All good streaks must come to an end some day...

How about Emirates Team New Zealand. Dean Barker got the best of Brad Butterworth's Alinghi boys at the America's Cup earlier today. It's all square at 1-1. We have ourselves a contest.

The USA's streak is still going...after giving up the first goal by Mexico on American soil in a long while, those scrappy Nats rallied for a 2-1 win over El Tri to hoise the Gold Cup for the 4th time, tying their neighbors south of the border. And for the first time in my two years plus on BigSoccer, I got a warning from one of the mods for rubbing it in. I couldn't resist. Sour grapes is sour grapes. Hugo Sanchez, you should admit that the better team won. Hubris is poison.

Maybe Pat Casey should have been the USA Baseball coach this year. His Oregon State Beavers has just about set the stage for a dynasty, and are a few outs away from wrapping up another College World Series title (though I hope North Carolina makes things interesting and proves me wrong). I have to shake my head at that.

I wonder if we will even score a goal at the Copa America later this week. I start to wonder now, as I download a torrent of the match earlier today after having already recorded it on tape.

Anime Expo 2007: As a fan, this is one of your best weekends.

Haruhi, the SOS Brigade, the Galaxy Angels, Death Note crew, ORESKABAND, and all the other good fixins packed in one weekend. I'm only in my second year staffing at Anime Expo, and I am very excited to help out the attendees from June 28 to July 2. There will be thousands upon thousands of people who will showing up in Long Beach, California.

I knew that this year was going to be the year of Haruhi Suzumiya, and lo and behold, she is here. Aya Hirano, the voice of Haruhi (as well as the voice of Konata Izumi from Lucky Star-could it be their year next year?), as well as Minori Chihara (the voice of Yuki Nagato) and Yuko Goto (the voice of Mikuru Asahina), are coming down to the Beach to greet their supporters of the SOS Brigade. There will be Haruhi plushies all around. Get to the exhibit halls fast, and get yours...quick!

I am personally hyped about this year's edition, because we have Yuuna Inamura, the voice of Apricot Sakuraba of Galaxy Angel Rune (GA II), rolling over to the Long Beach Convention Center next Friday. Yes, my friend, there are Galaxy Angel supporters here in the USA, and Rico is starting to warm up as a possible contender for Saimoe 2007. All four of them will be doing some autographs. I hope to get one from any one of them.

The ska band ORESKABAND rolls in, and companies like Bandai and Toei are coming down to the Beach as well. Eisaku Inoue, of One Piece fame and other classics, is another Guest of Honor. Tetsuro Araki, the guy behind Death Note, is going to be here, as well as pop sensation Anna Tsuchiya. And Bang Zoom is coming down to help out at AX Idol.

Also, there will be some Otaku Parliamentary Debates. Wonder if this is a alternative to the debates for the presidency. Heheh, this will be fun to watch.

And of course, Masquerade is going to be highly competitive. Oh man, I'm going to have to bring a ROCKSTAR pack with me just to be hyped up about it.

They're going to rue that call for a while, those Canucks will...

I feel for the Canadian football fans. Not those who support the CFL, but those who are soccer fans up north. Armando Archundia took a goal away from them in stoppage time, denying extra time, and the game, and a berth in the final, and the USA defeated Canada 2-1 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Those fans up north are going to rue that call, and label Archundia as a villain. The BigSoccer forums are going to be busy with the wrath of the Canadians, and some sympathy but tons of relief from the USA supporters. And don't forget, mixed reactions from the Mexican supporter, too.

Two people I have to feel for in his match:

First, Michael Bradley of the USA. There is not a worse feeling in the world for Bob Bradley than to see his son sent off. He had to make that tackle, though, so it was a proper sacrifice.

Second, (and this is to be fair to both sides), Atiba Hutchinson of Canada. Things could have been interesting had the game gone to extra time. I, personally, thought it went in. But it is said that the team that has the most breaks will win it. The offside was the biggest break for the Nats.

I give my kudos to:

Frankie Hejduk. What a was to break your Gold Cup du(c)k, Frankie. His first-ever goal in this competition, and his first goal in over seven years. Incredible. Welcome back, Frankie. Relax like that guy going to Hollywood after seeing some movie-worthy drama in th dying moments of the game, and get ready for a curtain call on Sunday.

