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MGC TOKEN's Future Plans for the Next Two Years
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2019 / MGC TOKEN has also made future plans for the next two years.
Executive Summary:
With the progress of science and technology and the development of Internet technology, the emergence of blockchain technology has created a new world, and a safe and effective decentralized wallet has become an indispensable tool for people. MGC TOKEN is developing under the background and it is committed to creating a global business ecosystem. In order to achieve this goal, MGC TOKEN must keep pace with the times. Therefore, MGC TOKEN has also made future plans for the next two years.
Company Summary:
MGC TOKEN is a safe and effective decentralized smart wallet developed by AONE technology team of BG-MF Company. MGC TOKEN is a comprehensive service platform for digital assets, which integrates the one-stop secure storage management service, intelligent financial management and payment ecology of digital assets. MGC TOKEN is committing to building the strongest and powerful infrastructure in the digital assets industry, providing the best quality, safety, convenience and university services for digital assets enthusiasts, popularizing the application of blockchain technology in all walks of life, opening up the whole life areas of blockchain, and leading the change of the new era.
The Market Profile of the Industry:
According to Tractica, the enterprise business traffic carried by blockchain in 2018 is going beyond the concept. Tractica predicts that the global enterprise blockchain market will reach about $4.6 billion in 2018 and $23 billion in 2025.
From 2015 to 2017, there are 459 blockchain investment transactions in the world, of which the largest numbers involved in three directions: finance, corporate services and cultural entertainment. The blockchain technology, as a general technology, accelerates the penetration of digital currency into other fields, and integrates with innovation in all walks of life. In the future, the application of blockchain will be divorced from the virtual, and the landing application of blockchain will become the mainstream direction of the future development of blockchain technology.
MGC TOKEN's Future Plans for the Next Two Years:
In 2019
On May 20, 2019, MGC TOKEN will publicly sell The World of MGC TOKEN Global Smart Wallet in 11 countries around the world.
On May 20, 2019, MGC TOKEN will publicly sell The World of MGC TOKEN Global Smart Wallet in 11 countries around the world.
On June 26, 2019, MGC TOKEN will hold a thousand-person conference in Thailand.
On June 28, 2019, MGC will launch its new exchanges.
On July 28, 2019, MGC will launch its new exchanges.
On Aug. 28, 2019, MGC TOKEN will hold a meeting in Bali.
On Aug. 30, 2019, MGC TOKEN will build its own exchange and issue token with the same title.
On Sep. 29, 2019, MGC TOKEN will issue its first bank card.
On Oct. 28, 2019, MGC TOKEN will hold a large-scale conference in Dubai.
On Nov. 29, MGC TOKEN visited British companies.
On Dec. 31, 2019, MGC TOKEN will hold the Hong Kong New Year Conference.
In 2020
On Jan. 31, 2020, MGC TOKEN will open many financial investment applications.
On Feb. 29, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold a meeting in Serbia.
On Mar. 26, 2020, MGC TOKEN will create public chain.
On April 30, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold a meeting in Jeju Island, South Korea.
On May 28, 2020, MGC TOKEN will make MGC cold wallet equipment.
On Jun. 28, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold a meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
On July 31, 2020, MGC TOKEN will make MGC ATM.
On Aug. 31, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold an elite meeting in Maldives.
On Sep. 29, 2020, MGC TOKEN will build Cyprus blockchain business school.
On Oct. 30, 2020, MGC TOKEN will open multiple mining games and more than 20 currencies storage.
On Nov. 30, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold a meeting of top leaders in the UK.
On Dec. 31, 2020, MGC TOKEN will hold a New Year conference in Las Vegas, USA.
Risk Factors:
- Because of the different policies among countries, the regulatory policies of some countries on blockchain projects and financing by means of negotiable sales are still unclear. There are some policy reasons that cause the delay of the plan.
- Because of the rapid development of science and technology, the progress and uncertainty of science and technology will lead to the advance or delay of the plan.
- Because there are many teams and projects in the field of blockchain technology, and the competition is very fierce, the plan may be delayed for the appearance of vicious competition.
The Purpose of the Proceeds:
On the one hand, MGC TOKEN technical team will continue to work hard to build a global decentralized business ecosystem, strengthen the wallet and reduce the possibility of its being cracked. On the other hand, MGC TOKEN will also donate to charities to promote the development of public welfare.
BG-MF official website:
MGC TOKEN official website:
MGC Token
MGC Token is a decentralized wallet based on blockchain technology and takes the building of global landing ecological chain as its basic goal, providing cross-border payment without national boundaries. Users can carry out coin-to-coin transactions, transfer payments and other functions. Meanwhile, MGC Token supports multi-currency storage, using cold and hot Wallet separation technology to provide users with a safe storage environment. Moreover, It will open more applications in the future.
SOURCE: MGC Token
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See The All-Star Difference
At All-Star Transportation, our freight shipping company has been serving clients since 1993. We are a family owned and operated company that maintains a growing fleet of company owned, late model trucks for completing freight shipping services across the 48 contiguous United States. We primarily offer services between the West Coast and the Ohio Valley with a stop at our St. Louis area headquarters. We utilize the latest technology and special methods to ensure timely deliveries, prevent delays, and coordinate shipments. Our freight shipping company's top priorities are achieving high customer satisfaction and providing our drivers with quality time off.
Our Areas of Service
Our company is centrally located in Pacific, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. This central location allows us to provide freight shipping services across the entire United States. Primarily, we offer long haul shipments between St. Louis and the West Coast and short haul shipments from St. Louis to the Ohio Valley. We also offer service across the Midwest, North West, Florida, Georgia and Colorado.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to Transplant Chives
Chives grow from clusters of bulbs that grow underground and expand to form clumps of long, green blades. The plants are hardy perennials that typically need dividing after three to four years because the bulbs become crowded. Chives tolerate transplanting, so you can divide and share the plants or move them to a different part of the garden. After they are transplanted to a roomier space, the chives grow vigorously and produce edible leaves and flowers.
Select a new spot for the chives at the end of summer or during the fall months when temperatures are cooler for the best growth. Choose a sunny spot with direct sunlight at least six hours each day.
Work compost into the soil at the chive transplant site to add nutrients. Dig holes before uprooting the chives so you can replant them immediately.
Water the chives three to four hours before you plan to dig them up to soften the soil for easier digging. Trim back the plant with scissors so the leaves are about 4 inches tall.
Press the garden fork into the ground around the chive plant. Push the fork underneath the chive bulbs to lift the plant out of the soil.
Tap the chive bulbs gently on the ground to break up the clump into smaller sections. Grab sections of about four chive bulbs for each new plant. Chives are resilient, even if they lose some roots during the transplant process.
Place each chive section in a hole that positions it 1/2 inch deeper in the ground than the previous planting. Hold the plant upright in the hole as you cover it with soil. Pat the soil gently into place. Water the transplanted chives.
Things Needed
- Shovel
- Compost
- Scissors
- Garden fork
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images


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Thompson, Milton John (1904–1971)
Milton John Thompson, aerodynamics professor and engineer, the son of Schuyler D. and Jennie L. (Albertson) Thompson, was born on July 28, 1904, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he attended local schools and junior college. He received a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in 1925 and an M.S. degree in 1926 from the University of Michigan. After two years at that university as an instructor of engineering mathematics, he won a Guggenheim fellowship in 1928 to study at the Warsaw Polytechnical Institute in Poland. He received his Sc.D. degree in aerodynamics in 1930 in Poland and returned to the University of Michigan as assistant professor in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering; in 1937 he became associate professor. In Michigan he was active in wind-tunnel projects and became well known as a consultant in aeronautical engineering. In 1941 Thompson accepted a professorship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas. Through his efforts, and because of the importance of aviation in the war, the UT Department of Aeronautical Engineering was established in 1942, with Thompson as chairman. Thompson often toured the United States, Europe, and the Middle East as a lecturer. He predicted that 90 percent of ocean travel after World War II would be by air and that jets would travel twice the speed of sound. For most of 1945 he was on leave from the university to serve as supervisor of aerodynamics at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. After returning to Austin, he and Charles P. Boner established the Defense Research Laboratory at the University of Texas, and Thompson served as associate director of that laboratory until shortly before his death. In 1958 the university's Department of Aeronautical Engineering became the Department of Aerospace Engineering, a change that reflected the new emphasis on aerospace courses and the research in travel outside the earth's atmosphere. Thompson remained as chairman of the new department. He coauthored several books and wrote many articles and scientific papers. His special field was flight performance of aerospace vehicles. Thompson married Helen B. Frank on August 22, 1931; they had two children. Thompson died in Austin on July 23, 1971, and was buried in Austin Memorial Park.


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|If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.
—Pyrrhus of Epirus
|The gods have given to man no sharper spur to victory than contempt of death.
—Hannibal Barca
The 3rd Century BC is most remembered for the epic struggles of Pyrrhus and the other Greek states in their campaigns to restore Alexander's empire as well as the brief kinship and eventual conflict between Rome and Carthage over land rights and trade to become the dominant power of the western Mediterranean. This century solidified the rise of Rome as the rising star in the Mediterranean region and set the stage to exert its hegemony over the Western world, which would have considerable influence for the rest of Europe and of history. In India the Maurya Empire rose and fell like its predecessors, although its legacy resulted in Buddhism becoming a major religion both in India and in neighboring countries. In China the Xin Dynasty ruled for much of this century, continuing China's intellectual and cultural development before succumbing to inter-dynastic pressure and in Anahuac the Zapotec continued to reign supreme as the Mayans consolidated farther east.
