Author: Tom

RIP – Tony Hillerman (1925-2008)

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Entertainment

Today I learned of the passing of Tony Hillerman. Hillerman is best known for his mystery novels set in the American Southwest. Featuring Navajo tribal policemen Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee, the novels paint vivid descriptions of tribal life in a starkly beautiful landscape. I first learned of Hillerman from another Tony, my … Read More “RIP – Tony Hillerman (1925-2008)” »

A Salute to American Music

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Entertainment, Local, Music

Tonight the Greenvile Chorale joins forces with the Greenville Symphony for a concert at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts entitled “A Salute to American Music.” With a historic election day just around the corner, the music is meant to celebrate all that is America. The concert begins with Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the … Read More “A Salute to American Music” »

Happy Anniversary MTCC!

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Local

This week marks the tenth anniversary of the Middle Tyger Community Center. MTCC is a unique collaboration between several state agencies, including District Five Schools of Spartanburg, District Five Ministries, DSS, DHEC, and Spartanburg adult education. It provides services to many, many people in need, including childcare for teenage mothers so that they can complete … Read More “Happy Anniversary MTCC!” »

The Oconee Bale Trail

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Local, Photography, Travel

Bales of Hay 2 HDR

Laura had a quick business trip to Chicago, so Glynda and I decided to get out and see the countryside. I had spotted an advertisement for the Oconee Bale Trail, a series of decorated hay bales through that county, and it looked like as good an excuse as anything to get out and about.

Glynda hadn’t been with my on one of my photo rambles before. As with most of my family, she loves photography, too. She has also inherited our parents love of exploring backroads. While growing up, instead of calling her by her name Glynda Jo, my father called her “Glynda Go.” She had just finished her last day at the Boys Home of the South on Friday, so this was going to be a celebratory get-away.

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Working with the Flip Mino

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EdTech, Gear, Photography

Flip Mino

One of the perks of my job is that I get to try to try out lots of new tech toys. One of our curriculum coordinators had requested one of the little Flip Mino video cameras. She graciously let me give it a whirl before giving it back to her.

Even though this device (or some version of it) has been out for about a year now, I hadn’t gotten very excited about it. High-quality video cameras are now very reasonably priced, and now even point-n-shoot cameras come with a video mode. The question was – Is the Flip redundant? Would you be better off applying the cost of the Flip toward a better point-n-shoot? I really needed to find out because I’ve got several others requesting these, and needed to know how best to spend our equipment funds.

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