go where they ain't." And I suspect that talented local personalities are part of that solution. Think "entertainment."
Those are my thoughts. What are yours? Your comments are encouraged (click "Comments" below).
Media Services Group
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Harvard Business Review blog: The Builders' Manifesto by Umair Haque
"Dear World Leaders,"
Media Services Group


text:
When pain, comparing yourself with others, school, work, marriage, hopes, maybe church relationship, or life in general behave un-explainable ways, what is your response?
Personal unmet desires might even write our own story.
How did Leah respond to her circumstances , her pain. Her own emotions for the man she cared for were taken advantage of by her own father into a deceitful maneuver in exchange for seven more years of work. The beautiful sister always received the delighted eyes of the man Leah loved.
God has not forgotten Leah. The answer to her cry ultimately releases her inner pain. Her choice also has an eternal gain greater than Leah could hope for.
Walk deeper into Leah's life. Is Leah's choice talking to you?
" This pain is deeper than before", Leah remarks to herself while spinning wool to repair a blanket. Memories of this tent come flooding back. Two years ago, in a drunken stupor, Jacob made Leah his wife. Not in love but through deception. Each time Leah receives a look from Jacob, she feels hatred. She believes it reflects un-forgiveness for being part of a cruel plot with her father.
Rachel and Jacob tenderly still share the same affection as their first day of marriage. Leah feels as a shadow in the tent whose only need is to keep things clean and tidy.
"Please look at me Jacob with the same heart, the same delight the same enjoyment as when you look at Rachel. I can make you laugh. I can give you joy. Give me a chance."
God hears Leah's cry.
31 When Yahweh saw Leah was unloved, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel had none. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here's My Son], because she said, "Certainly, Yahweh has seen my misery; now my husband will love me! Genesis 29 NOG
Leah cries out in bearing the first born, opening her womb. Although never experiencing anything this painful before, but it is not the focal point of her mind. With tears, she welcomes this son as a gift to Jacob.
"Here Jacob, Love Me!!! Here's My Son. Surely I have a tender place in your heart now." Leah hold this first born as an offering to Jacob." Please, love me", is her plea..
Jacob swells with pride as he holds his first born son.
Jacob's response to Leah?. Leah who?
33 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, "Certainly, Yahweh has heard that I'm unloved, and he also has given me this son." So she named him Simeon [Hearing] Genesis 29 NOG
Oh the pain of this second birth Ahhhhhh. Leah cries out hard. Women surrouding to help bring this baby into the world. Upon his entry, Leah declares, this one is more difficult so the prize must be worth it. Simeon is very beautiful . Surely Jacob will know I can bring joy to his life now.
Have things changed?
"Don't I Exist?" These words explode inside. "Will I forever go unnoticed as my sons are taken from me as well?" Leah exclaims . The three males in her life are playing a game outside. Jacob's loud laughter booms. Leah hears the joy and sees the playtime but goes unnoticed while still spinning yarn. "Yahweh, please turn Jacob's heart to me".
The enjoyment with her boys is over. Jacob's eyes light up even more when Rachel opens the flaps of the tent. He grabs her hand. They run to the hills like young does. Giggling follows. Leah weeps.
34 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I've given him three sons." So she named him Levi [Attached]. Genesis 29 NOG
This easy birth released a fine boy. Still clinging to the hope her salvation to Jacob comes through children, Leah believes Jacob will finally yearn to become attached to her.
Jacob proudly starts bringing Reuben and Simeon his work." These are my sons" Jacob shows the two eldest the beginning in caring for the sheep. In the evening, Jacob returns and gently rubs the head of Levi who is navigating small movements for his first steps. Nothing has changed. The boys bring Jacob delight. Rachel brings Jacob delight.
Leah is empty with no delight.
35 She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said, "This time I will praise Yahweh." So she named him Judah [Praise]. Then she stopped having children. Genesis 29 NOG
Used, Imperfect and Unloved! Leah could not draw delight from a man. Leah declares "This time I will Praise GOD."
Judah is a son having far reaching blessings.
Who is Judah?
Matthew 1 1-17, and Luke 3: 23-34 state the lineage of Jesus. Jesus goes to David who goes to Jacob who fathered Judah. This is the child Leah declares in finding her fulfillment :I will Praise God. .
Another expression of eternal gain not only for Leah but for the world is mentioned in Revelation.
"Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Revelation. 5:5. NIV
From the used, imperfect and unloved, God chose to draw His Son, our salvation. Leah made the choice:
What response will come from you, from me?
You may ask if Leah had a wonderful life after that? The opportunity to experience life differently is always a day to day choice. Which path to take for a fulfilled story is your exciting freedom. How will you write your story?
Please feel free to comment where you experienced the world's standard placing you in a box for joy. Have you accepted that box for your story?
Have you walked in victories by opening your hand to say :I Will Praise Him?


