Vaughn's Blog

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2006-09-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

I figured out why they named the insect-repellent. It's the second half of what one most commonly says in the presence of mosquitos (and down here, gnats) and really the only part that was fit to print.

2006-02-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

Here's an article worth reading:

Katy McKy - Raw Story Columnist
Published: January 30, 2006

The sky isn't falling, but it's fraying. The ozone, that blanket of O3 between oblivion and us, dissolves when we spray fluorocarbons. The oceans rise. Divorce rates also rise, as more and more Americans, especially in the red states, emulate Britney Spear's matrimonial habits.

Then there's more. According to Sir James Lovelock, the original Gaian guy, the Earth is treating us like a virus, raising the temp to burn us off the global body. With every factory closing, we become more a nation of consumers and borrowers rather than producers and savers. And we're borrowing 2 trillion dollars to fund our Iraqi imperialism. Via that imperialism, we've cultivated a fresh crop of terrorists. We're running out of oil, but we're running high on gluttony. And so on.

And what worries the Right? Brokeback Mountain. And gay marriage.

Read the rest of the editorial at the link above. I recommend it.

Sunday Shopping

2006-01-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

is sometimes required
if Monday eating is also desired.

Prince

2005-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine (who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, but you know who you are J!) sent me some burnt copies of two Prince CD's (an act which I believe is illegal, not to mention unethical... but I digress). So I just spent the last two hours listening to them. Now of course this wasn't the first time I've listened to Prince, but it may well be the last.

Here's the problem: I now feel drained of energy and I feel like I need to clean out my ears with something. I can't shake that nagging feeling that I just lost two hours of my life that I will never ever ever get back. I feel unhappy and sick and disgusted with myself for not living up to my own high standards. It's like the hangover the day later: you promise yourself you will never ever do this again to yourself....

It just goes to show: I've said it before and I'll say it again: friends don't let friends listen to Prince.

Wealth

2005-11-12T22:07:00.000-08:00

Today I walked out of my house and realized that I have a convertible waiting out there for my use whenever I want. Now it's not the newest car nor the most reliable - but let's count our blessings for a minute shall we? I have a house to myself, all the space I need, a job, some nice furniture, and never lack for having food in the fridge. I pay my rent and don't have problems with landlords or family members or even my friends. I have a CD collection that puts every the music library of college I've ever worked at to shame. (Someday I'm going to work at a college which has a larger CD library than I do - despite the CDs I am going to add to my collection between now and then. Someday). I have more books than I do time to read them (I play a lot of chess online). There's another thing... a computer that functions and keeps me connected to the world. A growing collection of DVD's that keep me entertained when I'm bored. For a minute there, I felt rich. It's not a material wealth either, but a cultural and general happiness. For a minute there, it was like "who cares that I owe thousands of dollars to credit cards that I won't be able to pay off completely for several months?" I have everything I need. Reasons to give thanks.

Life in South Georgia

2005-11-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

I was out driving in my convertible this weekend - went to Atlanta - put on the shades, wearing a T-shirt, took the top down... and then realized "my God, it's friggin' NOVEMBER! I'm not supposed to be able to do this..." What a life.

I have to plug the beneifits because there aren't that many, living in this small little town. Sigh.

Blog spam

2005-11-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Have people really nothing better to do than go around posting advertisements masquerading as comments on other people's blogs? Go to hell! Maybe you are already and just don't know it...

Current infatuation: Estampie Natalis, by Vaclav Nehlybel. Definitely on the list for next year... if I can find a viola... :-)

Appparently my re-awakening is even news on other people's blogs: Thanks Jay. Good to know at least someone's reading this!

Small Towns never cease to amaze

2005-10-28T22:23:00.000-07:00

I learned yesterday that in my choir of 31 (in a rural school of 318 in a town of say 4,000) there are no less than 6 gay or lesbian students. Very nearly 20%. Wow. 5 girls (4 of whom are together, one couple publicly and the other not so much) and one guy. Tough being the odd person out, no? Wow.

Choral Infatuation

2005-10-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile I get stuck on a certain song, and put the CD player on endless repeat for a couple hours. This year's infatuation is next year's programme, I say. I'll post them as they happen. If you feel so inspired, track down a copy and see if they don't get under your skin too. Currently? It's Mungu Ni Pendo arranged by Robert Gower.