- 1 Greece
- 2 Italy
- 3 Arabia
- 4 India
- 5 China
- 6 Anahuac
- 7 Peru
- 8 Map
- 9 Timeline
Pyrrhus, Heir of Alexander
Upon consolidating his position as ruler, Pyrrhus did everything in his power to improve his claim as the candidate best suited to restore Alexander's empire. He married Alexander's daughter Helen in order to bolster his claim to the throne and prepared his military to conquer his rivals. Requests from his Italian possessions to beat back the Romans and Carthaginians were tacitly ignored for now, as Pyrrhus felt the other rivals were more of a concern. By 299 BC Pyrrhus marched into Macedonia to put an end to the rule of the Antigonids, another competing dynasty.
Pyrrhus quickly showed why he considered himself to be Alexander's rightful heir as he swiftly brushed aside Macedonian forces. His army was typically of lesser quality than his Macedonian opponents but he succeeded through the use of Italian light cavalry and Illyrian skirmishers to destroy the enemy's flanks while his Epirote pikemen held the line. By 298 Pyrrhus was in Pella while the Antigonid king was on the run in Thrace and Bithynia. Ownership of Alexander's lavish tomb in Aegea bolstered Pyrrhus' credibility and prestige, and he often visited the tomb to "ask Alexander for guidance."
With relatively little resistance, Pyrrhus conquers the rest of Greece and begins pushing through Thrace when he is forced to return home after a bout of sickness and possible Greek revolt. Hopes of Antigonid resurgence proved unfounded as Pyrrhus managed to continuously beat his opponents on the field. The Greek cities could not match him in battle but they tried again and again. While Pyrrhus was now forced to hold his new territories together, more opportunities, and enemies, soon appeared before him.
The Return of the Argeads
Soon, however, Pyrrhus faced two problems, one at home and one farther abroad. Back in Macedonia, Alexander IV, as the heir of Alexander, began to gather influence and prestige for himself, as he had more of a claim to the throne than Pyrrhus did. Assassinating the young pretender was not an option as doing so would likely have condemned Greece and Macedonia into civil war. Pyrrhus had to find a solution to the legitimacy problem in his own kingdom before it consumed him.
Another problem more abroad was the reign of his rival Ptolemy, who had obtained the lion's share of Alexander's former empire. He ruled over a realm from Cyrene to Elam, holding the major territories of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria as well as Alexandria and Bucephala, the two capitals established by Alexander himself. Ptolemy thus held the strongest claim through governing over the largest share of Alexander's empire. Like the rest of the Diadochi, Ptolemy desired to annex the rest of the empire. Pyrrhus thus desired to weaken his eastern rival while he was distracted with border struggles against Seleucus, another Diadochi.
Through his effective conquest of Greece, Pyrrhus had obtained the ships of the Macedonian and Athenian navies. Merging those with his own, Pyrrhus soon gathered together a large expedition to spread his own influence east and obtain a base for further campaigns. His fleet departed from Athens in 290 BC and arrived in Egypt not soon after. His navy thrashed much of the Ptolemaic navy and his troops established a beachhead in the Nile Delta shortly after.
With Ptolemy away in Babylon to deal with Seleucus' invasion of Mesopotamia, Pyrrhus was able to drive his garrisons from the realm of Egypt by 285 BC. He celebrated in the lavish palaces of Alexandria and donated to its places of learning to commemorate his victory. To help curb his competition, Pyrrhus placed Alexander IV as the ruler of Egypt so as to remove him as a threat so close to home. Pyrrhus envisioned that Alexander IV would be only a client to weaken Ptolemy and when both were sufficiently exhausted Pyrrhus would depose of them both. However, events closer to home once again forced Pyrrhus to return home before he could continue his campaign and ensure Alexander IV's perpetual weakness.
However, Alexander IV did not turn out to be the weak ruler that Pyrrhus had envisioned. While he was nowhere near as great as his father, Alexander did command some respect as a result of his blood and his tacit alliance to Pyrrhus. The native Egyptians, while still unhappy with another foreign ruler, respected him as a pharaoh of the 29th Dynasty that his father established. With enough political acumen and the advice of generals that Pyrrhus had left behind, Alexander IV managed to secure his borders and prevent any reconquest from Ptolemy and his successors.
A Pyrrhic War
Farther in the Italian provinces of Pyrrhus' realm, many Greek residents felt threatened by the Samnites, Romans, and Carthaginians, all of whom had seized Greek territory in the last few years. Both Neapolis and Syracuse had fallen, leaving Taras as the only major Greek city in Italy. The Italian Greeks resented being in such danger while Pyrrhus led campaigns farther west and demanded that Pyrrhus defend them and reclaim their lands. Otherwise, they threatened, they would take their defense into their own hands.
Concerned that his western flanks were in danger and hoping to forestall insurrection in his lands, Pyrrhus gathered together a force and sailed to Taras to begin preparations to reclaim Sicily and other lost territory. News spread rapidly of his arrival and both the Carthaginians and Romans viewed him as a threat to their growing power. They arranged a military alliance in haste and began preparing to resist the Greek king, who feared that they would take Sicily and Neapolis from them.
Pyrrhus arrived in southern Italy in 280 BC shortly after defeating a Celtic invasion and was soon well-received. Pyrrhus began military operations against the Romans, hoping to defeat them before advancing against the Carthaginians, who he believed to be the bigger threat. Pyrrhus marched against Rome and defeated them at both Asculum and Venusia but failed to take the city, although he did reclaim Neapolis for a short time. Each battle, while victorious for Pyrrhus, cost him dearly and depleted his forces. Pyrrhus' forces were augmented by the Samnites, who had recently been subjugated by the Romans only a few years before.
With the Romans temporarily on the back foot and dealing with a Samnite rebellion, Pyrrhus moved on to Sicily. Syracuse opened its gates in 278 BC to Pyrrhus, who quickly forced out the Carthaginian garrison and moved farther west to conquer the island. Despite Carthaginian resistance, Pyrrhus moved against Lilybaeum, the final Carthaginian stronghold in Sicily. While Pyrrhus was successful in crushing any army Carthage sent against him, his losses were such that he felt unable to conquer Lilybaeum and complete his victory, even with Sicilian levies. Forced to pull back, the Carthaginians followed him doggedly, always losing yet forcing costly victories upon the Greeks.
Rising pressure from both the Carthaginians and the Romans forced Pyrrhus to make several decisions regarding what lands to protect and what lands to abandon. Regardless of his choices, his territory in Italy was getting smaller and his ability to resist was being sapped by so many costly victories. Eventually, at the Battle of Kroton in 275 BC, Pyrrhus defeated a joint invasion by the Romans and Carthaginians but at such high cost that he realized further victories would be impossible. Rome and Carthage refused to negotiate and as such Pyrrhus retreated back to Greece, hoping that he could recover and have further success there. Carthage would regain control of Sicily and Rome would conquer the Italian Greek cities within three years, ending any chance of a Greek resurgence in Italy.
The East
Farther east in Persia and Mesopotamia, the affairs of the Greek successor states were constantly in flux. Seleucus had finished his expeditions into India and returned with an alliance and several hundred war elephants for use in his further campaigns. Ptolemy lounged in Babylon, still recovering from the loss of Egypt to Pyrrhus and his apparent Argead puppet. Despite this, Ptolemy still had considerable strength in Syria and Mesopotamia and both rulers still entertained the notion of uniting Alexander's former empire. A clash between the two was inevitable.
The two sides battled each other for many decades but neither really gained an advantage over the other. Seleucus was successful in reinforcing his dominant position in Persia and Media but was ultimately unable to wrest Mesopotamia from Ptolemy. Conversely, Ptolemy wasn't able to advance into the Persian heartland despite aid from the Attalids, who also feared the possibility of Seleucid dominance. In addition, both realms began to suffer unrest as Iranian tribes began to push on the northeastern Seleucid borders and the Jews began agitating about foreign gods being worshiped in their capital of Jerusalem. In addition, a migrating group of Celts led by another man named Brennus began migrating to Anatolia after being defeated by Pyrrhus in 281 BC. A coalition formed between the Attalids, Antigonids, and Ptolemy were enough to defeat them at the Battle of Dioclea, ending the Celtic invasion.
With the strength of both nations sapped, the geopolitical landscape began to change. The farthest Seleucid provinces broke off and became the Greek Kingdom of Bactria while the Parthians, one of the Iranian tribes, began to intrude upon northeastern Persia. With much of their military power focused in central Persia and Media, the Seleucids were unable to react to these threats for some time. Additionally, the Jews and Phoenicians chafed under the rule of the Ptolemies, but were too close to centers of Greek power to revolt successfully. Both realms were established with the goal of unifying Alexander's empire but ironically their struggles to do so only made them more unstable that before.
The Argolid Hegemony
However, the greatest unifier of them all, Pyrrhus, had another problem in his efforts to maintain his hold over the Greek world. In his absence the southern Greeks began to chafe under his rule. Compared to Alexander, Pyrrhus was respected but not nearly revered, as Alexander had conquered the Greeks but led them to the ends of the earth. Former powers like Athens and Sparta began to conspire against him. Places like Crete, already infamous as an island of brigands, began to be even more restless.
When open revolt began in 271 BC, Pyrrhus readied his forces for another campaign. The cities of Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Argos had risen against him and raised armies of their own. Calls for help from other Diadochi went out but only the Antigonids were interested, given the feud they had between them and Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus requested help from Alexander IV, but he received no reply. WIth little other choice, Pyrrhus marched south, hoping to defeat the Greek cities before returning north and ending the Antigonid threat once and for all.