Landon Donovan. A goal, an assist, and a card. Had it been a red instead of yellow, that would be a Gordie Howe-like hat trick. (I know Gordie plays a different sport, but the form is similar) A brace on Sunday, and he will kill to records with two volleys past the keeper, over the line, inside the posts, and into the nylon.

I personally hope it's the USA vs. Guadeloupe, but I have a gut feeling, the inevitable classic is coming up Sunday.

Life goes on at Chicago.

While Sammy Sosa is hitting his 600th home run of his career, and the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals are getting underway, there is an eerie quiet amongst the Chicago Fire organization. Dave Sarachan was sacked as the manager of the Fire yesterday.

The players disapproved of such a move, saying that the blame should be on themselves for not doing well. They should know the business side of things, the cruelness of reality. You won't be able to manage a team for a few decades if you don't get results. As a player, you want to welcome the move, and adjust to the new manager's style of coaching. You never want to blame yourself and the team for the sacking of your coach because it will set the tone for the rest of the season.

I should point out that while it feels like a funeral for the players, for the fans it feels like the end of World War II all over again...

And I still think that our USA 2016 Olympic bid is doomed.

Hang on! The champagne is not Korbel!

Well this was a rarity. When the videos were about to be burned, and it was saying 0 seconds remaining, suddenly, the window says “About 5 seconds remaining,” and then it went to 10, and 15. Crikey. This drive must be slow when it comes to burning what really matters. The status bar is full, and it’s not even finished burning at set of items that is 869 megabytes strong. In fact, as of this writing, it’s still at about 5 seconds, and it’s not even done.

Sometimes I don’t get things. Or rather, I think I have lost my mind. For example, while Long Beach State’s baseball team is consistent, the pro team, the Armada, are slumping again. They are now the only remaining pro franchise in this city after the Ice Dogs packed it up. I should reiterate it once again: we are not a pro sports city, the only exception being Belmont Shore Rugby Club. We already have Long Beach State and Long Beach City, as well as the local high school powerhouses (Poly, Wilson, Millikan and nearby Lakewood, for example) to keep us entertained.

Once again: we are not a pro sports city. We are not a pro sports city. We are a high school/college town when it comes to athletics. All other pro franchises (aside from Belmont Shore) can lay down and die in the gutter, sipping the bum wine of failure. And THAT, my friend is the bottom line.

I am sure Boca Juniors will wrap up the Copa Libertadores tonight. I'm calling for it. Gremio is on the ropes, and though they have rallied many times, one wonders if they can pull off one of this magnitude.

After the closure, I meant to find out.

The Anime Expo meeting at Haskett Library (which was now open 12-5 on weekends) took 2 hours, divided by less than 2, which was one hour, and some extra minutes. No more confusions, I believe. For example, I know who Thai Nam Pham (a.k.a. Nammy) is. I just had to go on all fours in embarrassment. I felt the surges of cold rising all over my body, the tears flowing like waterfalls…

Now that’s just being too overdramatic.

I’m surprised I found some new CGs from Galaxy Angel II. More new submissions for the imageboards. And I got the second volume of GA 3^rd English. They are now dubbing the GA Rune series. Oh man, I gotta save some money for that one.

It was clear my Galaxy and Toronto FC did some trading, and it worked out well for both teams today. Toronto FC crushed FC Dallas 4-0, while the G’s got back on the winning track, with former TFC transfer Edson Buddle cashing in with a 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake. The Green and Gold had better make a tear of this, and fast.

Not a lot of people saw this coming: Guadeloupe stunned Honduras 2-1 today at Reliant Stadium. They will be facing, as expected, Mexico in the semis at Soldier Field on the 21^st. But not many people expected Costa Rica to give Mexico a hard fight, with three red card, and the winning goal from El Tri in extra time, 1-0. Mind you, the Ticos were three men down by the time the match was over. The official at that game must have had a heck of a challenge at that one. I was correct on Jared Borgetti getting one. I was hoping Nery Castillo was going to get a couple, but I can’t predict them all right. Oh well.