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1st point in was a 2-1 win v Stoke.
When Clint signed from Fulham, I believed he would be a success,however he never really did it,possibly and probably because he was played out of position.This seems to be one of AVB's great tactical attributes,that of playing people out of position.With him at the helm,we will never progress.
One more point whilst I am writing this article.I am sick and tired of the press, football pundits etc… Constantly going on about the money Spurs spent in the summer.We were the smallest net spenders of the Premier League,actually I believe making a small profit on transactions, so all and sundry should give it a rest.Had we been big spenders,then we would have bought better quality players.


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WITHIN a fortnight the Duchess of Cambridge will
have given birth to an heir to the British crown in the
£10,000-a-baby Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital, where her husband
was born. The baby will be delivered by two of the queen's
gynaecologists, Alan Farthing and Marcus Setchell. The next
morning over breakfast, from her crisp hospital bed, she will read
about her own labour, in whichever complimentary newspaper she has

To say that England is in the throes of royal baby
fever is an understatement because, globally, it's probably only a
handful of Amazonian tribespeople, as yet untouched by wifi, that
don't know of the Cambridges' imminent arrival. Or haven't
predicted its sex. Or what its nursery will look like.

True to form, Kate has born the scrutiny
immaculately. And silently. Even when she emerged from a
three-night stay at the King Edward VII hospital, following acute
Hyperemesis gravidarum, she managed to smile and wave.
Pale, but characteristically coiffed, this was about the only
public appearance during her pregnancy for which she didn't wear
high heels.

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Throughout her pregnancy, Kate has shown very
clearly exactly the sort of mother she intends to be. She has spent
a lot of time with her own mother Carole, shopping for Moses
baskets and looking at beige fabrics in frilly baby shop Blue
Almonds on Walton Street in South Kensington. The pair are very
tight, and unlike Diana, who felt alienated from her family
following her marriage to the Prince of Wales, Kate and William
have insisted that the Middletons are present in their lives, even
spending their first married Christmas with the prince's in-laws. A
month ago, Carole and Pippa threw a lunch in Bucklebury for the
expectant mother's closest friends and family: not quite an
all-singing, all-dancing American baby shower, but a British
version - which will no doubt initiate a new social requirement for
pregnant women around the country. Over the next few days Carole
and Pippa will be on call in London, awaiting news of Kate. They
will rush with her to hospital. William, who will take his two-week
paternity leave after the baby is born, may well be miles away on
duty with the Royal Air Force and therefore miss the early stages
of the labour - although, being in a helicopter, he does plan to
bypass traffic jams enroute to the hospital.

Recently Kate has sought any opportunity to spend
time with her friends' children. At Olympic rider Laura
Bechtolsheimer's Alpine wedding, Kate, a keen skier, did not risk a
slalom but spent her afternoon on the nursery slopes, teaching
Harriet Sutton's daughter to toboggan. After that she went inside
and ate a bowl of pasta for tea.