Pyrrhus broke the Athenians in battle but couldn't afford to wait them out in a siege. Moving into the Peloponnese, he laid siege to Sparta in 270 BC but withdrew as the Argives and Corinthians closed in and he wanted to fight them in the field. At the Battle of Thyrea in the same year, Pyrrhus faced a united army of Spartans, Corinthians, Argives and the remnants of the Athenians. He was able to break the ranks of all but the Argives, who resisted firmly and would not rout. Just when he was about to hit their flanks and force them to either run or be cut down, Pyrrhus was hit by a rock thrown by an Argive soldier and fell from his horse, breaking part of his spine. His forces pulled back to defend their king, giving the Argives the opportunity to withdraw with much of their force intact yet giving Pyrrhus his final victory.
Pyrrhus died soon after the battle as a result of his injury. His son Helenus succeeded him to the throne, but he didn't have the military aptitude that either Alexander or Pyrrhus had. Pyrrhus' generals soon withdrew from southern Greece, as they feared that morale was too low and the Argives still had much of their force intact. Argos became the dominant power in southern Greece, as the other cities had their militaries largely destroyed, allowing Argos to establish the last period of the traditional Greek hegemonies. Helenus and his successors would eventually lose Macedonia back to the Antigonids and continue to struggle against both them and the Argolid Hegemony for many decades more.
The Samnites
In Italy, the rising power of Rome was still strong, having just recently incorporated the region of Campania and the city of Neapolis after victory over the Samnites in the Second Samnite War. Despite this victory, tensions between the two powers remained noticeable, and relations between Rome and its northern Etruscan neighbors were also increasingly fraught as the Romans gained more power and territory. Eventually, these agreements would be broken and the fragile peace was shattered.
By 298 BC, open war returned to Italy. The Samnites and Etruscans entered into an informal alliance to curb Roman power, and in their quest they also brought in their Umbrian and Celtic allies as well. Rome was not caught off guard and readied its armies to do battle against its multiple foes. The Romans had allies of their own, namely the Lucanians who feared Samnite power and the inability of the Greeks to maintain safety. In order to combat multiple enemies, the Romans split their forces in two, one for the Samnites and the other for the northern coalition.
By 290 BC, the Romans stood victorious over all their foes. Samnium was occupied and annexed by the Republic, as was half of Umbria. Etruscan power had been completely broken but they were allowed a small degree of independence for the time being, while the Gauls had been forced back from central Italy once again. Upon concluding this war Rome was the undisputed power in Italy for the time being, with only Carthage and the Greek states to rival it for dominance over the western Mediterranean.
Conquest of the South
However, Roman power was not absolute and many feared and resisted its riss to power. In particular, the Greek cities of southern Italy feared Roman expansionism ever since the occupation of Neapolis and saw them as little better than the Samnites. As a result, the Greek states continuously pressured their leaders for increased protection against the Romans and the Carthaginians, who had recently conquered the island of Sicily and the greatest Greek city of the west, Syracuse. No official response came, and eventually the Italian Greeks issued a declaration, saying that either their Aeacid protectors would assist them or they would secede from their decrees. With little choice, Pyrrhus arrived in southern Italy in 280, sending the Romans into a bit of a panic.
The Carthaginians were concerned as well, as Pyrrhus' arrival meant a potential war of liberation for all Greek territories, and as a result they entered into a close alliance with Rome to defeat the Aeacid king. However, it became very apparent that Pyrrhus was nearly just as skilled as Alexander was, as he managed to defeat any army the allied forces threw at him, albeit with heavy losses, and even occupied both Syracuse and Neapolis, restoring Italian Greek faith. Roman officials were flummoxed, as they could never defeat Pyrrhus in the field and were at a loss as to what to do.
Eventually, a solution presented itself. The superior Carthaginian fleet began to slowly constrict Pyrrhus' ability to move between Sicily and Italy, and whenever he was in Sicily the Romans would strike and vice-versa with the Carthaginians. Eventually, unable to move freely as he wished and unable to completely replenish his losses after each battle while his opponents could, Pyrrhus tried to force the issue at the Battle of Kroton in 275 BC. While he defeated both allies, his losses were so extreme that he was forced to withdraw, commenting that if he should win one more battle he would be undone. From this war the term "Pyrrhic War" has entered into common dialogue as a victory where the cost was too great. Pyrrhus soon returned to Greece to recover and engage in battle once more, but Italy was lost. Carthage soon re-asserted its rule over Sicily and Rome conquered the southern Italian city-states one by one until the last, Taras, fell in 272 BC, completing Roman conquest of the Italian south.
When Loyalty Runs Thin
While Rome and Carthage had maintained a powerful alliance for the duration of the Pyrrhic War, as it was then referred to, disputes between the two soon began to mount. Carthage, while claiming sovereignty over the entire island of Sicily, was never able to completely pacify it thanks to continued resistance from local Greeks and Italians. Pyrrhus' death likely ended whatever catalyst enabled the alliance's continuation. Rome, while formally allied to Carthage, felt unease and the presence of a neighboring powerful state and it's likely Carthage felt the same way. However, Carthage was too weak to conduct any direct action and Rome's immediate attention was sapped by putting down an Etruscan resurgence in the north, finally annexing the region into the Republic.
Tensions over Sicily finally began to take a turn for the worse when the northern Italic tribes of Sicily around the city of Messina revolted against Carthaginian control and appealed to Rome for protection. Rome was divided as to how to react, as they typically undertook any reasonable request for assistance as a means of spreading their influence but this was the first time it would be against a major ally. Faced with growing popular demand to intervene, the Roman Senate decided to initiate war and take the fight against their former Carthaginian comrades despite their initial reluctance.
War broke out in due course and the Romans were able to easily send over a large army to Sicily before the Carthaginians could react, perhaps because they themselves were not expecting an attack from their close ally. This army would win several key battles against the Carthaginians, forcing them away from Messina and even occupying Syracuse as the Greek parts became more and more restive. However, Carthage maintained the naval advantage in both number and tactics, forcing the Romans to be creative with their campaigns and to minimalize naval combat until the Roman fleet was advanced enough. Eventually, the Romans gained the upper hand after the Battle of Agrigentum in 262 BC and developed the corvus boarding ramp to apply Roman martial superiority at sea. Roman invasions in the Carthaginian homeland were ultimately not successful and quite costly, but the Romans did manage to evict Carthaginian forces from Sicily, annexing it and taking its first steps as a seafaring power.
Rome was elated by the victory, although privately some were concerned of the implications of making war against such a close ally. Conversely, Carthage was shocked and angered by what they felt was an unjustified betrayal and would take many years to recover from this defeat. Carthage's inability to pay its mercenaries after the war led to another armed conflict, the Mercenary War, where Carthage eventually defeated its former mercenaries with a citizen army based on Roman and Greek tactics. During this war Corsica and Sardinia also slipped from Carthage's grasp into the hands of Rome, angering the Carthaginians further and encouraging their expansion into Spain and Africa. Rome likewise was mostly distracted by other wars in Cisalpine Gaul and Illyria and thus unable to either further weaken or placate Carthage.
The Punic War
While the peace treaty was established between the two powers, tensions had not yet entirely cooled off from the war. Carthage still seethed at its loss of its island territories and sought to make up for it through expansion in Spain, where the Barcid dynasty of Kings made up for its previous failures in Sicily. In order to avoid another war, both Rome and Carthage attempted to sign various treaties demarcating the limits of their influence, thus in theory ending the competitive expansion between the two powers.
Carthage's new professional army obtained considerable success in its conquests in Spain, but it is here that the second war broke out. A city on the Spanish coast wrote to Rome claiming that Carthage had attacked them and asked for assistance. As this city was within the Roman sphere of influence as dictated by treaty, Rome felt obligated to respond. Carthage did not respond to any diplomatic messages forwarded by Rome, and thus Rome responded by declaring war in 218 BC. Carthage was immediately outraged at what they saw as yet another betrayal meant to limit Carthaginian territory and thus resolved to teach Rome a lesson and correct them for their errors.
Carthage had little control over the sea beyond its own harbors and thus had to resort to more drastic measures to combat the Roman power. As a result, Carthage built up its forces in Spain and prepared to march across southern Gaul and the Alps in order to strike at the Roman cities in Italy while hopefully breaking up its system of alliances and cripple the Roman power to expand too far outside of Italy. While most Roman forces expected an attack in Sicily or the nearby isles, Carthaginian troops were already marching at Italy's northern frontier. When this became apparent, Rome scrambled to gather together armies to fight against Hannibal's advancing force.
In the years before, Rome had effectively conquered the regions of Cisalpine Gaul and Umbria, consolidating their hold over northern Italy. While Hannibal had suffered considerable losses to his troops and elephants during the crossing, he was able to recoup his losses from mercenaries and disaffected residing in recently conquered Roman territory. Hannibal was able to swiftly push the Romans out by use of his superior cavalry, but the Romans instead rallied and desired to prevent his access into Umbria and Etruria. They ultimately failed to do so in several costly battles.
Hannibal tried to rally several cities and allies to revolt against Roman authority. While he was successful in gathering the Cisalpine Gauls and some Samnites against the Romans, the most noticeable success was swaying the city of Capua over. Hannibal now had a cadre of allies that would help sustain his campaign. Conversely, the Romans, while eager to defeat Hannibal in battle, understood their folly and thus refused to directly engage him, instead focusing against Carthage's allies both in Italy and in Spain. Roman forces were much more effective in this regard, depriving Hannibal of allies and resources faster than he could obtain them. By 206 BC, most of Carthaginian Spain and Italy had been overrun, with only a few holdouts and Hannibal's increasingly small army to resist.
