Student Broadcasting Team

[dhargraves]

Hey all,

Just wanted to introduce myself, and get another discussion going. My name is Damon Hargraves, Distance Learning Facilitator for the Bering Strait School District. I will be working directly with the BSSD Student Broadcasting Team to offer live video and news coverage via VTC and this website. Feedback is greatly appreciated. The kids are pumped and I'm pumped, and we are busy planning to offer coverage from more locations than ever.

[Another UK Fan]

Damon thanks for the introduction

The kids are pumped and I'm pumped,

I bet you are!

Now, where is the best place to give feedback? By posting on this forum? Or another part of the site? And do you still want postcards? Or does that come after the red lantern?

Feedback right now is THANK YOU ....very much looking forward to seeing the coverage!

[MarinOhio]

So are we! Thanks for everything!

[Heidi]

What Another UK Fan said!

Let us know how best to go about giving feedback, etc. We are all so grateful for all the hard work you and the kids are doing.

I think my favorite thing from last year was the videotaped interviews.

[ThisSpaceForRent]

SnowKidsGo...

Damon...you,John, your kids and your School district ROCK.

I can't wait for the kids interviews...

daniel...aka ThisSpaceForRent

[dilli]

Ditto to what the other Iditabuddies said!
This past summer, I had a wonderful time going through the video and photo archives on BSSD ..
last year we had a great time live chatting with the students too!

Let us know how we can help in any other way besides spreading the word about BSSD and viewing their exciting Irod 2008 content! Whoohoo !

(((Hugs))) for all Go Team BSSD Go .. and TSFR's circled R thing ..

[Moose]

Damon, any idea why I can't get audio with either the BSSD or Insider interviews? It was a problem the last two years. I get KTUU audio and audio from most sites I visit, just not all. I've deleted existing Adobe/Acrobat programs and downloaded replacement programs a number of times, but still no audio. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Johncn]

Moose,

Damon will be able to help...probably!

You will want to give your specifics to him, though....probably in a PM...with comptuer type and version, browser type or the program you are trying to use to view and listen.

Also, we have LOTS of files in different formats from prior years. This year we are using stuff that will be simpler in some ways, and we'd love you to help us test before the race starts so we know all users (or most users) can participate. Some of our older files are .MP4, for instance, which means iTunes in most cases is what you need...free for Windows or Mac. Others are Quicktime, .mp3 in a couple formats, and even some Ogg Vorbins audio stuff. So, he will need a couple links to example files to help you.

The best player we've found for all three platforms - works with ALMOST anything - is VLC Player. It's an Open Source program, and therefore "free like a puppy". You may want to give that a try.

Unlike the Iditarod site, we don't have the very, very expensive Macromedia Flash production suite and server components. All our pictures, audio and video are done using freeware, shareware, or inexpensive solutions. We really try hard to make sure that Windows, Linux or Mac users can get the coverage. We know we need to work a little harder at that, but the users here can be our guinea pigs

We have some REAL SURPRISES planned this year, and want to make sure everyone here can see and hear.

Oh, and all of you CAN post your own pictures, video and audio files here in almost any format. You can also link to YouTube or other Flash video output. I've turned all those tags on.

Thanks, Moose.

Johncn

[Moose]

No, John. Thank YOU! I'm not to computer savvy, but will make note of my hardwares and softwares and send Damon a PM this evening. Really, just can't say it enough: You guys and your project...and that includes the kids...are an awesome combo.

[Moose]

Well, I Googled VLC Player, plunked down my credit card for $29.88 for a year's subscription (didn't want to commit to more than that without knowing if it would work--why doesn't one ever get a trial run for these programs?), clicked the continue button and came to a screen instructing me to select my "bundle". The screen listed a bunch of products, some of which were familiar, most of which were not, but nowhere did I see VLC Player listed. Clicked on the "click here if you don't see your bundle", and came to a page that says "download now". But I don't know what I'd be downloading because I never had the opportunity to choose VLC Player.

Thought I could save you guys some aggravation by stepping forward on my own. I should have known better. Why does it have to be so hard? Waaaaaahhh.

(Oh, everyone please come to my pitty party, but watch your step. Mooses cry big slippery tears and drop big slippery drool. )