Photography has come a long way in a short time. Many digital cameras now have GPS chips in them to identify where a photo was taken. When uploaded to a site like Google Maps, the photo actually shows up near where it was taken.
This helps you to review photos of areas that are of interest to you. If you're going on a trip, you can preview photos of your destination. If you want to tour Davis County, click on Google Maps and zoom in to see photos of the area that have been posted by others.
When you enter the Google Maps site, type in the area of interest. One or more boxes will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. You can toggle between "Map" view and a "bird's eye" view by clicking "map" or "satelite". As you roll over this box, another box appears with more options. You can click on "photos" or "video" and if there are any of those uploaded, small photos will appear on your screen. Click on any of these, and they'll get bigger (or play, in the case of video). If you don't see anything, zoom in a little closer (not too close) and more of these photo-squares may pop up.
Of course, you can also do street view too. If the street that you are interested in, has a yellow line generated by the computer on it, this means that it is ready for "street view". In the upper left corner, you'll see a little orange "man" or icon. Roll over him, left click with your mouse, and drag him onto the yellow line to get a view from the street. You can rotate that view 360*, right or left, up and down. You can also zoom in and out. Google Maps is a lot of fun. Play around with the different settings and options to find those that are most interesting to you. You can also get traffic reports, look up bike paths, and even see live webcam photos or video when available. Enjoy!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Does the Great Salt Lake Freeze?
According to Wikipedia, salinity of water is measured by parts per thousand and not by percentage. However, they also have charts that convert PPT to a percentage. The ocean is made up of many salts and minerals, and it is said to be water and 3% to 5% of these "solids". They write, "The salinity of the lake's main basin, Gilbert Bay, is highly variable and depends on the lake's level; it ranges from 5 to 27% (50-270 parts per thousand).[4] For comparison, the average salinity of the world ocean is 3.5% (35 parts per thousand)[25] and 33.7% in the Dead Sea. Great Salt Lake's waters are slightly enriched in potassium and depleted in calcium.[4]"
In any case, I always assumed it was pretty salty and I didn't think it would freeze. I took a group from the eastern US out to the island on Friday after a day of skiing, and I was surprised to see a pile of ice about 100 - 200 yds long on the north side of the causeway. It was kind of late, long past sunset, but I took a photo with my camera phone anyway.
We talked to Ron Taylor, the park ranger, and he said that this is not uncommon from year to year. We were NOT experiencing ice floes from rivers. The water from inlets flows into the lake, and instead of mixing with the denser salt water, it floats on top of it. We have had some bitter cold temps in January, and apparently that water solidified - a little over an inch thick. Then, the strong winds that we had, blew the ice onto the causeway, and in some cases, large sheets of the ice crawled up and over the chunks below it forming another single layer.
Ron also said that his asst ranger had taken the state boat to the south marina that day, and that in some cases he was acting as an ice-cutter as he powered through ice on the south end of the lake. I was fascinated.
Playing tour guide, I wanted to show the guests the brine shrimp that are so plentiful in summer. I wasn't too optimistic, but I tried to "fish" for some at the marina docks, but the water there also had about 1/4" of ice on the surface. I scooped a stryofoam cup into the water, and though I didn't find any live shrimp, there were a couple of dead ones well-preserved and floating in the water.
The bison cooperated for photo-ops, and were out in force, and we got to see some pronghorn as well. There's always something to see on the island, but now if anyone ever asks you if the lake freezes, you can say that it does. And here's the pictures to prove it.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Antelope Island becomes a movie star again in 2010
Movie making is serious business (even comedies) - and everyone knows that Utah has long been a place for some serious, and not so serious flicks and television shows.
The Davis Film Commissioner is our own John Wilson, who has passed a rigorous test to earn that title. His responsbilities include helping film producers and location scouts with site selection, promoting Davis County as a "stage" for filming, and also housing cast and crew for the filming duration once they decide to film here.
One of the most recent films is called "For Robbing the Dead". It is the story of a fellow named Jean Baptiste who was employed as a gravedigger, but arrested in 1862 for robbing up to 300 graves - or rather - burying people in their birthday suits, after removing clothing that he felt was of value. Although the clothing was found stored in an orderly fashion, it seems that he could have starred in a modern-day episode of "Hoarders". He had no excuses; he wasn't profiting from the "haul" - he simply "did it". Little is known of the actual facts, but summaries of his case are found here or here and elsewhere (just do a Google search).
In any case, it was felt that he would be lynched if he was released, or killed if he went to prison, because the crime was so heinous for its time. For instance, BY had to reassure the religious that their loved ones would not be nekkid and hunting for fig leaves upon their resurrection. For his own safety, he was exiled instead to a deserted island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Some feel it was Antelope Island, others feel that he was banished to Fremont Island.
It wasn't until 2010 that someone decided to make a film about the experience. John helped with the scouting on Antelope Island, and found lodging for the crew here on the mainland. (If you remember the first "Superman" movie, Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) is one of the stars).
The film will be called "For Robbing the Dead" - and a number of trailers can be found on YouTube and Facebook. Use "FRTD" when searching.
Stay tuned for more flicks, TV shows and commercials as John brings more "show business" to Davis County. If we need extras, we'll put out a casting call.
The Davis Film Commissioner is our own John Wilson, who has passed a rigorous test to earn that title. His responsbilities include helping film producers and location scouts with site selection, promoting Davis County as a "stage" for filming, and also housing cast and crew for the filming duration once they decide to film here.
One of the most recent films is called "For Robbing the Dead". It is the story of a fellow named Jean Baptiste who was employed as a gravedigger, but arrested in 1862 for robbing up to 300 graves - or rather - burying people in their birthday suits, after removing clothing that he felt was of value. Although the clothing was found stored in an orderly fashion, it seems that he could have starred in a modern-day episode of "Hoarders". He had no excuses; he wasn't profiting from the "haul" - he simply "did it". Little is known of the actual facts, but summaries of his case are found here or here and elsewhere (just do a Google search).
In any case, it was felt that he would be lynched if he was released, or killed if he went to prison, because the crime was so heinous for its time. For instance, BY had to reassure the religious that their loved ones would not be nekkid and hunting for fig leaves upon their resurrection. For his own safety, he was exiled instead to a deserted island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Some feel it was Antelope Island, others feel that he was banished to Fremont Island.
It wasn't until 2010 that someone decided to make a film about the experience. John helped with the scouting on Antelope Island, and found lodging for the crew here on the mainland. (If you remember the first "Superman" movie, Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) is one of the stars).
The film will be called "For Robbing the Dead" - and a number of trailers can be found on YouTube and Facebook. Use "FRTD" when searching.
Stay tuned for more flicks, TV shows and commercials as John brings more "show business" to Davis County. If we need extras, we'll put out a casting call.
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