Drug arrests are busting up SDSU's rep - State of Mind
I see what you did there...
Now I know WHY San Diego State is a party school, so to speak.
EXPOSED ON BoBA, BITCHES!
AHAHAHAHAHAAAAH!!!!!11!!!!!!!!11!11
EXPOSED ON BoBA, BITCHES!
AHAHAHAHAHAAAAH!!!!!11!!!!!!!!11!11
SDSU drug sting draws scorn, praise
President reaffirms move to invite feds
By Sherry Saavedra and Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS
May 8, 2008The unusual move by San Diego State University officials to invite federal drug agents to infiltrate the campus is sparking concern and criticism but also drawing interest from college administrations elsewhere.
Carole Kennedy, a political science professor and head of SDSU's faculty union, said she was dismayed by the level of drug activity on campus. But Kennedy said she also was disturbed that the university's president “unilaterally allowed” undercover federal agents to gather intelligence from student organizations.
It sets a bad precedent, Kennedy said.
“Now it's drugs,” she said. “Maybe next time it's about political dissent. . . . What happens when you have students talking about federal income tax policy, saying they're not going to pay their taxes? Are they going to bring in IRS agents?”
SDSU President Stephen Weber stood by the decision.
“I can tell you that the feedback I have received thus far from members of the campus community, our alumni, parents and friends across the country strongly supports our actions,” Weber said in a statement released yesterday.
The debate follows the arrests of 101 suspects, including 76 SDSU students, the result of a yearlong investigation, which culminated Tuesday, into drug dealing on and near campus.
In other developments yesterday:
Authorities said the investigation could expand to high schools and other colleges. They believe one of the suspects arrested also was dealing drugs to a small number of high school students.
Authorities announced the arrests of five more suspects late Tuesday. Some of those arrested were roommates of the original targets who also had a large supply of drugs in their possession, said Damon Mosler, chief of the narcotics division of the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.
“One had about a hundred tabs of Ecstasy,” Mosler said.
Eight men who a judge said were at risk of “poisoning this community with drugs” pleaded not guilty to drug charges in San Diego Superior Court.
Defense lawyers asked that some of the men be released because they had no criminal records, but Judge David M. Szumowski refused. Szumowski said the charges indicate the men pose a risk to the community.
Defense attorney Marc Carlos, who represents Jarrod Skippon, 19, said outside the courtroom that prosecutors are “making this a lot bigger than it actually is.”
The accusations against those arrested “generally are small transactions,” Carlos said.
“The fact that there's drugs on college campuses is not new,” he said.
Almost half the nation's 5.4 million full-time college students abuse drugs or alcohol at least once a month, according to a 2007 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
San Diego State had 190 drug-related arrests last academic year, compared with 59 at the smaller University of California San Diego and 33 at Cal State San Marcos.
In protest of the drug raids, members of the SDSU group Students for Sensible Drug Policy hosted a mock graduation on campus for the arrested students and two students who have died in the past year under drug-related circumstances.
“I don't think that SDSU should have invited federal drug officials to come smear our campus and make it seem like it's a big drug land,” said Randy Hencken, outgoing president of the student group, which supports the legalization of drugs and access to treatment. “I think that we needed to address this issue in-house.”
The group called for a policy to protect students who may be high from being punished when they call to report an overdose of a friend.
Graduate student Sarah Fredrickson supports the arrests and calling in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
“If you do drugs and you get caught, you should go to jail,” Fredrickson said.
Tod Burke, a criminal justice professor at Radford University in Virginia who has researched the use of informants on campuses, said schools often don't call in federal agents because they don't want to be associated with large-scale drug investigations or the publicity that follows. Plus, colleges are supposed to encourage an open exchange of ideas, Burke said.
“Can you really have that when people are looking around them saying, 'Is this person a narc?' ” Burke said.
On the other hand, he said the DEA did a good job in this investigation and that SDSU has laid the groundwork for other schools.
