Vacaville, California, could be a Red state stereotype: the biggest employers in town are the nearby Travis Air Force Base and the Vacaville state prison, home to such notorious inmates as Charlie Manson.
I visited Vacaville years ago and remember it as a sad, dusty, depressing place, as far removed from the lush California coast and the fleshpots of Los Angeles and San Francisco as any town in the Midwest or the South. That Vacaville could produce a resident like Cindy Sheehan is as unlikely as a money tree growing in your back yard.
Follow On
Professor Jo Handelsman DID respond, and promptly, to my email about the study she chaired on discrimination against women in the sciences.
Father of the Year
Ronnie Paris, self-described tough guy, begged a Florida judge for mercy last Friday in the sentencing phase of his trial for the murder of his 3 year old son.
Mr. Macho Man had been convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse for the beating death. One might call this more an execution than a murder: Mr. Cool Dude had a history of stuffing this little child into a box and slamming his head against the wall until the baby vomitted and eventually passed out.
The reason for the beatings? Ronnie didn’t want his son to grow up gay.
Onset Blues Festival
The village of Onset in Wareham – one of the coolest spots in this region – has hosted a Blues Festival for the last 13 years.
This weekend, I managed to haul butt across the bridge to hear it for the first time.
Discouraging News
CNN/Reuters reports the results of a study led by a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that women continue to be discouraged from pursuing careers in the sciences by male chauvinist piggery.
Supporting Camp Casey
Well, my friend Cindy (not the same Cindy who has become a focal point for the anti-Iraq war movement) are now semi-notorious peaceniks: we are in a published photo of the peace vigil that took place this week at the Falmouth Village Green.
You can’t see us very well, but Cindy called last night, gleeful that she spotted us at the far end of the Green, near the church. Her bright pink blouse and my white sneakers are barely visible between the church door and the right-hand window.
Clean House
I had guests last night, including one of the top Microsoft architect/developers in the US, Sam Gentile, who endured 3 hours of traffic to present to our local User Group.
Sam’s visit provided the incentive needed to get my house in order, and an excuse to buy about $18 worth of improvements for my deck, which had been repaired and repainted earlier this summer by my incredible friends across the street.
How Do You Live Your LIfe?
It’s a four-question quiz, link follows my results, which are pretty accurate:
Coonamessett Farm
Went with a friend to the annual music “festival” at Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth last night.
The music wasn’t to our liking, but I got some nice photos.
What’s the Problem?
In Lawrence, MA, a decorated Iraq war veteran fired a gun at a crowd of rowdies after someone threw a bottle into his apartment.
His neighbors think Daniel Cotnoir is a hero.
The local media, though, are tut-tutting about PTSD and helping post-war vets readjust to civilian life.
Me, I’m trying to understand (seriously) what the local media are talking about.