By 206 BC Rome held the upper hand and began to close in, conquering Spain, pushing against Africa, and allying with Numidia, which desired to resist Hannibal and his Carthaginian dominance. Hannibal was forced from Italy and at considerable cost to what little remained of the Carthaginian navy sailed back to Africa. At the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, Hannibal was finally defeated by Scipio of the Romans, who was then given the title Africanus for his victory and pressured to become Rome's first Dictator-for-Life. The Romans established a cruel peace upon the Carthaginians, who were forced into bankruptcy, deprived of military, and Hannibal's political influence was reduced to nothing and the Carthaginian Senate given all the power. While Carthage managed to regain some element of economic strength, its power was broken.
The Rise of Rome
While Rome was at war with Carthage, other machinations farther east also demanded its attention. Just as Rome and Carthage had established an alliance to defeat Pyrrhus, Carthage and Epirus formed an alliance in 216 BC to try to limit Rome's growing power. Epirus, still ruled by the Aeacids, tried to instigate rebellion in Illyria and sent armies to occupy Roman garrisons in the area. Rome treated Epirus as a secondary threat, especially while Hannibal was in Italy, but as the new Roman strategy of avoiding Hannibal in battle and targeting other enemies, Epirus came back into Rome's view.
Despite this new attention, Rome was still more focused on seizing Carthaginian Spain and stamping out rebellion in Italy. While some reinforcements were sent to Illyria to prevent insurgency and protect Roman fortresses, Rome primarily relied upon diplomacy to handle the Epirote threat. The Antigonids, while successful at reclaiming some areas of Thrace from the Aeacids following Pyrrhus' death, still desired to reclaim Macedonia where they had originally ruled. The war with Rome gave them an opportunity to strike back against Epirus. The Argolid Hegemony, farther south in Greece, also had motives for supporting Rome.
Battles between Rome and Epirus were rare at first, with most Epirote attention focused against the Antigonids and the Argolid Hegemony. For much of the war in Greece, neither side held the advantage even as Epirus fought on two different fronts. Epirote attempts to involve other allies such as the Attalids failed to materialize. The increasing addition of Roman forces, eager to fight opponents weaker than Hannibal, eventually put on more pressure than Epirus could resist and Epirus was conquered and divided by 207 BC. The Antigonids were successful in reclaiming Macedonia, the Argolid Hegemony seized Beoetia and the rest of the Peloponnes, and the Roman Republic annexed Aetolia, Thessaly, and Epirus proper.
The success of the war gave Rome a solid foothold within Greece and the Central Mediterranean. With its main rival of Carthage humbled and its traditiional foe in Greece eliminated, Rome was now the undisputed power of the Mediterranean, with only some potential of resistance from Hellenic Egypt and Syria, both of were more concerned with the other rather than the rising Republic. While some areas managed to resist direct Roman authority such as the more mountainous areas of the Alps and northern Spain, few in the Mediterranean were spared some sort of control or influence by Rome. This vast political and trade power would continue to rise and eventually come to blows with the tribes of the north and the powers of the east.
The Arabian situation continued to develop, with most of the conflict taking place in the south. Nabataea continued to regain its prominence through trade and an avoidance of joining the conflicts between the Diadochi. Fortunately, the Nabataean kings and merchants were able to use the struggles between the Argeads and the Ptolemies to secure its independence.
Sabaea continued to decline in the southern lands while rival kingdoms like Himyar and Qataban maintained their rise, especially after the former annexed the latter. Saba, desparate to restore control, tried to exercise more and more influence over southern Arabia, tried to gain alliances with other neighboring states such as early Axum, Nabataea, and the Hadhramaut tribes. While largely unsuccessful, the Sabaeans were able to forstall their decline and retain a modicum of influence over southern Arabia as well as push northwards towards sacred lands by occupying the city of Najran. Further conflict would occupy, albeit delayed.
Rise of the Maurya
The Maurya Empire continued its rise to dominate all of the Indian subcontinent. With the Seleucids allied and their attention towards the western lands anyway, Maurya and his descendants had relatively free reign to do as they pleased within India. To that end, Maurya and his advisors continued their campaigns of conquest, launching several expeditions south and eventually conquering most of the Deccan region by the start of the century. Chandragupta Maurya's successor, Bindusara, continued the campaigns to pacify the southern lands and also quelled revolts along the Empire's western border. By the end of Bindusara's reign all of India except for Kalinga to the east and a few remnant kingdoms to the south was ruled by the Maurya. Jainism came to prominence at the Maurya court at this time, but this would be short lived.
An Imposition of Faith
Bindusara was himself followed by his son Ashoka, who took the throne in 268 BC. Eager to continue the legacy that his father and grandfather had established, Ashoka quickly declared war against Kalinga and deployed his forces. While there was little hope that Kalinga could resist the full might of the Maurya Empire, it nonetheless resisted with all that it had. By the time the war was over a full year later, over three hundred thousand were dead and the population of Kalinga were devastated from the aftermath. Touring his new possession, Ashoka could not but help feel remorse for his actions.
As a result, Ashoka soon converted to Buddhism, which had already begun to dominate much of the capital region where it had been founded. Now eager to spread his newfound faith rather than within the borders of his Empire, Ashoka settled in to bring this religion to the rest of the world and develop his empire along the way. Not much longer after his decision much of Northern India was Buddhist. Missionaries were sent south, even to the kingdoms that he did not possess, west, to the lands of the Greeks, and east, to Nusantara and Indochina. While the Greeks were less willing to adopt the new faith, it found many adherents in the other realms, although none of them adopted it with such fervor as had northern India.
During this time Buddhism began to fragment into several different schools of thought, largely a peaceful process. In Ceylon and Indochina, the more monastic form of Theravada dominated after a dispute on the nature of specific Buddhist canonical texts. The other side eventually became the Mahayana which was much more focused on the ability of the individual to obtain enlightenment through ritual as opposed to Theravada, which remained centered on the ability of monks to do the same through religious fulfilment. While the smaller kingdoms in Ceylon and Indochina followed Theravada, the Maurya Empire and many of its successors would support Mahayana and spread it far.
Ashoka, himself, would die in 232 BC, leaving the Empire to his sons. None of them proved to be as astute or influential as Ashoka, Bindusara or Chandragupta, but they would manage to hold the Empire together, with increasingly poor results, for another several decades. Most importantly, however, was that spread of Buddhism, which would soon become a global religion unrivaled for some time thanks to the efforts of Ashoka and his successors. Even to this day Buddhism is one of the three major world religions by both size and number of adherents.
Early Reign of the Xin
The Kâi Dynasty had recently fallen and the next dynasty was yet to rise. Pang Juan, the general who had assassinated the last Kâi Emperor Sun Bin, held the capital for a few years but, for reasons unknown, never declared himself Emperor. Contemporary Chinese records and the official accounts of the succeeding Xin Dynasty suggest that he was perhaps seeking to build up support amongst Tianjing's court but was unable to. In particular, the Duke of Yansheng, the direct descendant of Confucius who held considerable influence amongst both the courts and lower classes, opposed him not for his decision to overthrow the Emperor but his methods.
As a result, China fell into a period of instability where Pang Juan could not hold the country yet there was no central authority that could direct it. Fears of a collapse and a return to the infighting of the Zhou Dynasty plagued people's minds and the fields became vacant, spreading concerns of famine. After nearly seven years of this instability and stagnation, a young general and noble named Ying Ji gathered his forces and crushed the former Imperial guard of Pang Juan, taking the capital of Tianjing for himself. To consolidate his power, Ying Ji declared himself Emperor of the Xin Dynasty in 301 BC, marrying a female member of the former Sun family to further gain loyalty from some former Kâi retainers.
Upon obtaining his power, the new Emperor regained control over the regions of China, including the particularly restless ones in the south and began to tighten Imperial authority over those areas even as they slowly became more and more Chinese and less "barbaric" as the Kâi Emperors had known them to be. Expeditions farther south also reached the Pearl River Delta and Chinese settlers began to occupy much of the southern lands. These victories restored confidence in the power of the Imperial government and the new Xin dynasty could continue to do well for itself, launching smaller and less successful expeditions towards what is now Korea and Jurchenia.
Cultural Dominion
As with the previous Kâi Dynasty, the Xin Dynasty was vastly wealthy and was considered by its neighbors to be cultured, perhaps insufferably so. Fine bronzework and jewelry were made at this time, as well as great chariots and carriages. Literature and poetry filled the palaces of the great cities and temples to the Chinese gods as well as schools to Confucian thought were constructed alongside them. External faiths, largely Buddhism from India but also occasionally Greek polytheism and Zoroastrianism from Bactria, were considered and rejected by the Xin courts. Tribute was established from the proto-Korean kingdoms as well as tribes from what is now Vietnam and southern Mongolia.
As a result China held considerable influence throughout the Serica region and was regarded by its subjects, before and even more so, as the center of the world, with the capital of Tianjing at its core. Powerful Xin emperors and armies defeated nomads who hoped to seize control over the vast wealth and sedentary lifestyle that China's lands provided as well as the smaller kingdoms and tribes that forsake the tribute and tried to challenge the authority of the Xin. Some scholars consider this period to be the first instance of Chinese isolationism, where no drastic measures were made for frequent expansion even though the state could easily have done so.
In Anahuac, the western reaches remained under the effective dominion by the Zapotec while the east was the center of continued Mayan development, focused on the two cities of Mirador and Tikal. Both cities had vast networks of alliances and sophisticated societies driven by advanced terrace agriculture. Communication between east and west was infrequent, although there was still evidence of cultural mingling, as more western aspects like ball courts began to be constructed in Mayan cities. Evidence of war between the Zapotecs and their Olmec vassals and the Mayan city-states has not been found.