Eric Reichel, campus police chief at CSU Chico, said his department's collaboration with federal officials is largely limited to joint task forces.
“But I would not hesitate to request (federal) resources if we needed it,” Reichel said.
Orville King, UCSD campus police chief, said he has heard of no other colleges asking for help from federal agents in drug cases, including his own.
“Certainly an investigation of this scale, given the number of warrants that were served and arrests that were made, would require support from other agencies. . . . I probably would have asked for help from anyone who was available who had the necessary skills,” King said.
Mosler said all college campuses have drug activity, but that it's rare for one to contact the DEA.
“I think every college is somewhat reluctant to acknowledge a drug problem,” he said.
Mosler said the DEA wouldn't be interested in just any college drug sting.
“They're trying to catch the bigger fish,” he said.
Staff writers Ray Huard and Mark Arner contributed to this report.
Sherry Saavedra: (619) 542-4598; sherry.saavedra@uniontrib.com
Greeks allegedly turned to greedUNION-TRIBUNE
May 8, 2008My word, times have a-changed at my old alma mater.
When I attended San Diego State University in the late '60s – and when I taught there in the '70s – the typical Greek male was a well-groomed, well-proportioned business major with his clear eye on a corporate future.
Pot? Diet pills? Maybe a few times as an “experiment.”
But the after-hours focus was on Bud, not sinsemilla buds. Acting out and throwing up, not freaking or munching out, was the normal outcome of weekend excess.
The avid midnight (and noontime) tokers of that absurd era were the long-haired non-Greek students, many of whom hitchhiked from the corner of Montezuma and Remington roads with hand-painted signs telegraphing their beach destination – OB, MB, PB – to passing VWs.
These were the hippie kids who listened to KPRI, San Diego's seminal FM “underground” rock station, and bought (and sold) drugs in a loosely organized black market.
By and large, fraternity men (and well-mannered sorority women) were the reassuring counterweights to the counter-cultured students who routinely risked going to jail either as a small-time trafficker or illegal drug user.
These were the opposite poles I observed every day on campus: The Greeks were, by definition, good, if not gods; the Freaks were, by definition, soft-hearted outlaws.
That old social order explains why this balding Boomer is having a hard time digesting the giant drug bust on Montezuma Mesa.
Mind you, I'm not at all shocked that drug use is rampant at State or any other college. The culture is besotted with drugs. I watch TV series like “Weeds.” I've seen movies like “Blow.”
No, what blows me into the weeds is that seven – seven – fraternities are alleged to have been involved in the campus criminal ring.
At State, the Big Men on Campus, it appears, have devolved from scholar-athletes and future captains of industry to below-life entrepreneurs whose infernal products killed a Poway girl a year ago.
Theta Chi, the fraternity investigators identified as a major hub of cocaine retailing on campus, prides itself on its lofty statement of purpose.
This sacred creed is repeated by members at chapter meetings.
For your inspiration, here is the Theta Chi creed:
I believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men, ennobled by high and sacred purpose, it has taken its place among the educational institutions of America as a promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture and a builder of character.
It inspires true friendship, teaches truth, temperance and tolerance, extols virtue, exacts harmony, and extends a helping hand to all who seek it.
I believe in the primacy of Alma Mater; in the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and its accomplishments and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals, thereby serving my God, my country and my fellow man.
In light of recent events, I'm submitting an SDSU update of the flowery old mission statement:
I believe in Theta Chi, its criminal business ethic and its dedication to peak highs on campus. Reborn of brazen dope dealers, nurtured by Mexican cartel gangsters, enriched by technological enterprise, it has taken its place among the gun-toting drug merchants of America as a promoter of psychotic frenzy, an advancer of fatal overdoses and a builder of brotherly wealth.
It inspires sleazy capitalism, teaches Deceit, Intoxication and Exploitation, extols honor among thieves, exacts a fair cut from nearly pure Colombian cocaine, and extends a helping hand to all who seek a hit of dope via text message.
