Sparta Students Interview Veterans

Interesting interview with students following their veteran interview project. Patrick Higgins Blog.

Miscellaneous musings...

This is from Tom Richarme
Recently completed readings of three Lincoln related books:
The Age of Lincoln by Orville Vernon Burton
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation by Allen C. Guelzo
Act of Justice--Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the Law of War
by Carnahan, Burrus M.
If you run out of things to do with your life they make an interesting trilogy. Am about to begin Stephen E. Ambrose's Nothing Like It In The World-The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad. Ambrose is really an excellent writer, as well as historian.

I plan on retiring from my so called (work) life here at the end of May, so I will have time to read the 20 history books that I still have in a pile from my History Book Club days-in the words of Sandra's grandfather, Mr. Pat Faulkner of Commerce Georgia still ringing in my ears: "boy, if you really don't need it, it don't matter what its on sale for!" (words of wisdom that I still struggle to adopt-but then again, he would be the ruination of our consumer economy). Posted to
http://me3tv-authors.blogspot.com/

Burro Rehab Project

A GREAT LITTLE YOUTUBE FILM FROM -- Myron Leski, a Sparta Fine Artist paints in oils. His website is www.myronleski.com. Here is his remake of an old fiberglass burro travel trailer. Enjoy! And check out his art!

Things are Different in Africa

A SAD NOTE on this post. After posting this - I learned that Fred Pitts had died of a stroke only a couple of days after his talk to the Kiwanis Club. At the club I noticed his voice seemed to waver and I thought it had to do with aging or the Africa experience. It may well have been the onset of a stroke.

Things are Different in Africa - By Fred Pitts
Dear Fred,
I heard you talk at the Milton Kiwanis club when I was home a month ago. I bought two of your books. I have only read so far about 50 pages, but i am fascinated by it and have already recommended it to several people. My Review
I gave one of your books as a gift to my mother-in-law , Kathryn Gatewood ... who apparently taught you in elementary school. she is retired from teaching AND from the Methodist ministry - is about 84 years old and lives in Mulat. Se was thrilled to get your book and talked a lot about "Freddy" and how you were so smart ... and was proud that you had written a book.
by now, I hope she has read the book. she said she was going to contact you and i made sure she had a card with your number and email.
I hope to wrap my time around this BLOG with book reviews and author interviews - (audio files by phone - and video interviews when possible) and perhaps you can be one of the interviews in the (Hopefully) NEAR future.
Wishing you much success with the book. I know it has been out for awhile - but sometimes demand has a way of picking up at random times. I wish it were required reading for a lot of panhandle people (and in particular occupations around the country!!).
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN AFRICA
Buy Things ADIA
buy from AMAZON
REVIEW

The Mayor Introduces Sparta

Michael Spekhardt, Mayor for 2007-08 introduces the Township of
Sparta, NJ. More about the town and Sussex County are available at
www.spartanj.org and www.me3tv.org (links to Sparta).

Cat Has All The Marbles

Click to Play

A vase with clear marbles in it attracted Skittles. After a few mornings waking up to find marbles on the floor and sometimes hearing marbles roll around the floor - we set up spy camera.

USS Houston POW Ship

An Army Air Corps veteran describes his bombing run on the Japanese ship that held POWs from the USS Houston.

Rock Hard the rockumentary

A rocumentary from a school in NJ. A rock band forms and then falls apart. Some former members join the armed forces.

The Justices and More

Tom: Well, you have surpassed my reading level now. I have to congratulate you. As I did in those days when you left the pond creek swamps for Navy OCS - I have again placed you on a pedestal of achievement to which I can aspire. (Vic)

Just finished two rather short books, that turned out to be unintentional companion volumes-The Supreme Court-Personalities and Rivalries that Defined America, and All The Laws But One by the late Chief Justice Wm Rehnquist. The former was not an exhaustive study of the court, but rather several parings of justices and differing "judicial temperaments" over the
history of the Republic. For example, John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson; John Marshall Harlan and Oliver Wendell Holmes; Hugo Black and William O. Douglas; William Rehnquist and Antonia Scalia.
The latter was a study by Rehnquist of the attempts on the part of the Federal Gov't to suspend civil liberties in times of war, especially the writ of habeas corpus. Reviews the Civil War, World War 1, WW 2, especially the internment of Japanese Americans on the West Coast.
This was written in 1998. Would be interesting if Rehnquist were still with us to get his take on the Bush efforts in the post 9-11 world. It truth, O W Holmes was correct when he rather cynically said: "The Law is what we say that it is.!" Vic, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know.

Oh well, on to my study of the Constitution-where I may actually read it in its entirety for the first time. I fear that I will be camped out here for the "duration." (Tom Richarme)

Sex and the Single Tiger

Tiger sex is what causes a growing population of little tigers that become big tigers having more tiger sex. Thus it seems castration is an animal husbandry technique that is being employed more in the zoo environment. This video is not for the squeamish. It is factual and presented plainly. It can be an education for some.

RE: suggested reading material

Amazing! Thanks, Tom. I need to blog this in book reviews. vic
Just finished David McCullough's Path Between the Seas-the building of the Panama Canal; Damn, but McCullough is a good author as well as historian. Really an interesting read. I have always wanted to steam through the canal-maybe after retirement.!
This book reminded me that I knew next to nothing about TR, so I read Aida Donald's Lion In The White House. It was really a high level overview of TR's life-really more of a "TR light." I plan to purchase and read McCullough's Mornings On Horseback which should do TR more justice.
In the meantime, however, I am reading The Supreme Court-The Personalities and Rivalries That Defined America by Jeffrey Rosen-to be followed by America's Constitution by Akhil Reed Amar-it is a bit intimidating in size, but maybe at last I will actually understand the Electoral College.?

HOLLER to the TROOPS from SCCC

Click to Play

Sussex County Community College sends a HOLLER to the troops in the Middle East.  This aired on local cable and the web version is hoped to reach plenty of the troops who are at the tip of the spear.

HOLLER to the TROOPS from SCCC

Click to Play

Sussex County Community College sends a HOLLER to the troops in the Middle East.  This aired on local cable and the web version is hoped to reach plenty of the troops who are at the tip of the spear.

Sussex County NJ SNOW GREETINGS

Click to Play

Vic Campbell's video from Buzz Creek of snow shot in the early winter season of November 2007 with music especially made for it by Glenn Zervas. See BuzzCreek.com to get lots of dvd copies for yourself to give away to friends. Visit Glennzervas.com to learn more about Glenn's music.

THE SPACEMAN SONG (La La's Lament)

Local Entertainer - Larry Cutrone made this just for his good friends. It was a fun production effort using a song he cut many years ago and a puppet. Enjoy.