With both the Zapotecs and Mayans apparently more interested in reinforcing their regional control rather than battling each other, both sides expanded away from each other. The Zapotec attempted to defeat their Mixtec rivals but were only mildly successful at weakening Mixtec power. The Mayan cities, when they were not busy at war with each other, began to expand north into the sparsely settled Yucatan peninsula. For much of this century, local Anahuac states were more interested in consolidating their power and cultural development rather than engage in empire building. With both the Zapotec and the Mayan city-states unable to defeat each other or their rivals, the situation remained static until the rise of new powers.
In the valleys of Peru, the Chavin culture continued its apparent decline. As mentioned earlier, it is not known exactly what caused the decline, but it would appear that violent conflict was not the principle factor. By mid century, the Chavin culture effectively ceased to exist as a political force, whether by city-states or a unified realm. It would take hundreds of years before the next period of cultural development would emerge and continue to shape the people of Peru.


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Robert Nash (37) from near Weymouth, Dorset, admitted flying without permission through airspace closed off over Torbay for an air show and was fined £1,200 with £750 costs to the CAA after coming within 100 metres of a jet heading to the display area.
The chairman of the bench told the Exeter court on November 29th, that the pilot's failure to use a GPS was a significant factor in this serious incident, where he breached restricted airspace put in place to protect other pilots and the public.
Each year more than 1,100 airspace infringements take place in the UK including aircraft flying in areas zoned off for displays, areas of controlled airspace or areas immediately around airfields and airports.
An estimated three out of every four pilots involved were not using GPS navigation. If some form of GPS navigation was used more widely, we believe around 85 per cent of these incidents could have been prevented.
We issue NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen) to inform flyers of any important changes to airspace, such as areas closed for flying displays. The 30,000 or so general aviation pilots in the UK know to check for these notifications before they take to the air.
NOTAMS and accompanying charts can now be programmed into 'moving map' (GPS displays), giving pilots even more confidence in the cockpit. The CAA will be reiterating its support for this affordable equipment with a major safety campaign in 2019.
Had the pilot in this case used a GPS moving map showing up-to-date NOTAM information, his flying may well have been textbook.
The facts show that having a GPS moving map in the cockpit - while still keeping a good lookout - will increase the safety of your flight and significantly reduce the chance of infringing airspace.
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text:
"Meno" by Plato
- Meno was a young, rich nobleman from Thessaly
- Anytos was an Athenian politician, later accuser at Socrates's trial
Meno – Can virtue be taught? Does it come by practice? If neither, do you get it through nature or another way?
Socrates – I've always thought people from your neck of the woods were smart & that they'd always answer freely without fear if asked such a question. But, unfortunately, we're not as smart as you in Athens. Ask that question around here & you're likely to get blank looks, shrugs or questions in return. I don't even know what virtue is, let alone where it comes from.
Meno – Are you serious?
Socrates – I don't even know anyone who does know.
Meno – You knew Gorgias. Don't you think that he knew?
Socrates – Maybe. What did he say? I can't remember.
Meno – A man's virtue is to manage public business, help friends, hurt enemies & stay out of trouble. A woman's virtue is to manage the house, keep the stores safe & obey her husband. There are other virtues for boys, girls & old people. There are many kinds of virtue depending on your activities, age, etc.
Socrates – OK. If I asked you what a bee was, you'd tell me there were different kinds of bees. They may be different but what do they all have in common that make them all bees? Likewise, virtues may be different but what do they all have in common in that men, women, the old & children all can have them? Is managing public affairs justly & is managing the household justly virtuous?
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – So, it's not possible to manage affairs justly without being just. Being just is a virtue. All the virtues you've listed are only activities performed justly… What did Gorgias say?
Meno – To be able to rule men.
Socrates – Can a slave rule his master? If he rules, would he still be a slave? Shouldn't we add "justly" to "to be able to rule men"?
Meno – Yes, justice is a virtue.
Socrates – Is it "a virtue", or "virtue" itself?
Meno – What do you mean?
Socrates – Take "roundness". A figure can be round but "figure" is not necessarily "roundness" because we know there are other types of figures.
Meno – I see… Yes, there are other virtues, like courage, temperance, wisdom, high-mindedness, etc.
Socrates – So, we've found a few examples but what do they all have in common? "Roundness" is a type of figure but you must allow for others. "White" is a type of color, but not all colors. I'd like a definition that ties all virtues together.
Meno – What would you say what color was to someone who didn't know?
Socrates – The truth. If he's being a dick about it, I'd explain & then tell him to take it or leave it. If he's friendly, I'd walk him through it. For a figure, I'd say, "something bounded & ended".
Meno – What about color?
Socrates – We were talking about Gorgias's definition of virtue…
Meno – You first.
Socrates – Very well, but you're just ordering me about. OK… [Does an imitation of Gorgias] "Color is an emanation from figures symmetrical with sight & perceptibility to the senses."
Meno – Very nice. I like that answer!
Socrates – I figured you would. But that answer can also apply to a question about smell, sound, etc. So, what about virtue then?
Meno – "To rejoice in what's handsome & to be able…" as a poet once said. It's the desire for handsome things & to be able to provide them.
Socrates – Don't we all want good things but just differ in what we see as "good"? Do people want "bad" things if they know they're bad?
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – Why?
Meno – To have them.
Socrates – Because they benefit from them or because they injure?
Meno – Some because they benefit. Some because they injure.
Socrates – Those who want bad things don't know what they are but desire them because they thought they were good but in reality, they're bad. Those who don't know will think they're good & desire good. Those who want them because they injure know that they will injure but don't know that to injure will make them wretched.
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – Who wants to be wretched?
Meno – No one.
Socrates – Nobody unless he wants to be wretched… Isn't misery or wretchedness just the desire for bad things & actually getting them?
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – If virtue is the desire for good things & to be able to provide them, desiring makes no difference between one man & another – only in their ability – the power to get good things.
Meno – Yes. Gold, silver, public appointments & honor are the highest things.
Socrates – Could you add "justly" to that?
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – It seems like no matter what you do, for it to be virtuous, you have to do it justly.
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – So not getting silver, gold, public appointments, etc. when it's unjust is also virtuous. Getting those thing is no more just or unjust than not getting them. Just using justice makes everything good. Whatever you do with virtue is virtuous. But I still need a definition for virtue. What is it?
Meno – You're lucky you live here & not somewhere else. They'd lynch you. I don't think you know what you're talking about.
Socrates – I've heard people of all kinds talk about virtue at great length with eloquence. They say the soul is immortal & it's reborn after death & can never be destroyed. Since the soul is immortal, there can be nothing we don't know. There is no learning, just remembering.
Meno – Explain that.
Socrates – I'll demonstrate it using your servant. [Starts with things the servant understands, asks questions & the servant begins to understand geometry & arithmetic.] I'm not teaching him a thing. He's only remembering my questions. He starts off not remembering anything & answers my carefully worded questions. Now he remembers. It might have been difficult but he got there in the end. By numbing the pain & not launching right away into difficult questions, he's learned. We didn't put thoughts into his head that weren't originally his.
Meno – No, they must have been there all the while.
Socrates – It's like they came from a dream. No one taught him, only asked him. It must be a form of remembering. He'd either got it before, or he always knew it. It wouldn't have been in this lifetime because he didn't know it.
Meno – No one had ever taught it to him.
Socrates – If knowledge & truth are always in us, the soul must be immortal. Anything you know must be re-learned or remembered. In order to know what is really unknown, we must be braver & less idle than if we believed that it's impossible to know & not worth trying.
Meno – OK. Let's find out if virtue can be taught or if you're born with it.
Socrates – I think we'd better find out what it is before. Let's approach this matter as if it were geometry. Is virtue a form of knowledge?
Meno – I think so.
Socrates – If something is good, but separate from knowledge, then there's something that exists outside of knowledge. I think there's no good that knowledge doesn't have. So maybe virtue is a form of knowledge.
Meno – Yes
Socrates – Health, strength, good looks, wealth – there are all good but are the helpful?
Meno – Yes
Socrates – But sometimes they do harm?
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – When used correctly, they help & when used incorrectly, they harm. You said temperance, justice, courage & cleverness are good things for the soul.
Meno – Yes
Socrates – But you don't think they're a form of knowledge & somehow separate. Are they sometimes harmful & sometimes helpful? Courage isn't intelligence. It's more like boldness. If a man is senselessly bold, he's harmed. If he's sensefully bold, he's helped.
Meno – Yes
Socrates – The same is true with temperance & cleverness. With sense, they're good & without it, they're bad. So, it seems with the soul, wisdom leads to happiness & senseless leads to unhappiness. Virtue must be a sort of wisdom. It all revolves around your soul
Meno – Yes
Socrates – So, wealth, heal, strength, etc. – we said they can harm or help. Using wisdom makes them help & not using wisdom makes them harm. A senseless soul will use them badly & a wise soul will use them well. It doesn't depend on the soul, just on whether or not the soul uses wisdom. Using wisdom is good & not using it is bad. Virtue is a form of wisdom & nature doesn't make us good or bad.
Meno – Right.
Socrates – If that were true, you could just isolate the good away from the bad to protect them. If men aren't good or bad by nature, it must be learned or taught.
Meno – Yes.
Socrates – What if we're wrong… If it can be taught, there must be teachers & students. If there aren't any, it probably can't be taught.
Meno – You don't think there are any teachers?
Socrates – I've tried to find them without any luck. I know others have tried, too [ANYTOS ENTERS]. Say, Anytos, your father became a wealthy guy without any luck or inheritance but by his own wisdom. If we wanted Meno to become a doctor, would we send him to learn with the doctors?
Anytos – And if we wanted him to be a shoemaker, we'd send him to learn with a shoemaker?