And yet Kate is no "Jessica Simpson". She's
clearly resisted any urge to go wild on the oeufs drumkilbo - she's
even given up caffeine - and hence has sailed trough pregnancy
svelte and blissfully spared from swollen ankles. When she is in
London, hairdresser Richard Ward remains on speed dial (despite the
small blip in their relationship when he cut her a half-fringe that
didn't work out well for the hundreds of windy outdoor appearances
on her schedule). Kate is surprisingly adept at doing her own hair,
which she first blow-dries and then curls with heated tongs. When
she travels to friends' weddings or weekend parties, she doesn't
bring a hairdresser with her - although her security always travel
with a spare pare of Wolford tights, just in case of the gravest of
all grooming disasters.

In fashion terms, Kate's pregnancy has been
remarkable for its lack of maternity wear. From her first
noticeable appearance with a bump (finally, after four months), in
a blue Max Mara Studio wrap dress, right through to her final
public appearance, in pink Emilia Wickstead at Trooping the Colour
last month, she has opted for carefully tailored, high-waisted
ensembles. From some angles, even in her final trimester, it has
been difficult to see she is pregnant. Admittedly this has had a
bit to do with the meteorological farce that is our summer and
Kate's subsequent reliance on pastel-coloured coats. But it also
reflects her sensitivity to a confused royal attitude to pregnant
princesses. On the one hand, the royal-with-child is a great thing:
it is the means by which the crown is perpetuated, heavy with
historical connotation. And yet it's actually a bit embarrassing
because Kate might as well be walking around with a sign strapped
to her stomach reading, "I've recently had sex." The upper classes
do not like to celebrate the act of conjugation; they have quick
fumbles in the pitch black, which they then deny. Kate's clothes
walk the boundary between royal heroine and social pariah.

In fact, everything Kate has done in the run up to
giving birth has been exemplary. No child popped out two months
after the wedding; she conceived a thoughtful 19 months after
saying "I do". She resisted immediately redecorating Kensington
Palace, choosing instead to start out married life in a modest
farmhouse in Wales. She did her grocery shopping in Waitrose. She
prepared herself, and the world, for her maternal role by getting a
dog called Lupo. She gravitated towards well-wishers with babies.
During her pregnancy she has won hearts by triumphing over
adversity (illness) and then behaving like a perfectly normal
non-pregnant person. There's been no penchant for coal, no looking
cross, no frizzy hair. She's hasn't even got into cupping. Probably
the funkiest practice she has subscribed to is pregnancy yoga - an
instructor comes to Kensington Palace's private gym once a week.
Newspapers, magazines and television have seized upon this
Everywoman aspect with an endless stream of features on
breastfeeding, homebirths and nursery decoration. The Kate Effect
means the desired item now is not a Whistles dress but a kicking
gurgling baby. Of course, only the truly blessed will manage to
give birth on the same day as the Duchess, or they may, as some
whispers are suggesting, book themselves into the Lindo Wing and
pay to induce labour.

Although Kate has ordered a truck-load of
pregnancy books on Amazon, she has been out and about shopping for
her new baby. Controversially, within the realms of royal
convention, Kate's hasn't plumped for a traditional Silver Cross
pram (the sort Queen Victoria's nanny would have pushed), but a
state-of-the-art Bugaboo as favoured by Gwyneth Paltrow and
Victoria Beckham. They retail at £1,220. Perhaps more significantly
she chose a blue Bugaboo. At the time of going to press Ladbrokes
are offering odds of 5/2 for a boy and 1/3 for a girl. Confusingly,
in March, Kate accepted a gift from a well-wisher saying: "Oh, is
this for our d…?" apparently stopping herself before saying
daughter. A royal aide insists that the couple have decided not to
find out the sex. However, thanks to the Succession to the Crown
Act being passed in April, whatever sex the baby, he or she will
inherit the throne - so Kate doesn't need to sweat like one of
Henry VIII's wives before her.

[#image: /photos/5d54982ec9d1d100091f7162]

Being organised and efficient, Kate has probably
already packed her bag for hospital and put it in the hall. The
outfit, neatly folded inside, she chooses to wear to present her
new baby to the world will no doubt become an instant global
sell-out. Doubtless, too, her route to hospital will have been
practised many times by her driver. Now all Kate has to do is wait.
And she's good at that.