If Guadeloupe defeat Mexico at Soldier Field on Thursday, then the winner of the USA-Canada game will represent the region at the Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009. I think that will drive the winning side of that match to win it all.

One thing’s for sure: my laptop’s gonna be busy downloading some torrents tonight!

Bloody Tiger Woods...

Too much hype on one person is a bad thing. There is this guy by the name of Aaron Baddeley, and he is the leader so far at the US Open heading into the final round tomorrow. But he's not the person getting the hype. The guy behind him is, and he's getting, I think, way, way, way too much highlights on ESPN. Only one highlight on Aaron, and then the schmucks at ESPNEWS cut to the scorboard. If this proves to Aaron's advantage, and he finishes the tournament ahead of Tiger tomorrow, then ESPN should get a slap on the wrists for putting too much hype on Tiger Woods.

So what if he shoots a 69 and has only one bogey and a bevy of pars. He's still two shots back, and the game of golf doesn't exactly see things go the way they are. If they do this again, and show only one highlight of the current leader, and him holding the trophy, while putting 20 or so highlights on Tiger, ESPN should be cursed for not giving love to the young Aussie wonder, a guy who might surpass Greg Norman in notoriety (but for all the right reasons, of course).

Rapid-fire, rapid-fire, rapid-fire!!!

So my mind thought, as it deliberated taking the US Postal 473 Battery later this summer. I just finished taking the CBEST today, and while my mind isn't completely fried, I knew that I my brain, the only calculator allowed for the exam (and a natural one, at that), went through a workout.

I was given 4 hours to complete the exam. I approached the exam attacking the math secton first, then the reading, and then the writing. This was ample time, because I knew that the first section was rapid-fire, the second one required some logic and some other deliberations of the senate in my head, and the third one required me to practice my proposal to Congress skills, as well as an anecdote on what make me happy.

After the second writing essay, I found out that this house won't go through a lot of damage, and if it is, it's not from me, but from someone outside of my family.

I am glad the USA and Canada advanced today in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals. The first game saw Canada defeat Guatemala 3-0. All the Canadian scorers in group play each pitched in. Dwayne De Rosario got the first goal, Ali Gerba got the second, and Julian De Guzman got the third. Actually, there are conflicting reports that show Gerba getting a brace. It doesn't matter who scored for Canada; Guatemala, Carlos Ruiz and all, was shut out. And all the goals were in the first half.

Compare that with the game between USA and Panama. It was scrappy, and the Nats were flat, but Landon Donovan (the penalty master) and Carlos Bocanegra each got a goal for the home side, while Panama showed its grit with a consolation. They were eliminated a man down, losing 2-1. And all three goals were in the second half. Coincidence? You be the judge. But one thing is for sure: there will be a lot on the line between this two sides come June 21 at Soldier Field in Chicago, and it's not just a spot in the final.

Now, if only Honduras and Mexico can take care of things at Reliant Stadium like they did a few days ago... Encore, amigos!

EDIT: I checked the article from MLSNet.com, and it was confirmed, a brace for Ali G. Well done, comrade.

Man. Were those Cavaliers even trying?

Cleveland failed basketball tonight. The San Antonio Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, winning 83-82, and winning another NBA Championship. LeBron James is probably where Shaquille O'Neal was when he and the Orlando Magic faced the Houston Rockets. He has a long way to go.

Well, it's going to be super Saturday for the USA and Canada teams at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Canucks take on Guatemala, while the USA has the rematch of the 2005 final, against Panama. I can't see the USA getting upset on Saturday, but the game before is no sure bet. I am picking Canada and the USA advancing in a key battle for bragging rights at Soldier Field on June 21.

Meanwhile, I am taking Honduras over Guadeloupe, and Mexico over Costa Rica in a nailbiter.

I am confident that I will take care of business at the CBEST this Saturday. But I am not going to be overconfident. I am hopeful that the reading and math portions are going to be rapid fire, but a lapse in concentration could make all the difference.

A few more weeks, and Anime Expo is going to be taking place. I can't look ahead to that just yet...

I am so glad that I got the free tuition from the Beach Pride Center. All that hard work supporting the home teams paid off, literally. I hope Sophie Lee is teaching 380 this fall. I want another stab at this. And my fate as Super Fan is sealed. Stay tuned June 21 for the official news.