Socrates – In general, if you want to learn something, you'll have to learn it from someone who practices it. It would be stupid to do otherwise. Meno says he wants wisdom & virtue. Should he got to those who claim to be virtuous & teach it?
Anytos – Who might that be?
Socrates – Sophists.
Anytos – Hell no! You don't want to go see them. They're turn you into an absolute maniac.
Socrates – They say they know how to do good. But you say they'll corrupt us through their teachings. & they want money on top of all that! I knew a guy, Protagoras, who made way more money than any artist or shoemaker. If a shoemaker did his job as poorly as you say Sophists do, you'd know it with in a month by the shoe falling apart. But Protagoras got away with it for over 40 years without anyone noticing it. His name is still praised by the Sophists. Do you think the Sophists know what they're doing to their students? Or do you think they're crazy & have no idea.
Anytos – They know what they're doing. It's crazy to pay them for what they do. It's crazier to send your kids off to them. & what's craziest of all is that cities allow these charlatans to hand around corrupting their young with their bullshit!
Socrates – Have you ever been trained by one?
Anytos – No way would I ever go near one of them!!
Socrates – How do you know anything about them if you've never been near them?
Anytos – I know how they operate.
Socrates – Well, we don't want to send Meno to a charlatan, just to someone who can teach him virtue. I was about to send him to a sophist but as you say, they probably aren't the ones to see. Perhaps you can suggest one?
Anytos – Any gentleman in Athens would be a better teacher than a Sophist.
Socrates – Did they learn or become virtuous by luck. If they got lucky, how could they teach it?
Anytos – I guess they probably learned from their fathers. Don't you think we've got virtuous men here in Athens?
Socrates – I know politicians. They've always been around. But have they taught virtue? Meno & I have been discussing whether or not virtue can be taught or if comes naturally or another way… Was naval hero Themistocles a good man?
Anytos – None better.
Socrates – Wouldn't he have provided virtue lessons to his son by himself or hired a teacher if he could? He taught his son to be an expert at horses. Why not do the same with virtue? Did he wish to teach his son but not make him any more virtuous than the neighbors' kids? If virtue could be taught, could we believe he wouldn't provide lessons for him?
Anytos – Probably not.
Socrates – One of the best men of the past? Not a grand teacher of virtue? It's hard to believe. What about Aristeides? Was he good?
Anytos – Yes.
Socrates – He taught his sons & gave them the best teachers you get in Athens. But he never gave them lessons in virtue. & Pericles's sons? He taught them to be the best horsemen Athens has ever seen. He gave them the best education money could buy. No virtue teacher, though. Thucydides's sons were educated & he got them the best wrestling coach & they became the best wrestlers in Greece. No courses in virtue…
Anytos – No…
Socrates – Isn't it clear that all these great men with money could provide their kids with an education but never taught them virtue. I think it's because it can't be taught.
Anytos – Be careful. It's easy to do more harm than good in most cities. It's even easier in Athens… [ANYTOS LEAVES]
Socrates – I guess Anytos left because he thought I was defaming those men & him as well… Do you have good men in Thessaly?
Meno – Absolutely.
Socrates – Do they teach virtue?
Meno – No… Sometimes you hear it can be taught. Sometimes you hear that it can't be taught.
Socrates – Only Sophists claim that it can be taught. Do you think that they teach it?
Meno – Gorgias always laughed at those who claimed it because he just thought they were teaching them how to speak cleverly.
Socrates – Do you think they taught virtue?
Meno – I'm not sure… Sometimes I think so & other times I don't.
Socrates – You aren't alone. Theogonis said the same as you. That it can't be & then said it can be. Can you think of any other subject whose teachers are thought not only not to teach but not even to know the subject itself? If students are confused, they must be bad teachers.
Meno – Correct.
Socrates – If neither Sophists nor gentlemen can teach virtue, there are probably no teachers or students. Then it probably can't be taught.
Meno – Looks like it. Are there any good men at all?
Socrates – Maybe we should try to find out how good men become good. Good men must be useful & guide their business correctly. If a man knows the way from here to Larissa (region where Thessaly, north of Athens), he goes there himself & can guide others there as well.
Meno – Right.
Socrates – If a man who's never been there before guess & is correct, then a good guess isn't any worse than knowledge. They both guide to the right action.
Meno – But the one with knowledge will always be right. The one who makes good guesses will be wrong sometimes.
Socrates – Not if he always guesses correctly.
Meno – I suppose so. Why is knowledge any better than good guesses? How are they different?
Socrates – Well, like it is with statues. You've got to nail them down to something otherwise they'll disappear. They'll be stolen, get knocked over or the wind will take them away. If you don't do that, there's little point in owning one. As long as they stay, they're wonderful. But we all know sooner or later, they'll be gone or broken. They're not worth much unless they're fastened down. Having a good guess isn't worth much in the long run unless you start to understand why you're right, and cause & effect. When you do that, it turns into knowledge. That's why it's better.
Meno – Nicely put. I think I get it.
Socrates – Good guesses guide us no better or worse than knowledge. Good guesses aren't inferior to knowledge in their results. A man is as useful to his city if he's a good guesser than if he is knowledgeable, no matter how knowledge or good guessing skills are acquired.
Meno – So, not by nature.
Socrates – The good doesn't not come by nature. But if not from nature, can it be taught? Since we don't have teachers & students, probably not.
Meno – Correct.
Socrates – Good guesses & knowledge do just as well as each other in guiding us. If a man has either, he's useful. If he's not useful by knowledge, at least he guesses well. That's how politicians keep a state afloat. It has no more to do with knowledge & understanding than an oracle or a diviner, or poets or artists. When they are right, they are divinely inspired but have no understanding of why they're right.
Meno – Seems right.
Socrates – Women call a good man divine.
Meno – Don't let Anytos catch you saying that. He won't like it.
Socrates – Whatever… He'll hear about it sooner or later. Virtue comes not from nature or learning but from divine allotment or dispensation.


text:
30 January 2012
By Kari Williamson
This year the forums have been expanded to include micro-string hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, SMA's monitoring and off-grid inverter product lines and SMA Service.
"Regional Forums allow Sunny PRO Club members and non-members to participate in exclusive educational opportunities from SMA," says Ciara Wakefield, Sunny PRO Club manager for SMA America and SMA Canada. "In addition to learning more about SMA products and their uses in residential and commercial PV systems, Regional Forum attendees can also gather information about the technical and marketing resources available to Sunny PRO Club members."
Additional cities scheduled for 2012: Long Island, NY; Santa Fe, NM; Austin, TX; Nashville, TN; Kansas City, MO; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and Phoenix, AZ.
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In April of 1973 the church deacon board of Trinity Chapel Assembly of God in Louisville, Kentucky called my family and me from Florida to pastor. We moved from Brandon, Florida where we had pastored for the last 5 years. ...
Hamilton, AL, 35570
Phone: (205) 921-4174
Camp Type: Residential
Maywood Christian Camp is limited to about 250 campers each session.Youngsters desiring to spend two weeks at the camp should make early applications. ...
Huntsville, AL, 35801
Phone: (256) 881-0111
Camp Type: Day
Turn your next party into a bouncing, sliding, ecstatic extravaganza! At Pump It Up, jump into your own private arenas filled with gigantically fun inflatables. ...
Carrollton, KY, 41008
Phone: 866-357-4712, 502-732-5333
Fax: 502-732-0783
Camp Type: Travel Tour
Alpenglow Adventures is Offering the World's First and Only Hiking Trips for Children and Adults Who Cannot Walk to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon National Park and to the Highest Uhuru Summit on Mount Kilimanjaro in Two of the World's Most Famous National Parks for the Greatest Cause. ...


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Course Title: Working at Height
Course Duration: 3 hours contact time
Fee per Person: £60
Remote Learning: Available
This Ladder Safety & Working at Height training course helps you to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by providing employers and employees with the necessary information needed to be able to successfully deal with working at height risks and control measures. This includes an understanding of how to undertake a working at height risk assessment, how to use access equipment safely and how to ensure that employees can reduce their risk of falls from height.
Every employer must ensure that employees are appropriately trained to ensure that they can carry out their work safely.
A range of subjects are covered including –
- Examples of common working at height tasks and understand the associated risks.
- Identify the factors that contribute to persons and objects falling from height.
- Describe the control measures to reduce the risk of falls from height.
- Understand the proper use of access equipment and safe methods of access to reduce or eliminate the risk of falls.
This is achieved by on-going theoretical teaching by the instructor, culminating with a written test.
This qualification does not expire, but refresher training and keeping up to date with changes to policies and procedures is vital to keep the certificate current.
A maximum of 12 learners are allowed, they must be a minimum of 16 years of age and a certificate achievement can be offered to all, subject to assessment.
A learner cannot assume a responsibility in the workplace until they reach the age of 16, and then it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that the student is suitable for that role.


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Robert, The scripts will work fine with any version of VI starting with 3.x, up to and including the latest vSphere. Of course, without reading the book and in particular, the paragraphs of text which surround each of these scripts in the book, you are missing the context and documentation which I provided for them. The samples are only meant to be a taste of what is in the book. They do not stand on their own. If you would like to see more, then visit http://vmware.com/go/powercli and have a look around the community. Aside from my book, there are a ton of resources available online. Lastly, if you ask in email (hal AT halr9000.com), I'll send you a full chapter so that you can see if the book is something you would be interested in purchasing. Regards, Hal Rottenberg Author, Managing VMware Infrastructure with Windows PowerShell: TFM
VMware vExpert Hal Rottenberg has been working hard on the definitive book for managing VMware with PowerShell. His publisher has posted about 40 sample scripts from the book available for download now. A quick glance through the scripts shows there's a lot of stuff there related to configuring ...