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Playbook | Farmers.gov
The farmers.gov playbook aligns the farmers.gov vision with site features, both available and upcoming, and provides transparency about our progress on those features.
Measuring Our Impact
Improving access to services, tools and information for customers and employees
More than 150 federal web resources in one place
100% mobile friendly pages
Reaching farmers daily through 7 digital platforms
Website Features
Focusing on tools, education, self-service and engagement features that provide immediate and continual value to our customers and employees who serve those customers
Discover valuable and readily-available business tools to increase efficiency and productivity
Service Center Locator
Digital Forms
Receipt For Service
Access educational materials and resources
Playbook with Scorecard
Website Content
Disaster Assistance Tool
Farmers.gov Discovery Tool
User-Specific Content Views
H-2A Visa Program Tool
Use self-service applications to do business
Farm Maps Application
Make an Appointment
Farm Loan Features
Conservation Management Features
Engage with USDA, other producers and partners
Media Toolkit
Guiding Principles for Farmer-Centered Design
Farmers.gov doesn't deliver every agricultural resource, tool or story for farmers, ranchers and foresters – and it doesn't pretend to. Instead, we're talking to our customers and field employees who serve those customers, often farmers and ranchers themselves. We're building farmers.gov around their needs and ideas through a streamlined, farmer-centered approach – bringing the most usable information together in a new way by:
Designing for farmer needs first, with an emphasis on local
Representing the full breadth of our customer base, from traditional producer to specialty farmers
Bringing the most relevant resources, programs and tools together in one place
Speaking with clear and plain language (leaving out government jargon and acronyms)
Using clear visual design, sensible navigation and understandable processes to help people reach their goals every time
Creating a mobile-first platform to reach customers where they live and work
Measuring what matters and using data to drive decisions
Continuously connecting with customers creating opportunities for feedback and improvement


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Idaho Falls Water Damage
Water Damage Restoration for Idaho Falls
If you have ever had the misfortune of a flooded basement in your home, you know the importance of fast action. A quick response is critical to minimize damage to your property and contents. You also realize that to properly dry the structure, carpet, pad, and contents requires highly specialized equipment.
Using "state of the art" equipment and techniques, Sunrise Cleaning & Restoration can remove excess water and set up a drying "system" to have your home dry in as little as 3 days! As a "full" service restoration company, we are trained and experienced to handle any size job from start to finish. We will work with your insurance company to put your life back to normal in the prompt and professional manner. At Sunrise Cleaning & Restoration, we understand the nature of smoke, fire, and water damage, and more importantly, we understand the emotional toll. Our primary goal is to help put your life back to normal as quickly as possible. Sunrise Cleaning & Restoration offers professional Water Damage Services in Idaho Falls and all of Eastern Idaho. With our professional Water Damage staff on the job, you can focus your efforts on other tasks going on in your life and allow us to assist in restoring your home. With Sunrise on the job, you can relax knowing that we will handle every facet of the job. We have over 25 years of experience and our customers have grown to trust SUNRISE CLEANING & RESTORATION…and so can YOU! Contact us today if we can offer any assistance with your Idaho Falls Water Damage or any other Idaho Falls Restoration needs.


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A number of health and fitness professionals from east Antrim are in the running for accolades at a prestigious awards ceremony next month.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council staff member Janice McConnell has been shortlisted in the Nutritionist/Dietitian of the Year category at the Northern Ireland Health and Fitness Awards, sponsored by Centra.
Meanwhile, Newtownabbey personal trainer Ben Mudge is up for Health and Fitness Blogger/Influencer of the Year.
Carrickfergus personal trainer Tash Bamford from Tash PT is one of the contenders for Female Personal Trainer of the Year, while Larne gym manager Andrew Falconer from Just Active is in the running for Gym Manager of the Year.
Over 200 entries were received and independently judged by a highly experienced panel from the health and fitness industry made up of former Ulster, Ireland and British Lions rugby star Stephen Ferris; Centra Ambassador and leading Northern Ireland nutritionist Jane McClenaghan; leading personal trainer Ian Young; fitness blogger Aly Harte, and Sunday Life Editor Martin Breen.
The awards comprise of 15 categories to recognise the outstanding achievements of the local health and fitness industry including Gym of the Year, Personal Trainer of the Year, Best Corporate Wellness Programme, Retailer of the Year, and Healthy Food Outlet of the Year.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony hosted by former Emmerdale actress, Strictly Come Dancing star and health and fitness enthusiast, Gemma Atkinson and Q Radio's Ninja Warrior Ibe Sesay on Saturday, September 22 in the Crowne Plaza Belfast.