A Saturday in review

• The Stanley Cup arrived, without case, by airplane. I saw it, that three-foot-tall piece of silver and nickel, glistening for al to see. Only four people in the history of the cup have engraved it, and the fourth one will be working on the next panel tomorrow. Apparently, the other three were already dead. Sort of like a tradition passed down from one person to another. Once you are called to engrave on the Cup, you are given the job for life. I think.
• I met Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the first time. With his movie-star accent and political savvy, the Governator gave a nice speech.
• I met the band Pennywise for the first time. They only sang one song as the players coaches, management and the Cup came down the red carpet (which I personally blessed a la basketball court, a hallowed ground of glory, a ritual), and that was the song that is most associated with the punk veterans from San Diego, the Bro Hymn. This was modified for the event (i.e. "Anaheim Ducks, this one's for you!") It's rare to see a song with simple hooks and chords that is still strong for nearly two decades, and be readily customizable.
• I met the players on the team for the first time. If you take away the glory, the accolades and so one, and all the honors, they are really regular people like us who work hard, and had the right chemistry to win.
• OCTA didn't do its passengers a favor by not having enough buses to take the commuters home. They may need to be better prepared next time. I decided to drop the complaint after seeing that bus ahead of me when boarding the next one as I was about to get off at the VA Medical Center.
• A guy from Long Island told me, "My friend shook hands with Randy Carlyle. He said, 'Randy, thanks for all the hard work.' He said, 'No problem. Look, I gotta head home. It's late.' That was the best thing that ever happened to him." He has a mystique about him, Randy Carlyle does. A humble person who had the winning formula this season.
• I was on the big screen for a few seconds. Tee-hee.
• The cover band that played before Pennywise was not well received. Posers.
• The championship flag was raised, the confetti fell, and fireworks came up into the sky. Next season, three banners (Pacific, Western, Stanley) will rise into the rafters.
• The Kings will be crushed. Dial 99999!
• The Galaxy failed again, and the noose is getting tighter for Frank Yallop. The Angels won, the US soccer team is off to the finals, and the Matildas failed football. Again. Damn you Kim Jong Il and your bloody concubines for ending the hopes and dreams of the maidens of Australia! Not to worry, I'll stay to base follow the US ladies instead now in Beijing.
  

VI.IX.MMVII

Actually, this would have been Haruhi Suzumiya raising the trophy above her head, but the Ducks didn't sweep. Damn that Game 3.

...Aflac?

Hey la, hey la, my laptop's back... <3

Yesterday, I got my laptop, a VAIO VGN-N130G, back. It was going through some repairs by Sony, and the hard drive had to be replaced, and a few keys that were loose were put back into position. Naturally, I upgraded it back from XP to Vista. This time, though, I upgraded it to Vista Business, as this is the primary use for this laptop. In the future, I will give it another stab at Ultimate, just not in the near future.

So now I am blogging from this laptop. I just want to share a year in photos. This year was a successful year for Long Beach State athletics, and I would like to give you a taste of what we do at the Beach.

A Year In Review

Anaheim Ducks - 2007 Stanley Cup Champions!

What a day for hockey. The Anaheim Ducks win the 2007 Stanley Cup.

Canada still fails [sic] at ice hockey. It should be a day of mourning in the nation's capital. Get the hearse ready, and bring out some pitch black Clydesdales while you're at it.

As for Anaheim, and all of Southern California and Orange County, embrace your Ducks. They are the champions of North America.

Enjoy fapping that Auld Mug, Butterbean, your days are numbered.

Well, I woke up to news that Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand blackwashed Luna Rossa 5-0. Alinghi, Brad Butterworth and Ernesto Bertarelli, you better look over your shoulders. The Kiwis want their America's Cup back, and they mean it.

The article...

Australia destroyed Jordan in Olympic qualifying, 4-0, so they are off to the final round on the road to Beijing, and Japan took care of things, too. The Jordan win was impressive because they did it without Kristian Sarkies, who fell ill with a virus. There are no articles yet, but GlobalScore.com confirmed that it was a 4-0 win, with all four goals in the second half. Unbelievable.

