Always Something New and Different with which to Cope

If anyone was actually waiting with bated breath to see Alan's Italy Show # 88 - Florence, Then and Now, Part 2, please be advised that after about 10 minutes into the broadcast my computer malfunctioned causing the decision to cancel. We will try again next week. While I was zooming in and then out of my close-up shot of the empty space on the front portico of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence where Michelanelgelo's David stood for 371 years, from 1502 - 1873. The statue, perhaps the most famous in Florentine History, was removed from the spot chosen by the famous committee in 1502 (Botticelli, Leonardo daVinci among others), was moved to the Galleria Accademia where it has been ever since. In its place at the Palazzo Vecchio in 1910 was placed the copy we all see now. So, for a period of 512 years, except for the 37 year period between 1873 and 1910, there was no statue on that spot. The photo I showed was obviously taken during that period. This always fascinated me, so I did a close-up of that spot, and then as I was "backing up", the screen froze, never to return to normal. Yet another problem with the concept of live broadcast on public access cable television. Just add to the list that I have compiled since Dec 9, 2011 when we began.

Actually Ellen agreed to begin the show10 minutes early so I could end early enough to attend a birthday party for a friend of ours. By the time my computer returned to normal, it was too late to broadcast the show and then get home and then to the party, so we ditched the whole concept. Normally, we just would have continued along starting and ending later than usual. Therefore, other than my computer, the party was the real issue. I will call Apple and see what could be done, but I have already taken steps to correct the problem. I had a lot of other programs opened at the time I was using IPhoto so that could have been the problem. I also took a screen shot of the "empty space" on the Pal Vecchio so there will not be a need to zoom in and out, which I hate doing on the air anyway. I will also rearrange the presentation as I have other ideas now as well. I think the new version should be better than the original. We shall see. Stay tuned.

Horrible Weather with a Hopeful Future

I just wanted my following of readers to know that due to the incredibly terrible weather, we are having difficulties producing additional TV shows, and barring that, the blogs have been sparse as well. It snowed yesterday again as I went into NYC to teach my college students, but returned to a snowy and icy car. Today it snowed again, however the temperatures are supposed to climb for a few days so we may have a respite. With that in mind I am planning to broadcast this Friday, Feb 21. The show is still planned to be Florence, Then and Now, Part 2.

As many of you know one of my great interests is 19th century photography of Italy and the next three shows will focus on that theme with amazing 150 yr old photos of Florence, Tuscany, and Italy in general. Most of this interest has been inspired by my friend and native Tuscan, Luca, who gave me as a gift a photo book two years ago. This past year he brought me to the bookstore which used to serve as the workshop for the Alinari Brothers (Fratelli Alinari) who were the forerunners of 19th century Italian photography. The purchases I made in that store form the basis for the next three shows, Alan's Italy Show # 88, 89, and 90.

I hope you tune in, and apparently a continuous run of views have pushed the total views since the inception of my Youtube Channel to close to 12,000, an astounding number considering the esoteric nature of the material. I am gratified that so many people have taken an interest and will try very hard to get back on the air.