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Dragon Pose: Use a Bolster for Support & Honor Your Limitations
Honor your body's limitations as you move into Dragon Pose. Yoga teacher Matece Skow shows you this modification with a bolster to achieve this deep hip opener safely. Want to learn more about Yin Yoga? Here's why you should try it.
See also 9 hip-openers to stretch and build flexibility
Yoga Journal's mission is to support your yoga practice on and off the mat. Sign up for YJ NEWS todayAND we'll give you a discount from our lifestyle yoga video partner Grokker.
A Yoga Journal + Grokker Production


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes
The Commission consists of five members, plus one alternate member. One of the sustaining members is the Chief of Police. Remaining members must be either Charlton residents or town employees.
The Civilian Traffic Commission is a committee that operates solely on an advisory basis to the Town Administrator and Board of Selectmen. The commission is in place to filter traffic-related complaints and concerns, consider options for mitigation, and then relay those to the proper authorities.


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Frequently Asked Questions
Are your products made in the USA?
Yes, all MagniLife products are locally produced in the USA.
Is homeopathy regulated?
Yes, homeopathic medicines are regulated as drugs by the FDA, and our products are manufactured in an FDA registered facility that conforms to GMP standards.
How long have you been in business?
The Magni Group, Inc. has been in business for over 35 years. We began selling MagniLife products over 15 years ago, and we now have many thousands of happy customers.
How much do the products cost?
Our products range from $14.99 to $19.99 + S&H, depending on the individual item you select. We are currently running a special, Buy Two Get One Free. In addition, all domestic orders over $49 receive free standard shipping.
If I order the special, can I mix the products?
No, the special applies to the same product only. You must order two of one product and get a third of the same product for free.
Your website says some products are available at pharmacies. I went to my local store and could not find them. Can you help me?
MagniLife products are currently available at select Rite Aid, CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Kroger, Albertsons, HEB, Safeway and SuperValu stores. Please use the "Find a Store" tool on our homepage to locate the store nearest to you that carries our products.
Do you ship internationally?
We do our best to service our international customers. However, at this time, we only ship to some areas outside of the United States. Please contact us at 1-800-645-9199 to find out if we can deliver to your address.
How much is domestic shipping?
Orders over $49 FREE shipping
Standard (5-8 BUSINESS days) $5.95
Priority (3-5 BUSINESS days) $9.94
UPS 2-Day $19.99
UPS Overnight $34.99
What is the shipping time?
Orders will be processed and shipped the following business day, from Dallas, TX. The United States Postal Service estimates 2-7 business days for delivery within Continental U.S. Please allow 2-3 weeks for international orders and deliveries to Hawaii, Alaska & Contiguous U.S.
*Orders after 12pm CST ship the next business day
*Weekend days are not included in the shipping time
*Thursday UPS 2-Day (before 12pm CST) will arrive Monday
*Friday UPS Overnight (before 12pm CST) will arrive on Monday
*International orders do not qualify for any priority or expedited shipping
How can I get a refund for products purchased at stores, such as Rite Aid or CVS/pharmacy?
Please contact the store you purchased the item from to find out their return policy. The MagniLife corporate office offers refunds only for products purchased directly from us.
Can I take MagniLife products with other medications?
A great benefit of MagniLife products is they do not interfere with other medications. For specific concerns, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Do MagniLife products have an expiration date?
The FDA has given a waiver for putting expiration dates on most homeopathic products. With the exemption of a few items, MagniLife products are included in the waiver. The average shelf life for MagniLife products that are kept away from moisture and are secured with a lid is 7 years for tablets, and 2 years for creams.
The following products have an expiration date of 2 years from the date of manufacturing: Antifungal Foot Cream, DB Diabetics' Dry Skin Relief, Apple Cider Vinegar Combo Diet, and Grapefruit Apple Cider Vinegar Combo Diet. The expiration date is stamped on the bottom or the side of each jar and bottle.
How long will it take to receive my order?
Orders will be processed and shipped the following business day, from Dallas, TX. The United States Postal Service estimates 2-7 business days for delivery within Continental US. Please allow 2-3 weeks for international orders and deliveries to Hawaii, Alaska & Contiguous US.
*Orders after 12pm CST ship the next business day
*Weekend days are not included in the shipping time
*Thursday UPS 2-Day (before 12pm CST) will arrive Monday
*Friday UPS Overnight (before 12pm CST) will arrive on Monday
*International orders do not qualify for any priority or expedited shipping
What is your return policy?
At MagniLife, we are so confident you will enjoy the results of our products that we offer you a 90-Day Risk Free Money Back Guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied, simply return the unused portion of your product (even if it's empty!) within 90 days for a full refund of the product price.
- Please note shipping and handling charges are non-refundable.
- Refunds will be issued to the original method of payment.
- In order for your refund to be processed in a timely manner, be sure to include the unused portion of the product, as well as proof of purchase (i.e. receipt, order ID, or name and address on the order).
All returns should be sent to:
MagniLife Attn: Customer Returns
PO Box 6789 McKinney, TX 75071
* The buyer is responsible for any associated shipping and handling fees of returning the products.
**Only orders placed directly through the MagniLife official website at: www.MagniLife.com or by phone via MagniLife Customer Service will be eligible for the MagniLife Money Back Guarantee Program.
We encourage you to use up the entire product, as it may take a few weeks for some products to fully relieve your symptoms. Please allow our products time to give you the relief you deserve. If still not satisfied, please return the empty package, and we truly hope you are able to find relief elsewhere.
Can I put clothes on after applying a MagniLife cream or gel? Will my clothes get stained?
MagniLfe creams and gels are uniquely formulated to absorb quickly to provide fast relief on the spot. Our products dry just as fast as a normal lotion. Once a cream or a gel is fully absorbed, you can cover up again without fear of staining your clothes or the product not working.
Is the MagniLife Age Spot Cream suitable for dark complexions?
Yes! Our MagniLife Age Spot Cream does not contain any "bleaching" additives, and can benefit customers of any age, complexion and skin type.
What color is the MagniLife Pain & Itch Relief Gel supposed to be?
It can range in color from orange to a dark brown. The color variance is due to temperature change and the gel-like substance. It is 100% safe to use either way.
Do I have to be diabetic in order to use the DB Pain Relieving Foot Cream?
No, you don't have to be diabetic.
Are MagniLife products regulated by the FDA?
Yes, MagniLife remedies are fully regulated as drugs by the FDA and all the components of our tablets are officially monographed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. As required by the FDA, our products have National Drug Codes registered with the federal government. Also, our manufacturing facilities are inspected by the FDA.
Do MagniLife tablets have any side effects?
Over 200 years of history has shown the extremely diluted nature of homeopathic ingredients removes the risk of negative side effects. As such, MagniLife tablets provide a safe alternative to dangerous and costly prescription drugs.*
Can I take MagniLife tablets if I am on another medication?
A great benefit of MagniLife products is they do not interfere with other medications and can be safely used alongside prescription drugs. In some cases, long-term homeopathic treatment, may reduce dependency on drugs and even reduce existing side effects. For specific concerns, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Do MagniLife tablets really work?
We have many, many satisfied customers who order products from us on a regular basis. Just click on each product page to read countless reviews from real customers like you.
We do realize that our products may not work for everyone, which is why we offer our money-back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the unused portion within 90 days for a refund of the product purchase price. Note: Applicable only to products purchased directly through MagniLife.com.
Why do I have to dissolve the tablets under my tongue?
MagniLife tablets are sublingual, which means they should be dissolved under the tongue. This is the best delivery method for homeopathic tablets. If the tablets do not dissolve quickly, they can be chewed and swallowed. Do not take them whole.
What are the ingredients in MagniLife tablets?
The tablets are a homeopathic formulation, and the ingredients have names that are hard to pronounce. Each product has a page on our website that lists the ingredients, or this information can be mailed out upon request by contacting customer service.
How long does it take before I get relief?
Individuals all react differently. Sometimes, relief is noticed almost immediately, and symptoms continue to improve with longer use. Sometimes, it can take a few weeks to achieve noticeable relief. We recommend giving the remedies six weeks of regular use in order to get results. Continued use will generally result in improvements of your symptoms.*
Will MagniLife tablets cure my problem?
These tablets are not meant to be a cure. They are intended to provide relief for your symptoms. However, many individuals find their symptoms get better with continued use and they can eventually begin to cut back on the amount of tablets needed to get relief.*
My symptoms seemed to get a little worse right after I took the tablets. Why is that?
This is an indication that the medicine is working. Not everybody experiences the increased aggravation, but if you do, it should go away within a few hours to a few days as you begin to get relief.*


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Carroll Senior High School and the Carroll Athletic Department hosted an event on Wednesday morning to recognize an outstanding group of student-athletes who signed their National Letter of Intent to study and play at the collegiate level after graduation.
This year's fall signing day saw a record number of athletes signing their letter. In total, twenty-six athletes from sports ranging from baseball to beach volleyball signed to play college athletics.
Carroll Senior High Principal, Shaun Duhon is very proud of these high achieving students.
"This was a great celebration of some of our outstanding Caroll student-athletes. We are excited to watch these kids continue to chase their dreams at the next level."
Congratulations to these outstanding students athletes, their families, and their coaches.