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April 9, 2014, 10:21 am
Cartoons of the day: Obamacare signup numbers
President Obama announced last week that 7.1 million Americans signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act by the March 31 deadline. He claimed Obamacare to be a success and said, "The debate over repealing this law is over." Editorial cartoonist Bill Day agrees, saying those in the GOP who have been fighting the law have been unceremoniously dumped, while Rick McKee doesn't think many people are on board with Obama's enthusiasm for the signup numbers.
Next Post »
« Previous Post


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The cream whipper is an instrument unknown to many but very simple in its use.
In addition to the whipped cream used in many preparations, You can create fruit, coffee, chocolate, mascarpone cheese mousse, both sweet and savory, or other creamy desserts.
This are just some of the recipes that I will explain in the dedicated section.
The cream whipper allows You to create spectacular creations and, as has happened to me several times, to surprise Your guests with a fun and unusual menu …
It 's a tool that consists of four parts:
For all preparations, filter all liquids carefully with a fine mesh strainer before introducing it in the cream whipper to prevent solids from damaging the tool.
Below is a short video that explains how to make proper use of a cream whipper.
Good vision,
©Copyright GelatoMyWay 2017


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Approximately One in Six Driving Without Insurance in 2010
FREE Car Insurance Comparison
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save!
Think you don't need uninsured motorist coverage? Think again.
A study released by the Insurance Research Council revealed approximately one in six drivers in the United States may be driving without insurance this year.
The group said the estimated percentage of uninsured drivers fell from 14.9 percent in 2003 to 13.8 percent in 2007, but is expected to reach an all-time high thanks to the economic downturn, which is causing more than its fair share of unintended consequences.
Apparently a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate is associated with a more than three-quarters of a percentage point increase in the uninsured motorist rate.
So based on current unemployment rate projections, the percentage of uninsured motorists is expected to rise to a staggering 16.1 percent in 2010. That said, the need for uninsured motorist coverage is clearly growing.
In 2007, New Mexico had the highest percentage of uninsured drivers (29 percent), followed by Mississippi (28 percent), Alabama (26 percent), Oklahoma (24 percent), and Florida (23 percent).
The five states with the lowest estimated percentage of uninsured drivers were Massachusetts (1 percent), Maine (4 percent), North Dakota (5 percent), New York (5 percent), and Vermont (6 percent).
If you happen to be one of the many uninsured drivers out there, consider picking up at least minimum car insurance coverage. This will vary based on your state's liability limits.
The IRC study examined data collected from nine insurers, who represent roughly half of the private passenger auto insurance market in the United States.