Meanwhile, England holds on to hope that they will qualify for Euro 2008, defeating Estonia 3-0. This day could get even better if Toronto FC and the Canadian national socccer team win their games. And of course, if Anaheim wins the Stanley Cup, this day will have reached its highest point for me.

Why is Wednesday "Big Wednesday"?

For a number of reasons:

• Emirates Team New Zealand is one win away from winning the Louis Vuitton Cup and challenging Alinghi for the America's Cup. No one in the history of the Louis Vuitton Cup has ever gone from 4-0 down to win 5-4. Those Kiwis should be ready to clinch this tomorrow.
• The Anaheim Ducks, established in 1994, are one win away from getting their first Stanley Cup, and they can win it by defeating the Ottawa Senators at the Honda Center. The franchise is only 13 years old, and for a young franchise, this would make history. Oddly enough, the Angels will be facing the Twins at Angel Stadium, but it will be at 12:35 p.m. to allow the fans to head to the Honda Center afterwards.
• Toronto FC has a chance to show the doubters that they are formidable, when they face off against Juan Pablo Angel and Red Bull New York.
• Canada has a chance to show that the decision the Canadian Soccer Association made was warranted, as they open up their Gold Cup campaign against Costa Rica.
• The Olyroos are one point away from advancing to the final round of the AFC qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Crushing Jordan would be most preferred.

Need I say more?

On commencement, old friends, and the mystery of the mind

There are those who say of believe that the mind goes a million directions or so a minute. For others, it’s billions. For some it’s thousands. But the direction that a person’s mind travels changes with the seasons, the moments, and the times of days, the different aesthetics of music, art, and travel. A person’s life is decided by where his minds and heart guides him, too. And if it’s a place that he wants to be, then it is the right direction. If it’s the wrong place, or the wrong time, that direction he took was to a point of no return, and made his life miserable and meaningless.

Speaking of meaning, what is the meaning, the symbolism behind commencement? People travel down a path club in black, with two rows of instructors greeting them. In the distance, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, other family members and friends, and many more people young men and women who walk down the gap between the two lines. In the distance, Edward Elgar’s “Pomp & Circumstance” is playing lustily. And what is the meaning of these men and women tossing their hats in the air? That college spirit, that undying devotion to learning what is feels to be young…what is that?

When I was getting ready to graduate from Long Beach City College, I went down this path. My father and mother were cheering madly. I didn’t see them until I was in my seat. They were in the bleachers section, at the bottom, and my dad was dancing like that fool Willie Revillame of Wowowee. Only then did I realize where I was. I was in the middle of the new SprinTurf field at Long Beach College, on a white plastic seat, donning a gold Alpha Gamma Sigma stole, bedecked with pins, presenting t6he clubs and awards I won at the college. That stole is now encased in my room.

I had tears in my eyes. I was screaming in joy. I was ecstatic. That, I think, is that natural feeling one gets from being at a Commencement ceremony. I earned a dual degree: Liberal Arts and Computer Business Information Systems. The odd thing was that I would take one more class at the college in the summer before going on to Long Beach State.

But aside from that, commencement is a fun event. At the JC level, it’s a great day for about a thousand or so recipients of certificates and Associate degrees. When I wrote this on paper to prepare it for blog, it was less than three hours to the 80^th Commencement Ceremony at Long Beach City College. For some people I know, this is the biggest moment of their lives. For me, it’s a time to reflect on my commencement at the campus two years ago.

Last year, I had other things to do, so I couldn’t stay for the entire ceremony. This year, with Paul Rodriguez being the guest speaking this year, I was inclined to stay, and get his autograph. And this would be for my mom. There is a very strong wind, just like two years ago. Seems the times haven’t changed much.

I look at the field, the lines, the turf, and the track surrounding it. And my heart starts to race. Suddenly, I long for college football season to return. Long Beach City College still has the only college football team in this city. And I long to cover once again those games at Vets Stadium, and those games in the Mission Football Conference. I remember last year like it was yesterday. El Camino had one of its greatest seasons since 1987, when they won the National Championship. Last year, the Warriors, led by Boo Jackson, JJ Bass, Kayne Farquharson, and the linebacking duo of Vuna Tuihalamaka and Elisha Mueller, defeated Saddleback College in a thriller that was won by a missed Saddleback College field goal wide right. They would then defeat Bakersfield with some last-minute heroics, before crushing San Francisco to win the state title. While Blinn College got the national crown, they wouldn’t have stood a chance against ElCo. We may never know for sure.

