Gettysburg

Gettysburg – July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, 1863

THE CIVIL WAR IN ITS THIRD YEAR *

Fought over the first three days of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most critical battles of the Civil War having occurred at a time when the fate of the nation hung in the balance - the summer of 1863. Often referred to as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy", it was the culmination of the second and most ambitious invasion of the North by General Robert E. Lee and the "Army of Northern Virginia". The "Army of the Potomac", the Union army that had long been the nemesis of Lee, met the Confederate invasion at the crossroads town of Gettysburg and though it was under a new commander, General George Gordon Meade, the northerners fought with a desperation born of defending their home territory. The Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in Lee's retreat to Virginia and an end to the hopes of the Confederacy for independence.


(National Park Service)
The "High Water Mark" of the Confederacy.






*The Story of the Battle of Gettysburg - http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/main-ms.htm

* July 1, 1863 - The Battle Begins - http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/day1.htm
* July 2, 1863 - "A most terrible day..." http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/day2.htm
* July 3 - "I will strike him there..." - http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/day3.htm
* "the last full measure of devotion..." - http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/day4.htm

*(Source the National Park Service – Gettysburg -http://www.nps.gov/gett/historyculture/index.htm )

Click on the following for a battle summary by Heritage Preservation Services - http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/pa002.htm


Click on the following for information on the movie Gettysburg (1993) - http://imdb.com/title/tt0107007/









Click on the following for the companion book for the 1993 movie - Gettysburg The Paintings of Mort Künstler - Text by James M. McPherson - http://www.mortkunstler.net/gallery/product495_lastcat100.ihtml or http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Paintings-Kunstler-James-McPherson/dp/1558536175 **

** Found a copy of this book in my local library

Click on the following for books on the Battle of Gettysburg by the Battle of Gettysburg Resource Center - http://gburginfo.brinkster.net/booklist.htm

Click on the following for information on Joshua Chamberlain - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Chamberlain
(Chamberlain is an important character in both Gettysburg & Gods and Generals. Chamberlain is played by Jeff Daniels in both movies.)

Click on the following for YouTube clips from Gettysburg the movie -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLHRXrlqq_s
or the 20th Maine's Bayonet Charge on Big Round Top- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYDhAmjmxYk&mode=related&search=
or Pickett's Charge - The High Water Mark - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW3DfXrn8Yc
or Pickett's Charge - The Aftermath - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7ltmCa0vo&mode=related&search=

Stonewall Jackson

(Source of picture NNDB: Tracking the entire world -
http://www.nndb.com/people/596/000050446/ )

Stonewall Jackson *

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21,1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the most revered Confederate commander after General Robert E. Lee. He is most famous for his audacious Valley Campaign of 1862 and as a corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee. His own troops accidentally shot him at the battle of Chancellorsville and he died of complications from an amputated arm and pneumonia several days later.

Military historians consider Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in United States history. His Valley Campaign and his envelopment of the Union Army right wing at Chancellorsville are studied worldwide even today as examples of innovative and bold leadership. He excelled as well at the First Battle of Bull Run (where he received his famous nickname), Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Jackson was not universally successful as a commander, however, as displayed by his weak and confused efforts during the Seven Days Battles around Richmond in 1862. His death was a severe setback for the Confederacy, affecting not only its military prospects, but the morale of its army and the general public; as Jackson lay dying, General Robert E. Lee stated, "He has lost his left arm; I have lost my right."

*(Source for above info. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson)

To learn more about Stonewall Jackson, you might want to rent or buy the following DVD - Gods and Generals. Stephen Lang as Jackson is excellent.

(Source for Gods and General DVD cover - http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Generals-Jeff-Daniels/dp/B00009OOFA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9045144-6758528?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1183176427&sr=1-1 )

Click on the following for information on Gods and Generals - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279111/

Click on the following for a video clip from Gods and Generals - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYzt1ao81jU&mode=related&search=

Mary Fahl - Going Home - song from Gods and Generals (2003)

Lower the volume before playing

Hilton: 'I'm so much more grateful' *

* click on the above for the current news on Paris

Clinton spoofs 'Sopranos' in Web video *

*(Source Yahoo News - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_en_tv/clinton_video )

Click on the following for Journey's - Don't Stop Believing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip1zsUIosoA ;-) GC

The Winner of Hillary's Campaign Song Contest

Celine Dion - You and I

I voted for the Tina Turner song. But the winning song is excellent.