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Bill Viola is a unique figure in the development of contemporary art and the Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art (RMCA) is most honoured to present the first large exhibition of his work in China. Throughout his long career working with the medium of the moving image, he has bridged east and west sensibilities. Not only has he entered into dialogue with Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi and Christian beliefs, but he has also constantly been at the forefront of using new technologies for reproducing images and sound and then, stretching their capabilities to the utmost, he has confronted with them the profound realities of birth, life and death.
The exhibition is installed across four buildings of the RMCA, including a special screening room for his earlier videotapes. A large orientation space has also been built, on the model of Viola's Long Beach studio, which will enable the public to access interviews with the artist and to discover more about his whole body of work. An extensive program of public lectures and panels will run throughout the exhibition, starting on 23 September with a discussion between Kira Perov, Viola's long-time partner and collaborator, and David Elliott, RMCA Senior Curator.
In 40 years Viola has produced such a vast body of work that it would be impossible to show every aspect so a selection was made of 24 important works from 1977 to 2014. The climax of this exhibition, the four Martyrs (2014), derived from an installation commissioned by St Paul's Cathedral in London, has recently been acquired for the RMCA collection.
From the 1970s to the present, Viola has created a new poetics of video and film. In the 1970s, the early years of video art, he made a series of videotape and installation works that explore the principles of human perception. Tapes shown here, such as The Reflecting Pool (1977-79) and Ancient of Days (1979–81) experimented with the new medium of video, as with using the camera, the lens, and new editing techniques, to manipulate time, space, and light, to create images and sequences that often the human eye, and mind, could never otherwise see.
During the 1980s the scope of Viola's work expanded to include references to the writings of mystics and poets of various spiritual traditions. His videotape shown here I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like (1986), described by John Hanhardt as "one of the most commanding artworks of the late twentieth century," observes animal and human consciousness using the motif of
an the eye as "a gateway to the soul".
Through the 1990s, Viola continued to produce increasingly complex large-scale installations and videotapes that were exhibited internationally and gained widespread critical acclaim.
In 1991, with the death of his mother and the birth of his second son nine months later, experiencing death and life in such close proximity, Viola realized that his life and his work were one, and began to include in his videos footage of his family and personal life. The Passing (1991), a one-hour videotape, is in memory of his mother and his emotional response to her death.
In the mid 1990s, the look and pace of his work changed again as he began to work with actors and to use a high-speed 35 mm camera that could achieve very smooth slow motion; in 2000 he began to show such images on flat panel screens that would reveal, in perfect detail, silent, slowly moving images in which the poses, expressions and movement of the figures could convey imperceptibly fleeting emotions and passions. Three works using this method are shown here: The Quintet of the Astonished (2000) is inspired by the figures and mood of Hieronymus Bosch's painting Christ Mocked (The Crowning with Thorns), (1490–1500) ; Observance (2002) is based on The Four Apostles, two wings for an altar painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1526; The Raft (2004), however, has a more everyday reference, depicting a random group of nineteen men and women from different backgrounds suddenly struck by a massive onslaught of water and then their ensuing struggle to give comfort and strength to each other as they recover and begin to rise again to their feet.
If Viola's work now needed complicated equipment and a large crew to achieve the necessary effects, Fire Woman and Tristan's Ascension (both 2005) required a specially designed stage in which water and fire could be used as part of an elegant and confounding system of illusions. Both works depict the tragic death of two lovers and are related to a larger cycle of images made to accompany Peter Sellars'