And I wonder...will El Camino and Saddleback reload this season? Or will “Home Base” get their mojo back? In a disastrous season for Jerry Jaso’s Vikings, they took comfort in winning back the Crosstown Cup from Frankie Mazzota’s Cerritos Falcons.

Back to the Commencement. Paul Rodriguez, the Original Latin King of Comedy, and co-owner of the Laugh Factory, graduated from LBCC in 1980. His son is a celebrity skateboarder, and even has his own line of boards, shoes, etc. He did speak before, and that was in the early 90’s. So it’s been awhile. Of course, I was in elementary school/junior high at that time. I would pass by Veterans Stadium during bus rides up and down Clark Avenue. I liked the baseball scoreboard, and the letters-Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach City College-were prominent. It was after seeing this stadium that IU wanted to be a student here. The rest is history.

I suppose, when it comes to the best football stadiums out there for the colleges and high schools, Veterans Stadium is a gem. Every seat has great sight lines, the restrooms are of satisfactory standard, that small-town feel is evident, and the press box is quaint but luxurious, given what it is. The steps may be a workout, going up and down, but I suppose it is work it.

I guide a new visitor to Vets where to go for the ceremony. It’s not like a high school commencement. The local high schools won’t be holding theirs until the second/third week of June, but, given the numbers of students there, every seat will be reserved, and there will not be a seat left here. At this commencement, you can come on in without having to reserve a spot. Odd, but I will be surprised if there are no seats left.

4: 20 p.m. 100 minutes to commencement of the Class of 2007. At this point, all of the colleges at the Beach have already held theirs. I am just relieved that I got a C in IS 340, securing a 2.0 GPA for the semester (pending appeal). I really didn’t eat much. I wasn’t that hungry. It’s a strange feeling. You look at pictures of burgers, friend and other sandwiches, and you start to feel sick to your stomach because they are precursors to heart attacks and high blood pressure. I yawn. I was bored. So, I decided to walk back to Jack in the Box, and order a salad for dinner. Changed my mind. Japanese food. I was dying for it.

55 minutes to Commencement. The wind has died for now. I talked with a good friend of mine, Volunteer Center Coordinator Pat Hicks, who was one of those organizers of the occasion. She told me that it was doubtful that I would get Paul’s autograph, given the layout of the ceremony. Good thing I asked so as to get a background for what would go on. Looks like I’ll just have to film his speech instead, which I did.

The crowd slowly starts to fill up. By the way, I wolfed down a simple meal of curry and tempura.

39 minutes to commencement. I take a look at the program, finding who I know will move on. The person doing the welcome and farewell is Michelle Ernst. She is a TNT member, a Kassai member, and a fellow AGS Kappa comrade. She is the Student Trustee this year.

John Brunac, Tong president is one of the marshals for this event. That makes me happy to see one of my brothers raise the mace for the T-O-N-G. More cars roll in. More people roll in, and now the chamber orchestra (actually, Brass Ensemble) goes in to prepare. The Studio Singers are not going to be performing tonight, which is a bummer. Maybe this will give more room for Paul to chat with the convocation.

The Ensemble plays the same set of songs for each commencement. As the grads and faculty line up, the Ensemble starts with Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Procession of the Nobles.” (I know Nikolai more for “Night on Bald Mountain,” but I suppose this would not be proper music for the commencement, and believe it or not…it isn’t.) Then, the group of 8 old guys and 1 older lady play the “Triumphal March” by Edvard Grieg. (Again, the “Peer Gynt Suite” is what I feel Grieg is more famous for, but, unfortunately, this is not a free Brass Ensemble concert of songs to invoke nightmares of armies of grues and Boogeymen chasing you to your coercive submission. No, sadly, this is Commencement. Boo.) Next, the group plays the “La Peri” fanfare by Paul Dukas. La Peri is a ballet about one man’s search for immortality, and his meeting with a Peri, a descendant of a fallen angel that is between an angel and a demon. It’s the stuff anime and manga classics are made of, though the ballet part can be done better without.

