Web-running Video Shows of Selected Events
Herb Lindberg
(Latest
update March 30, 2008)
(Annual Events)
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As a supplement to the straight pictorial Web page reports that comprise the bulk of this Web site, we are now posting a few features in the form of video slide shows with zoom and pan action (think Ken Burns' Civil War series made mainly with still pictures) and music. These tend to be an order of magnitude larger (longer download times) than the straight still photographs, ranging from 6 to 40 MB per show -- the size of each show is noted at the download link. This new feature follows the widespread availability of high-speed connections by readers, and large website storage on this site. To my knowledge, the shows play only on Windows PC machines, not on Unix or Mac operating systems. These video shows have been posted in two forms: download and play separately later, and play immediately in a web page as the show downloads. The web page versions download as they are viewed, so there is little or no waiting for those with broadband connections. Web-page versions is a more recent capability of the Photodex software we use, and the preferred method for all visitors except those who would like a permanent copy of the shows on their computers. We therefore plan to post web-running versions almost exclusively -- 2 download-and-play-separately versions already posted are on a separate page. The web-running versions require that you install a Windows PC plug-in for your browser (sorry Mac users, we hope Photodex will extend their software to Mac computers). The plug-in loads automatically from the Photodex web site. Your security software will probably ask for your permission to proceed with the download and installation of this "Presenter" plug-in, and you might have to select manual install. If the show doesn't then download automatically, close this tab of your browser and navigate back to this web page. Click on the show again and it should open. The shows are sized at 740x555 pixels so they fit conveniently within your browser display. However, you can display the show in full-screen mode and hence increased clarity by right clicking within the show window and selecting full screen. This is best done after you've started the show at the smaller size. Because the video images are created on-the-fly by the Presenter, the subsequent slide or two will be fuzzy -- they were rendered in small size and then displayed in full screen. Still, operation is smoother if you start the show in the smaller size and then switch to full screen while the show is running. After the Presenter buffer accumulates slides rendered in full screen, subsequent slides displayed in full screen and are very sharp. Return to the smaller size by hitting your escape key or right clicking again to remove the full screen check mark. In addition to the control bar in the smaller size, the hot keys in full-screen mode are: ·
Space bar
Pause, Resume ·
Page Down
Jump to next slide ·
Page Up
Jump to previous slide ·
Esc
Return to opening screen · Esc Exit program
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| This year's Living History Day will be on April 27, 2008 and is being
combined with an Art Show & Sale with booths in the corral area behind
(toward the river) the
Historic Barn. Because this combined event is new to the community, we
created a video slide show to illustrate what to expect.
About half the artists were able to contribute example works to include in the
slide show. The event will include these works plus many more, from these
artists and the others, totaling more than 50 artists and hundreds of beautiful
works to enjoy and purchase.
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| Each march three volunteer cross-training classes are held at Empire Mine
SHP (in 2008, March 12, 13, 14 from 8:45 AM to Noon) followed by three classes specific
to the South Yuba River SP (March 15, 19, April 5 from 9:00 AM to Noon). This video shows activities
volunteers perform at SYRSP, to help potential volunteers decide if they would be interested and what activities interest them most.
If you are encouraged to join us, please call the Visitor Center at 530-432-2546
to reserve a place in the March 2009 classes, and drop into the Visitor Center
to learn how you can help in 2008.
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Annual Events and Barn Improvements
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Six of the shows below, in the top and bottom rows, are annual events. The center row focuses on some of the work done to create an interpretive center for transportation in the Bridgeport region, with emphasis on the Gold Rush period just before and after the covered bridge was built in 1862. The last show in the center row is the celebration and formal opening of this interpretive center in the Historic Barn. After three years of work by park docents, volunteers and California State Park employees, the Historic Barn is now opened as an interpretive exhibit of transportation through Bridgeport, and the public display of historic wagons, a hay press and hay fork. The interpretive center theme is: "Bridgeport, a vital transportation link on the shortest historic trans-Sierran wagon route." It was made possible by private donations of these items over several decades to the California State Parks Archeology, History and Museums Division, Museum Initiative Unit, and by financial grants and private contributions. The Humbug Day shows in the bottom row are of events at
Malakoff Diggins State Park, which is not far from Bridgeport and is supported
by some of the same park rangers and docents that work at Bridgeport.
These events are an inspiration for park celebrations throughout Nevada County. |