I believe in the primacy of the bong and the coke spoon; in the cover from narcs provided by my Fraternity; in its market penetration and I shall do all in my power to enlist more student marks, thereby serving my supplier, my brothers in crime and, last and definitely least, my dumb-as-dirt clients.
As charges are filed – and sentences handed down – young lives will be put on hold, their futures frozen behind bars.
The district attorney, stung by embarrassing reversals in court, will be only too happy to throw the hardback book at the campus dealers and their eager clients.
Justice, especially when it comes to drugs, is a sort of lottery. A relative few get caught. That's the take-the-money-and-run reality of the drug trade.
One of the dirty, but obviously undocumented, secrets is how much illicit money has funded legitimate businesses and real-estate purchases for now law-abiding citizens.
So the wonder isn't that students broke the law to feel like big shots and make easy money on a product whose black-market value is propped up by its illegality.
No, the wonder, at least to me, is that a network of fraternities, societies that draw upon religious and patriotic values, could appear to operate as virtual fronts for a drug ring.
If it were possible to go back to SDSU in the '60s or '70s and report that news flash from the future, long-haired students would have looked at you as if you were crazy and said, “C'mon, man. No way. But whatever it is you're smoking, can I have a hit?”
Logan Jenkins: (760) 737-7555; logan.jenkins@uniontrib.com.
Oh no, not you again!
In the words of Homer Simpson, "Ohhh! It just keeps getting worse and worse."
You know, I have seen futility and ineptness of all shapes and sizes, but would you ever have thought that three straight match sweeps at the hands of the same team would happen tonight, and take the cake in terms of defining the epitome of fail? Didn't think so? Then neither did anybody donning the Black and Gold at the Bren Events Center last night. Out of all the supporters there, I was surprisingly calm.
Somehow, I knew at the back of my head that I would hate to be anyone on the team if we were unable to figure these guys out. I did not think that my mind would be turning to baseball, softball, and track in a hurry. And I just had a gut feeling that it would be a Pepperdine-Penn State final. Perhaps the only Beach supporters who grimly knew the inevitable.
Actually, what got me really riled up was the guys from Staff Pro and the NCAA officials patrolling the aisles. Must be a very lonely job, and a very difficult one, to manage these sorts of things, but you gotta give them credit for taking these types of verbal abuse. That and my fellow supporters not getting loud to the end. I had to cheer Ryan KObane up. Ryan is the editor-in-chief of the Union Weekly.
This Long BEach State men's volleyball team is going to have to hide under a huge rock, and follow it up with some soul-searching in the long offseason. I don't think even Penn State, those beasts from the East, are going to stand a chance against Paul Carroll and company. The only way that Pepperdine can be stopped si that it meets the same fate that Lewis was dealt with in 2003 and Hawaii in 2002. Not something I wish for, but then again, Cal State Fullerton fans (those turds; your softball team will be dinner this weekend) had their schadenfruede episode when Larry Reynolds and Reggie Howard (those conniving bastards) made all my work two seasons ago look like it was in vain.
As I took the bus home, I passed by a banner that said, "Wilson Girls Soccer, 2007 National Champions. We Made History." Tonight, our guys made history. For all the wrong reasons.
You know, I have seen futility and ineptness of all shapes and sizes, but would you ever have thought that three straight match sweeps at the hands of the same team would happen tonight, and take the cake in terms of defining the epitome of fail? Didn't think so? Then neither did anybody donning the Black and Gold at the Bren Events Center last night. Out of all the supporters there, I was surprisingly calm.
Somehow, I knew at the back of my head that I would hate to be anyone on the team if we were unable to figure these guys out. I did not think that my mind would be turning to baseball, softball, and track in a hurry. And I just had a gut feeling that it would be a Pepperdine-Penn State final. Perhaps the only Beach supporters who grimly knew the inevitable.