The signees included…
Adam Stephenson – Wichita State University – Baseball
Will Quillen – Grayson College – Baseball
Cade Bell – Grayson College – Baseball
Jake Miller – East Texas Baptist University – Baseball
Charlie Kiefer – Fort Scott – Baseball
Marcus Hill – Eastern Kentucky University – Baseball
Nicco Cole – Howard College – Baseball
Cole Johnson – Weatherford College – Baseball
Sabrina Monaco – Stephen F. Austin St. Univ. – Volleyball
Abigail Zeitsiff – Saint Leo University – Basketball
Caitlin Marie Mertz – Oklahoma Baptist University – Cross Country/Track & Field
Cate Tracht – Ole Miss University – Cross Country/Track & Field
Taylor Legan – Univ. of Central Arkansas – Track & Field
Malak Bouraeda – University of Colorado – Golf
Will Fore – McLennan College – Golf
Jack LeVant – Stanford University – Swimming
Logan Davis – Air Force Academy – Swimming
Alex Zettle – University of Texas – Swimming
Abigail Stuart – Columbia University – Softball
Avery Zeigler – Angelo State University – Softball
Kate Privett – Florida State University – Beach Volleyball
Abby Carroll – University of South Carolina – Beach Volleyball
Asjia O'Neal – University of Texas – Volleyball
Chloe Monroe – Marist College – Lacrosse
Preston Deno – Univ. of Alabama-Huntsville – Lacrosse
Campbell Brown – Rhodes College – Soccer


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Psalm 106 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
106 1 The people dispersed under Antiochus, do magnify the goodness of God among the just and repentant: 4 Desiring to be brought again into the land by God's merciful visitation. 8 And after the manifold marvels of God wrought in their deliverance forth of Egypt, And the great ingratitude of the people rehearsed. 47 They do pray and desire to be gathered from among the heathen, to the intent that they may praise the Name of the God of Israel.
Praise ye the Lord.
1 Praise [a]ye the Lord because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever.
2 Who can express the noble acts of the Lord, or show forth all his praise?
3 Blessed are they that [b]keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O Lord, with the [c]favor of thy people: visit me with thy salvation,
5 That I may see the felicity of thy chosen, and rejoice in the joy of thy people, and glory with thine inheritance.
6 We have [d]sinned with our fathers: we have committed iniquity, and done wickedly.
7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt, neither remembered they the multitude of thy mercies, but rebelled at the Sea, even at the red sea.
8 Nevertheless he [e]saved them for his Name's sake, that he might make his power to be known.
9 And he rebuked the red sea, and it was dried up, and he led them in the deep, as in the wilderness.
10 And he saved them from the adversary's hand, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 And the waters covered their oppressors: not one of them was left.
12 Then [f]believed they his words, and sang praise unto him.
13 But incontinently they forgat his works, they waited not for his [g]counsel,
14 But lusted with concupiscence in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 Then he gave them their desire: but he sent [h]leanness into their soul.
16 They envied Moses also in the tents, and Aaron the holy one of the Lord.
17 Therefore the earth opened and [i]swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18 And the fire was kindled in their assembly: the flame burnt up the wicked.
19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20 Thus they turned their [j]glory into the similitude of a bullock, that eateth grass.
21 They forgat God their Savior, which had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and fearful things by the red sea.
23 Therefore he minded to destroy them, had [k]not Moses his chosen stood in the breach before him to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
24 Also they contemned [l]that pleasant land, and believed not his word,
25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.
26 Therefore [m]he lifted up his hand against them, to destroy them in the wilderness,
27 And to destroy their seed among the nations, and to scatter them throughout the countries.
28 They joined themselves also unto [n]Baal of Peor, and did eat the offerings of the [o]dead.
29 Thus they [p]provoked him unto anger with their own inventions, and the plague brake in upon them.
30 But [q]Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, and the plague was stayed.
31 And it was [r]imputed unto him for righteousness from generation to generation forever.
32 They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that [s]Moses was punished for their sakes,
33 Because they vexed his Spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34 Neither destroyed they the people, as the Lord had commanded them,
35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works,
36 And served their idols, which were their ruin.
37 Yea, they offered their [t]sons, and their daughters unto devils,
38 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons, and of their daughters whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan, and the land was defiled with blood.
39 Thus were they stained with their own works, and went [u]a whoring with their own inventions.
40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, and he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen: and they that hated them were lords over them.
42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were humbled under their hand.
43 Many [v]a time did he deliver them, but they provoked him by their counsels: therefore they were brought down by their iniquity.
44 Yet he saw when they were in affliction, and he heard their cry.
45 And he remembered his covenant toward them, and [w]repented according to the multitude of his mercies,
46 And gave them favor in the sight of all them that led them captives.
47 Save us, O Lord our God, and [x]gather us from among the heathen, that we may praise thine holy Name, and glory in thy praise.
48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel forever and ever, and let all the people say, So be it. Praise ye the Lord.
Cross references:
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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Glistening Male Bodies in Film: 'Descended From Hercules'
This is an extensive and thoughtful survey of the peplum that's limited only by its ambition.
Descended From Hercules: Biopolitics and the Muscled Male Body on ScreenPublisher: Indiana University Press
Length: 230 pages
Author: Robert A. Rushing
Price: $26.00
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 2016-10
Robert A. Rushing's knowledge of the peplum genre -- sword-and-sandal strongman epics -- is undeniably extensive and appreciative. The author approaches his subject with a recognizable fondness for the content that's refreshing for academic writing. He doesn't seek easy answers or make pat conclusions, nor take for granted that the reader will automatically accept his conclusion. And that conclusion, in the end, is aptly summarized by the book's sub-title, "Biopolitics and the Muscled Male Body on Screen".
Rushing seeks to demonstrate that the muscled male body -- the central unifying imagery of the peplum genre -- represents a "biopolitical intervention". That is; skin flicks, so obviously targeted toward otherwise heterosexual (often adolescent) men, are vessels for a political message about not only the health of the human body but the health and integrity of the body-politic. Throughout the book, Rushing manages to find a space in which he can simultaneously enjoy and partake in the undisguised sexuality, and oftentimes campiness, of these films while also training a critical eye on their messages, both surface and latent.
In fact, Rushing even critically addresses the jarring distinction between the first and second generation peplums and the darker, grittier, more apocalyptic later ones. After all, the tonal differences between say, Hercules Against the Moon Men (1964) and Zack Snyder's 300 (2006) are unmistakable and call for explanation. Rushing provides one: "...the current affect of most peplums -- a desperate, dark, and melodramatic seriousness bordering on a kind of suicidal nihilism -- has been more successful than the old-school grin-and-flex approach. Without the intense melodramatic affect, the excess of the image would predominate, permitting the viewers to see only camp rather than the biopolitical fantasy that seduces and fascinates them."
Rushing's analysis toward that end is carefully laid out across four chapters, beginning first with "Nos Morituri: Time in the Peplum", which focuses on one of the signature elements of the genre -- long, lingering, time-dilated shots of the muscled male heroes' bodies. After all, for a genre ostensibly consumed by predominantly straight young men, the infatuation with men's bodies -- and the salacious attention the camera gives to examining muscle and flesh -- seems designed to cause anxiety of the type certain viewers would seek to avoid rather than indulge in. It's in this mélange of the male gaze, male anxiety, and the ideal male form, that Rushing pulls out the first strands of his biopolitical argument.
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Rushing argues that as viewers we intuitively derive pleasure from the conversion of the static to the kinetic, the passive to the active. The films allow us to enjoy the action that holds the stillness of death at bay, and to take the source of adolescent male anxiety and intensify it, rather than attack it. Yet even while making the argument for a biopolitical reading of the peplum, Rushing manages to divorce some of the more blatantly propagandistic films (e.g., 300) from their political content and celebrate the beauty of their aesthetic innovation and celebration of an unfiltered manhood. Rushing's analysis draws on Foucault (an obvious reference) sparingly, and Freud, Nietzsche, and psychoanalytic ideas frequently, much to its credit.
In chapter four, Rushing reaches the core of his argument regarding biopolitics. It's clear by the end of the book that these films embody a political intervention aimed at portraying health, the muscled male body, and the state as inextricably linked and interconnected. Yet beyond a handful of examples, Rushing never quite makes the case for an affiliated argument that he dabbles with: that these figures lead directly into the real world of politics. Arnold Schwarzenegger, both Conan of the film series and later California Governor, is the obvious high-water mark for this argument, but few others populate it as directly.
Ultimately, Descended from Hercules seems filled with so many missed opportunities to discuss the cultural legacy of so much of what these films depict beyond simply the time frame in which they have been produced. Rushing admirably discusses the pre/post sexual status of the peplum hero, but doesn't fully connect this to the larger cultural continuity that art, myth, and religion offer for understanding why this archetype persists. What of the connection between the innocently pre-sexual and similarly depilated youths in ancient Greece, admired and eroticized by their erastes but not necessarily aroused themselves (as Rushing describes numerous peplum heroes)?
"[A]s the sequence progresses, we are treated to more and more shot / countershot constructions that locate the place of our gaze in Queen Samara's eyes, and the shots become increasingly erotic, until nothing is left except close-up slow pans across his taut, muscled, tanned, oiled, hairless massive pectorals."
Instead of his pedantic and contrived discussion of the trans body near the book's end, what of the cultural legacy of the ritual performance of sex seen throughout art and mythology from the numerous instances of sex-change in classical Greek mythology to Mohini, the female incarnation of the god Vishnu? What Rushing does provide is carefully-crafted and knowledgeable, but all too often is plagued by missed opportunities and an abbreviated analysis that never extends historically beyond references to Freud (1856) or Nietzsche (1844). The work could benefit from a deeper look back to the stories, art, mythology and other sources that are the foundation of these epic mythic tales. The opportunity uniquely offered by a genre largely linked to classical mythology for its source material provided numerous windows left unopened, but what Rushing did provide was expertly laid out.