The Great Depression. What was so great about it, anyway?
Actually, a lot of positive things came out of the 1930’s despite, and because of, economic hardship. There were many technological advances, and FDR innovated many social and public works programs that remain with us today.
But times were indeed extremely harsh for working people. PBS is running a show called Novel Reflections on the American Dream. One of the featured books is John Steinbeck’s unflinching look at the plight of migrant farm workers in California, The Grapes of Wrath.
[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/APR07/GrapesOfWrath.flv 400 260]© PBS
Isn’t it, though? Sweet, that is. And a timer, too! Until the video finishes downloading the number on the right is the percentage, then it switches to the time remaining.
You wouldn’t believe — actually, you would — how much effort went into being able to keep the old player working for the videos I’d already done, and use this new one. It has an entirely different tag for the plug-in. Other attempts resulted in neither the old nor new player working. Argh. But finally I’ve got it working. This is being done because the old plug-in needs to be updated for the new player, but its author doesn’t seem inclined to do it.
Full screen! Very sweet.