Actually, what got me really riled up was the guys from Staff Pro and the NCAA officials patrolling the aisles. Must be a very lonely job, and a very difficult one, to manage these sorts of things, but you gotta give them credit for taking these types of verbal abuse. That and my fellow supporters not getting loud to the end. I had to cheer Ryan KObane up. Ryan is the editor-in-chief of the Union Weekly.
This Long BEach State men's volleyball team is going to have to hide under a huge rock, and follow it up with some soul-searching in the long offseason. I don't think even Penn State, those beasts from the East, are going to stand a chance against Paul Carroll and company. The only way that Pepperdine can be stopped si that it meets the same fate that Lewis was dealt with in 2003 and Hawaii in 2002. Not something I wish for, but then again, Cal State Fullerton fans (those turds; your softball team will be dinner this weekend) had their schadenfruede episode when Larry Reynolds and Reggie Howard (those conniving bastards) made all my work two seasons ago look like it was in vain.
As I took the bus home, I passed by a banner that said, "Wilson Girls Soccer, 2007 National Champions. We Made History." Tonight, our guys made history. For all the wrong reasons.
Add these guys to your list of idiots...
I put a damnatio memoriae on these guys. Take note, all of you who read the Bedlam.
To these old scrooges:
Mike Slive
Kevin White
Mike Tranghese
Jim Delany
Tom Hansen
Dan Beebe
John Swofford
The BoBA declares that the seven of you all suck.
On the USA Women's Field Hockey team's trip to Tatarstan
As promised, I take a look at the field hockey team's endeavors. Looks like Lee Bodimeade is off the hook...for now. Had we choked against Belgium, I would have called for his head. I'm glad I won't need to do that.From the International Hockey Federation:On the final day of the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifier in Kazan, Russia, tournament favorite USA defeated Belgium to take the second-but-last available place in the women's Olympic tournament, the Netherlands Antilles fought their way past India to claim bronze, and Russia slipped past France for fifth place.USA 3 v Belgium 1In a fiercely contested final here in Kazan, the USA started off tentatively, seemingly letting Belgium play the first few minutes before moving in to take charge. Increasing pressure slowly but steadily, the USA moved onto the scoreboard in the 18th minute, when Kayla Bashore deflected a Kelly Doton penalty corner hit into the net.Belgium stepped up to the challenge, and sank a penalty corner of their own little later when Anne-Sophie van Regemortel converted the Belgians second short corner of the match with a cracking banana shot. The USA remained confident and unimpressed however, and quickly restored the lead through Tiffany Snow, who tapped a great Kate Barber pass across the face of the goal over the line for her sixth goal of the tournament, a goal that would also earn her the title as Topscorer of the Tournament.Coming back freshly motivated after the break, the game was hotly disputed, an exciting clash between equal rivals. But as time wore on, the USA gained ground on Belgium, in part due to their superior physical fitness, and with twelve minutes to go, a great goal from the USA's captain Kate Barber settled the match. Barber made her way into the circle from the right, launching a shot from a narrow angle that beat soon-to-be Goalkeeper of the Tournament Elizabeth Achten, inexplicably passing beneath her.The clock kept ticking down, and Belgium attacked with increasing desperation, but there was no way past the Americans today. The USA soon contented themselves with defending their lead rather than attacking, and just let time pass.After 70 minutes, the siren sounded and the USA had pocketed their ticket to Beijing, a fair ending to this tournament, as the arguably best side in the event, who have competed consistently at the highest level here in Kazan, picked up the grand prize.Netherlands Antilles 2 v India 1Earlier in the day, the Netherlands Antilles had defeated India for the bronze medal in the event in a rollercoaster encounter.India controlled the first 35 minutes of the match, confronted with a halfhearted and listless Antillean side, but had difficulty creating opportunities, and took until