def media_url(self, with_ssl=False):
        """
        Used to return a base media URL. Depending on whether we're serving
        media remotely or locally, this either hands the decision off to the
        backend, or just uses the value in settings.STATIC_URL.
        
        args:
          with_ssl: (bool) If True, return an HTTPS url (depending on how
                           the backend handles it).
        """
        if self.serve_remote:
            # Hand this off to whichever backend is being used.
            url = self.remote_media_url(with_ssl)
        else:
            # Serving locally, just use the value in settings.py.
            url = self.local_media_url
        return url.rstrip('/')