Connecticut Books

There isn't another supplement available, so I guess you can only be so critical of this book.

The reader must be aware that the book is very out of date and in some instances is just flat wrong.

The book is replete with errors. For example, Connecticut municipalities revalue real property for local tax purposes every four years according to a speccific schedule. The book says every 12 years and fails to mention the schedule.

The Landlord-Tenant section has so many Summary process eviction error that I don't know where to start. For example, every single one of the time constraints in respect to a Notice to Quit is wrong.

The list goes on.

I give this book a qualified recommendation because there is no other Connecticut Supplement out there.

I'll have to write my own.

The following facts are consequence of simple and obvious reason, not rocket science:

The Founders/Framers, as had their forebears, before and after the "revolution," engaged in the control/regulation of dangerous objects and substances, including guns -- as does any SANE society -- in behalf of public safety and stability of laws and gov't.

Going into and during the "revolution," they disarmed, and prohibited the possession of guns by, those "disaffected with the revolution". That's why there was no COUNTER-"revolution".

In addition, those who refused to sign a "loyalty oath" forfeited ALL of their weapons and "implements of war," which were given either to the Continental Army, or the local LEGAL militia.

Such actions are ONLY "controversial" to the funtionally illiterate and misinformed, the paranoid and misinformed, and the criminal.

Quote from Connecticut's Heritage Gateway:

In 1887 Elias B. Sanford published A History of Connecticut (Hartford S. S. Scranton) "in order to tell the story of Connecticut in a way that would be interesting to young and old. We trust it will meet with the approval of the teachers in our public schools, who have felt the need of a history of the State suitable for use in the classroom." (p. v) The book is marked by extreme philiopietism, state and national chauvinism, and the optimism typical of the Gilded Age in which it was written. ... "The fathers and founders of the State endured hardship, but found peace and happiness in a good conscience, and the development of a character marked by morality, and devotion to noble aims. Only in this path of integrity and righteousness can be found the way of life and enduring blessing. Will the children of this latter generation walk therein?" (p.295) Researchers and teachers will not find much reward for their effort in seeking this book.

While Nichols has obviously made an exhaustive effort to document all the climbing routes in CT, many of the newer routes mentioned in this book are not worth repeating. The route descriptions and approach directions are accurate, but there are no cliff drawings. In a climbing area like CT where the climbing routes are so densely packed, line drawings would be helpful. Plus he wastes a lot of space descibing the origin of the route names. While interesting, maybe he could have saved the space and included drawings instead. His criticisms and pot shots of people he doesn't like make him seem very bitter.

The "excavation" that Gramly conducted at the Sugarloaf site was not only irresponsable in terms of excavating a non-threatned site, but also is an excellent example of very poor excavation field methods and artifact analysis. Gramly took only four days to "excavate" the volume of dirt that it would take a responsible archaeologist excavating a Paleoindian site several weeks or months. His methods were both sloppy and were not sensitive to geologic context, soil structure and post-depositional processes. Because he only used 1/4" mesh for screening the soil for artifacts, those smaller than that have now been lost (such as microflakes). He did not map anything 'in situ' and excavated the "cache" horizontally rather than verticallly.

In addition to his horrendous field methods, his theoretical interpretation is out of touch with the current Paleoindian liturature and offers no insight into the context of the Paleoindian period. His lack of interesting analysis only adds to the overall irresponsability of the selfish nature of his 'excavation'. Because Paleoindian sites are so very rare, especially those with good stratagraphic context, most archaeologist realize that there is a responsability to help preserve them for the furture, when excavation methods are improved. Only those sites that are threatened, by things like looting or construction should be excavated. When they are, the archaeologists should always use the best, most careful and contextually sensative methods available. Obvoiusly in this case Gramley did not. Additionally, his lack of meaningful interpretation and analysis makes his endeavor useless. This book adds nothing to our understanding of Paleoindian occupation in the Northeast. Archaeology is a permanent, destructive process, once a site is gone, it is gone forever, professionals know and respect this, obvouisley Gramley does not.

The Following book review was printed in the ³Sherman Sentinel² in Sherman, CT. It was embarrassingly positive, and was so close to my intended writing target that I would like my readers to see it.

³I came to Sherman when Dr. Everett Vreeland was retiring from veterinary practice, so it naturally followed that I inherited some of his previous clients. They regaled me with tales of a white coveralled, tall, gregarious man who would be seen careening through town on his way from one animal medical emergency to the next. He was described as decisive, well-liked, a good ³cow-man², a man who dares to experience and love life,
³Doc² Vreeland has distilled his rich experiences acquired during forty years of general veterinary practice into a book, ŒA Tincture of Time¹.
The gold standard with which to compare any veterinarian¹s memoirs is, of course, the work of English country veterinarian, James Herriot. Everett Vreeland is James Herriot with the bark still on him. He is Ernest Hemingway as an animal doctor. An experience of my own serves to illustrate my first impression of Dr. Vreeland¹s book. I was working on a local dairy farm and had just met the herd¹s veterinarian for the first time, a colorful character quite similar to Dr. Vreeland. I mentioned to the herdsman that I didn¹t quite know how to take this fellow, to which he replied, ŒSometimes you take him right between the eyes!¹
I found ŒA Tincture of Time¹ often hilarious, sincere, opinionated, and sometimes prurient. It is a book for adults, describing with sometimes brutal honesty the joys and tribulations of being a solo veterinarian in rural New England. His recountings of his dealings with colorful clients, whose identities are disguised with clever cognomens, are keenly observant, accurate and well articulated. His interpolations of non-veterinary experiences make the book genuine and interesting.
This book is a labor of love, written by a man with a calling to be a veterinarian. In a profession that can offer unmatched rewards and pressures, he has managed to convey his formula towards achieving happiness.²
Paul Biagiotti DVM

This article is only one page long, and not the 5,000-plus words as described. What a waste of $5.95. I have contacted Amazon for a refund.
I gave it one star, because there isn't a selection for no stars.

I was disappointed with the way the book was written and did not get much out of it.

This book is NOT helpful. It is poorly organized, full of typos, and not useful. I am returning it.
It's basically just a list of public campgrounds, with no information about location or real reviews, just a list of the amenities or facilities nearby.
Stick to the internet

A few decades ago, when I was an undergrad at Indiana University I took a class taught by the author of this book who was teaching there at the time. The class was on early American History (such as it is), and I had no idea it could be so boring. The book deals with religious sects that inhabited the Connecticut River valley in the early 17th century and the title pretty much says it all. I recall falling asleep several times trying to get through this book, but I don't think I ever finished it. For some strange reason, I've never forgotten the title, and whenever somone asks me what the most boring book I've ever read is, I have an answer right away. So, If you can't sleep for whatever reason; if you toss and turn with anxiety and stress, buy a copy of this book--you'll be sleeping like a baby in no time.