Finally, the guys and girl play that British air of patriotism (“Pomp”), before wrapping up the cheesy strings of classical hits with a couple of processional fanfares by Elgar Howarth. This piece is more recent, given that this guy is still alive. I thought it was a collaboration of two people, but this was actually a living person (still living as of this blog submission) that created these fanfares. Ahhhh, England. How I long to visit you again.

20 minutes to Commencement. The people continue to file. Must. Find. Higher ground.

“La Peri” is playing. That is one of my favorite pieces of the set of music in this program. It’s actually 10 guys and one girl playing. All old folks.

This is a different procession from two years ago. My class and I would all roll in from the north end zone. This year, the grads are marching in from the south end zone, because the north end zone is reserved for the after-graduation function. There seems to be a problem with the gate, or they haven’t been given the signal to open it yet. But they, I mean the marshals.

I sigh in boredom again. Such was a commencement like this. They should have stuck to tradition instead. The faculty first rolled in from the center to the right side of the grandstand end of the track. Even the faculty were not queuing it right. Huge gaps (“Pomp” is playing.)

6:05 p.m. The first claps. Within a minute, the roar of the crowd, and the claps would be heard, with the whistles, and air horns. One group even brought in the pots and pans to give a down-home effect. A ripple, then a wave, and finally, an eruption. Applause, cheers, and happiness all around. Actually, it took about four minutes. And to no surprise, there were some seats left.

John is at the very end. Typical. He’s the only guy among the four marshals. Lucky bloke. Actually, this guy is a smart guy, too, being on the Dean’s List, and will be graduating with high honors.

This is very good crowd. I wonder if we can have this many to come out for the Viking football games. The doves fly. Peace all over the world. I intentionally ignore Michelle’s speech to see where those doves will go. After a few minute they fly off away from view, to wherever their final destination may be. We hope they have a good night. Or is it a good flight? Or is it both. I don’t really know; can you fill me in?

I just got Paul’s speech recorded. Some slight distractions. But otherwise, a good clip. The air horns are out in full force again, as well as those from Long Beach Poly, Jordan, Cabrillo, all vocal and ecstatic. I can’t wait for tomorrow. I want the Beach to extinguish those Flames.

I just realized something. There are empty seats in the graduates and faculty section, too. Too much seats, and/or a number of folks vacationed early.

Dr. Eloy Oakley speaks. He breaks the fourth wall, and places is back up again. Dr. Oakley announces the members on the platform with him that haven’t been mentioned, and I just realized the stole Paul was wearing was that stole of gratitude they were selling in the Bookstore stall outside of the stadium. >w>

Dr. Doug Otto accepts the Class of 2007 from Dr. Oakley, as per tradition, and after a speech, confers it to them, and the grads receive their holders. The diplomas are being processed (unless they graduated in December, at which they are already printed, and given to them). I struck a pose, acknowledging the pleasantly inevitable.

The beach balls are flying in the stands now. And grads are feeling the love. I meet my old elementary school friend Veronica Quijano. She has three semesters to go. She has a lot to catch up on. Seriously, she does.

After another hours of so, I take off. Oddly, as I read one of the back issues of the Viking, the article that showed the men’s volleyball team fail against the Lasers of Irvine Valley had this to say:

“[Adam] Church’s plays whipped the crowd into a frenzy, including one LBCC students who created his own blowhorn out of a game program and repeatedly yelled ‘Go Beach!’ at the top of his lungs.”

Little did Michael Brown, the guy who wrote this, know that while in appearance, the guy in question could visually have passed for an LBCC student, the guy in fact was an alumnus who has been a graduated for two years. And that guy….was me. Actually, have artificial noisemakers like this are not allowed at the Walter Pyramid or the Gold mine during volleyball games, and the cheer I did is something Long Beach States students, boosters and alumni do whenever the opposition is serving, and we return the volley. Therefore, I suggest to the people at LBCC to try this: “Go….BEACH! Long! Beach! City!” While it was proving to be ineffective against Irvine (I still detest UCI and IVC for making their city the college volleyball capital of America this year), it can be something the students can try for next fall, when the women take the court.