Great Site

2005-10-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Need a laugh? Check this site out: http://www.putfile.com/weekvideos
People post short funny videos about whatever - I think I'm bookmarking this one. I'd particularly recommend "WetlookWasserbe" right now - great if you need something to laugh about. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

Hurricanes as Divine Wrath

2005-09-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

If you ask me, I find it highly unlikely that hurricanes would be the warning or punishment of a petty vengeful God for "allowing" five abortion clinics in New Orleans or for selecting out lesbian Ellen Degeneres to host the Academy Awards again, as in 2001. However, I do find it rather probable that hurricanes might be a way of God (or Mother Nature at least) reminds Americans who the real superpower is. How about as punishment for a lifestyle of conspicious consumption that ignores the poor, within its own country and abroad? Hurricanes are more likely Divine punishment for failing to enact the Kyoto Accord. Nor are they likely to abate anytime soon. We should get used to the new realities of the world America has created. And then change it, by God, as soon as possible.

Work Work Work

2005-08-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Somebody really needs to sweep my kitchen floor.

An odd feeling

2005-08-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

So there's this guy, incarcerated in the Randolph county jail. He's got my phone number, either because he thinks he's calling someone he knows whom he hasn't called in a long while (who had my number before and doesn't anymore) or because he's actually just dialing anyone who will answer the phone midday. I actually suspect it's the latter - I think it's a random selection. I've never talked to him, even though he's called no less than 10 times. It's always collect. I have never accepted the charges: we have never spoken.

From the 1 second blurb he gets to fit in to try and convince me to accept the charges, from what I can tell he needs me to come down and post his bail or call someone else and get them to do it. I wonder how hard up I would have to be in order to call perfect strangers and ask them for help. I wonder who I would call to post my bond if I were incarcerated in the jail here in town. And then I start feeling bad because this is a human being crying out for help and I am pretending to turn a deaf ear. How heartless can I be?

How foolish could I be? I'm going to go down to the prison and post bond for a perfect stranger, someone whom I have never met and just hope that he shows up in court so that I can get my money back? I don't have money to throw away like that and really, that's just about as throwing it away as I can imagine. Stranger doesn't show up in court and I lose my money = brilliant move on my part. He obviously did something to get himself in there in the first place. If he doesn't have any money or friends to post for him, he can sit there until his trial. They feed him - he'll be taken care of. I have a vague but nonetheless earnest faith in the justice system...

In the meantime, though... for some reason I still feel like an ass.

Summer Activities

2005-07-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Today, July 21: I just finished planning the choir's Christmas concert, December 1. I'm spending the day with Christmas carols. It's July. I tell you I am so on the ball it positively hurts.

Moving Blues

2005-06-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

It is very difficult to pack when you have Estonians in your guest room.

Zuni Proverb

2005-05-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

There are no truths; only stories.

An Answer to the Ancient Question

2005-05-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled across the definitive answer to the age-old question, "How many angels can stand on the head of a pin?" The unarguable answer is, "all of them."

Diamonds on Diamonds

2005-05-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

Today I noticed water droplets hanging from the bottom of each corner of the wires of a chain-link fence glistening in the sun; and it was beautiful.

Learning for today

2005-05-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

When the neighbourhood boy stops in to ask if you want your lawn raked/mowed, take him up on it. It's not about getting the lawn down or saving money/how much it costs (and it's certainly not about negotiating a better price): it's about building relationships.

Getting on the bandwagon

2005-05-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile, I actually feel like I have something that is worth saying. Perhaps I'll make more use of this type of forum - and we'll see if I ever have any readers that agree with me.

Winning a million dollars (several times)

2005-05-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

Today I recieved notice in the mail that I was the confirmed recipeint of a winning opportunity in three seperate mailings totalling four million dollars. Four million dollars - you'd think I'd be ecstatic. But all of these are just organizations that want your money so that they can add you to their mailing list (and send you more junk mail) and tell you about other sweepstakes... it's awful how they do this, playing on people's greed and legitmate need for money. How do they get my name? They make it seem like you already have won - their actions do not carry any sense of honesty or integrity. Do not the people who work for these sad companies know this? What a waste - time, money, paper, people's lives....