s production of Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde first for the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2004) then for the Paris Opera in 2005. Based on a medieval story of a passionate, doomed love affair, these massive, imposing works show "an image seen in the mind's eye of a dying man" as, against a wall of raging fire, a woman appears to be consumed as she falls into her own reflection. The second work "describes the ascent of the soul in the space after death as it is awakened and drawn up in a backward flowing waterfall."
The Encounter and Walking on the Edge (both 2012) develop the mirage-like narratives of flat desert landscapes first shown here in Viola's early videotape Chott el Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat, 1979). Intense desert heat bends and changes light as "two women take separate journeys at opposite ends of their lives" while, in the second work, two men, father and son, appear at the far extremes of the frame and as they walk, become closer until they cross, and again grow further apart.
The four works, Earth Martyr, Air Martyr, Fire Martyr, and Water Martyr (all 2014), shown on flat screens in the same room, are an expression of the principle of action and belief. The raging elements become violent protagonists but each person exhibits fortitude, perseverance, endurance and sacrifice as the body is tested to the limit and, as in Fire Woman and Tristan's Ascension, in death they transcend the veil of darkness and pass into the light.
As an indispensable extension of this exhibition, RMCA has produced, in Chinese and English, a fully illustrated catalogue. Bill Viola's own words are included in this book, together with interviews with leading art historians John G. Hanhardt and Jörg Zutter and articles, by Jean-Christophe Ammann, former director of the Museum of Modern Art in Frankfurt, and John Walsh, former director of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Artists: Feng Mengbo, Shen Shaomin, The Propeller Group,
Katie Paterson, Song Dong
April, 29th 2017 - April, 27th 2018
Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art | RMCA, E galleries
Organizer:Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art | RMCA
OutLook, is currently on exhibition at Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art (RMCA). OutLook is a medley of the important artworks of five artists. Coming from various places, transcending different media, and created freely, these artworks have recently become part of RMCA's collection. Running the gamut from rethinks of the reality based on personal emotions to explorations into the troublous world, OutLook treats you to an out-of-body experience where reality and virtuality coexist.
The layout of the exhibition guarantees the manifestation of each and every artwork's individuality. The exhibits on the left and right wings of E Galleries stand in stark contrast. On this wing, the combination of black and white is impressive yet poignant. Katie Paterson's Langjökull, Snæfellsjökull, Solheimajökull,gives off a remote and sublime sound of melting glaciers; Song Dong's Touching My Father, with his soul, he touches his family member beyond reach. His personal experiences exude powerful universal emotions. On the other wing, the in-depth crisis of civilization and scientific development is approached; Shen Shaomin's I Touched the Voice of God, featuring the debris of Shenzhou, the name of the rocket, converts the pride and arrogance of the mankind into a crashing gravestone, conveying God's message of punishment and destrction; The Propeller Group's AK47 vs. M16 makes a comment on the today's power, conflicts and struggles on the Vietnam War battlefields, and presents the confrontation between Eastern and Western cultures in a visual way; Feng Mengbo's 195806, featuring the launch of an atomic bomb, reflects the influence of the Soviet Union's aesthetics on history of fine arts in modern China.
No curator will walk you through the exhibition; instead, 100,000 artwork statements will do the job. With reference to such statements, you may pick your favorite exhibit for further research and discoveries at your own will. We hope that this will take you through a dynamic exploration of the artworks and help you open yourself to unexpected ideas and insights based on what you have experienced in life and what you will view at the exhibition. Without you, who are ardent enthusiasts for art, the exhibition would be futile and meaningless.
The exhibition is open to the public at E Galleries, Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art from April, 2017.