Tina Turner - (Simply) The Best



And I would have been happy with Bill's choice.
















Smash Mouth - I'm a Believer



Click on the following link for the Smash Mouth video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B17W_HT3A9E

(Source for Celine Dion's picture - 8notes.com - http://www.8notes.com/wiki/images/205px-Wma.jpg or http://www.8notes.com/biographies/dion.asp )

(Source for Tina Turner's picture - Today powered by msnbc.com -http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050202/050202_today_turner_hmed7a.h2.jpg or http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6898775/ )

(Source for Smash Mouth's picture - Open Music - http://www.openmusic.ru/articles-respond-recenses/0486-smash_mouth2/0486-smash_mouth2_02.jpg or http://www.openmusic.ru/articles-respond-recenses/0486-smash_mouth2/index.shtml )

But, why all the fuss about a campaign song? ;-) GC

What does not kill me . . .

What does not kill me makes me stronger.

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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This quote came to mind as I read of Paris Hilton's fate, to be sent back to jail for her whole 45 day sentence.

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I firmly believe that this judge will be reassigned to a different location where he won't come in contact with future celebrities since he seems to hate them all and just wants to throw the book at them.

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He refused to listen to her attorney in chambers regarding her medical condition, which by now looks like a nervous breakdown. It is only human to make mistakes and instead of the big egos of men sparring with each other, they should take the time to consider that it wasn't her fault that she was released in the first place to home confinement.

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I hope they take her to the hospital ward of the county jail system (USC County Medical Center) and get her some help for her medical condition instead of waiting until her condition deteriorates further. Just ask yourself how would you like it if this was happening to your son or daughter, neice or nephew?!

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The people she surrounds herself with seem unable to stop the worst case scenario from happening to her. Like Sherriff Lee Baca says if you hate celebrities, puninshing them worse than average citizens is not justice either.

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love -l

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(Source of picture - E online -http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Profiles/20060922/244.hilton.paris.091906.jpg )

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Click on the following - Paris Hilton turned herself in at the Men's Central Jail - Access Hollywood -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp_jXBuASqo&mode=related&search

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Click on the following - PARIS IN JAIL: The Music Video -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k66epna2Sss

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My response to -l:

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Paris’s case doesn’t seem as critical as either OJ’s or Robert Blake’s murder trials. Drunk driving is trivial compared to murder. The media circus surrounding Paris’s return to jail is not an issue about truth, justice, or medical treatment. If not for fortune, fame, and fabulous looks; Paris’s jailing would have garnered not a second of media or a word of print.

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I have heard and arranged the presentation of a MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) victim, speaker, and advocate. I was trained that – DRUNK DRIVING is a CRIME and BUZZED driving is as dangerous as DRUNK DRIVING. (And this applies equally to Driving on Drugs.) The truth is, regardless of medical condition, that Paris simply and clearly broke the LAW and violated her Parole.

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(Paris could have easily weaved her car into an innocent driver or pedestrian. Paris’s late night run for munchies was a CRIME and not a cry for help and treatment.)

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The Justice system should be impartial and treat all people equally. But, to most, including myself, celebrity and fame does affect what type of Justice one receives. The details of Paris’s unspecified "medical condition" could determine who made the right the decision. Whether Sheriff Lee Baca had valid grounds for Paris’s release to Home Detention or whether Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer sent Paris back to jail too quickly; could then be fully debated.

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DON’T DRINK and DRIVE. Paris is GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY

Some recent news on Paris:

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Paris goes back to Lynwood *

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* Click on the above for some current news on Paris - ONLINE in Touch

PS Not exactly a hard news story. ;-) GC

Flag Day

"In the United States, Flag Day (more formally, National Flag Day) is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937 Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Title 36 Sec. 110 of the US Code is the official statute on Flag Day, however it is at the President's discretion to proclaim officially the observance.

The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York.

Framingham, Massachusetts also holds a yearly Flag Day parade, as do many other towns and cities, although in recent years a shrinking turnout has prompted the town to consider eliminating the event." *

*(Source for above citation - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Day_in_the_United_States )




















Click on the following link for -You're A Grand Old Flag - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOMWqFngOcY&NR=1