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6. Dan-Axel Zagadou, PSG
Position: Center back
Nationality: French
Age: 17
The captain of France Under-18s has so far refused to sign a professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain, who fears a repeat of seeing Kinglsey Coman and Moussa Dembélé leave on a free transfer. The same also happened with Mamadou Doucoure, who joined Borussia Monchengladbach last summer.
Zagadou could be the biggest loss of them all. An imposing center back who is strong in the air, touch in the tackle and composed on the ball, PSG has long-term dreams of partnering Zagadou with Presnel Kimpembe in a homegrown defensive partnership. Zagadou may have other plans, though. He visited Manchester City last winter and RB Leipzig is interested as well. Latest reports from Germany suggest that talks are advanced with Borussia Dortmund, where the trajectory of Ousmane Dembele can only have impressed this young, highly coveted defender, who looks to be a star of the future.
What they're saying:
"He's a good player. We will see what will happen. We are always looking for players of the future."
– Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund CEO
PREVIOUS: 7. Marcus Rashford, Manchester United | NEXT: 5. Justin Kluivert, Ajax


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Currently, my main tank is a display tank. In this hobby, a display tank is just that: a tank in which fish are kept in a fully-decorated and well-maintained tank. This can mean anything from living plants and natural wood to decor which has been bought at the fish store. If it looks like a piece of artwork, it's a display tank. My display tank fish are living in an environment much more enriched for their comfort. Natural hide-aways, leaves and foliage which give them comfort and security, and they have peaceful tank mates which won't deplete the population. This tank sits in my living room. It's 36g with full filtration, so it definitely is a nice showcase for anyone who might drop by.
A display tank isn't meant for at-work colonies. The decor and foliage mean netting fry and juveniles is difficult and requires multiple attempts; stress-galore for the fish. And stressed fish equal dead fish. As hardy as these Endler's Livebearers are, they're not indestructible. So that is where a growout tank comes into play.
A growout tank is pragmatic and utilitarian at best. No decoration, no foliage, and in many cases, no substrate. This allows the fish to be netted in one quick motion and ultimately results in less stress on them. It also gives me an ability to sort them into male and female sections once they start to show their sex as early as four weeks of age. Often, if the different sexes are kept together, the juvenile females are pregnant when they ship out. Extra fish for the buyer, yes, but the females are much more fragile when they ship. Juvenile females who are not pregnant are usually refered to as "pre-hit", which is a whole other conversation for another time.
Anywho, back to a growout tank: I have an old 20L which I will be converting into a 2-section growout tank. One half will be for fry which are way too young to be sexed, and females. The other half will be for juvenile and adult males. To accomplish this build, I will be retrieving the following items:
- Plastic canvas
- 100% silicone
- Poster frame pieces
The two sections will be each independently filtered using a sponge filtration system; the little filters can be run off the same air pump, so I made sure to get a quiet one. This of course means that I have tubing and valves. Honestly, I buy those two items in bulk because I can never seem to have enough and they're a must-have in the event I need to isolate sick or injured fish in a teeny tiny little tank.
I painted the outside glass of the back and bottom with black acrylic paint jut so that the coloration of the males would pop nicely. Then, I secured the cut-to-fit frame pieces using silicone. The final project essentially gives me a removable divider that slides into the track. Here are some of the pictures of the growout tank in progress:
Even though it is a growout tank, I made sure to add some cholla wood, moss, Indian Almond leaves and plastic floating fry cover. Each of the items are very easily removed and won't impede my ability to capture fish each time I need to ship some out. The tiniest fry can pass through the plastic canvas, but I don't worry about that too much. At that size, they're far too young to get pregnant. Once they're big enough to sex, they're also big enough to be stopped by the plastic canvas.
Some of my largest females are housed in here currently so that they get a break from cohabiting with males in the display tank, and because I know they give me the healthiest and largest batches of fry. Once every five weeks or so, I'll be putting a male in their section and leave him to do his job for a few days. Then, back to the other side he goes! Currently, one of my prize males has a gorgeous bottom sword and some coloration on his dorsal fin that I'm hoping gets passed along to any male fry.


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As humans however, we decided that standing upright was a priority. So our spine developed with its 3 beautiful curves, 33 individual moving segments each with a cushy disc and several facet joints to support a wide range of movement.
" Would an inversion table help this?"
" I have a contraption that hangs over the door and pulls on me, what do you think about that?"
" I know someone who did VAX-D decompression, how is that different?"
" I have an 18th century medieval torture device, is that the same thing?"
So what can you do to help yourself while you are not in the office?
Follow the home care plan including core strengthening exercises, stretches and rest if necessary. Use proper lifting techniques, sleep on your back with a pillow under the knees. Use natural anti inflammatory substances like tumeric, support the joints with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. This list can go on for quite a while, but each situation is different and so each treatment plan is unique. Consistency is the key.
So before you go trying to figure out how to become reincarnated as an ant, try Cox spinal decompression in this lifetime, your spine will thank you for it.


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LFE's Goal of the Month is back with eight of the best strikes by apprentices from across the Academy leagues during February and March.
With the season drawing to a close, time is running out for players to book their place in the Goal of the Season reckoning alongside previous 2017-18 Goal of the Month winners Matt Mayes (Portsmouth), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Birmingham City), Ellis Chapman (Lincoln City), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United) and Alex Hunt (Sheffield Wednesday).
The latest instalment includes two entries from Blackpool, with Brendan O'Brien's thunderous drive from distance competing with Dylan Sumner's controlled finish in their FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg clash with Arsenal.
Long-range pearlers from Jack Conway (Gillingham) and Daniel O'Sullivan (Walsall) sealed their places on the shortlist, while Bolton Wanderers striker Dennis Politic converted an audacious effort from the halfway line for his second Goal of the Month nomination.
Elsewhere, Dejon Noel-Williams (Oxford United), Jack Sparkes (Exeter City) and Morgan Whittaker (Derby County) all produced precise hits from outside the area to give themselves a chance of winning the prize.
Voting will remain open until noon on 12 April. You can vote for your favourite goal via our online poll or via Twitter using the hashtag attached to each goal.