late in the first half to get on the scoreboard, which eventually happened thanks to Rajwinder Kaur, who converted a penalty corner.After the break, the Netherlands Antilles awakened slowly but surely, taking over the steering wheel. After wasting a few must-score chances, it was team captain Ernestina Schreuder who scored for the Antilles, deflecting a penalty corner for her first goal of the tournament, thus forcing the match into extra time.Extra time than lasted for all of two and a half minutes, as with what was more or less their first attack in extra time, the Netherlands Antilles won a penalty corner which Theresia Noorlander sank with a cracking hit. The golden goal assured the Antilles third place, confining India to fourth with the exact same result as in their group stage game.Russia 2 v France 1In the match for fifth place, the Russian hosts met France. Russia dominated play from the start, with play confined to the French half of the field for long stretches of time, and the Russian side creating scores of chances.It took them 28 minutes however to score their first, until Svetlana Grigorieva made good use of a clever Marina Dudko pass, tapping the ball over the line from close range. France immediately replied however, their first shot on goal a winner, when Philippine Berly put a penalty corner away five minutes later.Riding high on the boost of confidence from their goal, France looked dangerous for a while, even more so than their opponents, but execution proved to be the problem, with France's young players too anxious and too impatient to take advantage of their opportunities.A quick break earned Russia a penalty corner midway through the second half. Olga Shentsova deflected a hit from Anna Guteneva over French goalkeeper Marion Rheby for what was to be the winning goal, and the home team never looked back.The match soon turned hectic, both sides losing discipline and concentration, the number of individual mistakes soaring, but Russia managed to hold on to their lead, and celebrated their eventual victory with a great measure of relief. It was an up-and-down match, with a sturm und drang period of the French around the break, but overall, Russia were the better team today, had more opportunities, and won deservedly.Individual awards were handed to Elizabeth Achten of Belgium as Best Goalkeeper, Americans Tiffany Snow as Topscorer and Rachel Dawson as Best Player of the Tournament, and 14-year-old Rani Devi from India as Most Promising Young Player of the Tournament.WorldHockey Olympic Qualifier, Kazan - Final Standings1. USA2. Belgium3. India4. Netherlands Antilles5. Russia6. FranceSunday, 27 April 2008 - ResultsRussia - France 2-1 (1-1)28. Svetlana Grigorieva (FG) 1-033. Philippine Berly (PC) 1-155. Olga Shentsova (PC) 2-1Netherlands Antilles - India 2-1 (0-1)28. Rajwinder Kaur (PC) 0-165. Ernestina Schreuder (PC) 1-173. Theresia Noorlander (PC) 2-1USA - Belgium 3-1 (2-1)17. Kayla Bashore (PC) 1-026. Anne-Sophie van Regemortel (PC) 1-133. Tiffany Snow (FG) 2-158. Kate Barber (FG) 3-1
On the premise of four nervous cities, a festival of hits, and other happenings
This will be a long blog entry. One which I am stunned to post. Read below for all the details.ERROR
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My ass!Today was the day of Kaleidoscope 2008. This is a tradition at Long Beach State. The very first time I went here was over a decade ago, when I was a seventh grader at Stephens Middle School, playing with the Pandrummonium Steel Drum Band/Ensemble. I was one of the original members of that band, by the way. But everything looked the same: banners flying, bands playing, the usual suspects setting up shop (USU Program Council, SLD, Associated Students, etc.). One booth that I stopped by was this booth for CRUNK, an energy drink pioneered by Atlanta's very own Lil' Jon. His son is an avid hockey player. (I won't go into much detail on the hockey-the Habs lost-but I may delve deeper on the original version [the FIELD version] next entry). I tried the sugar-free version. It was a run-of-the-mill, ice cold medicine-type of drink. I probably wouldn't want to buy something like that, although I was glad to investigate about the brew, which featured, among ingredients in its "proprietary" formula horny goat weed (YES, it does exist). Actually, I felt sorry for those guys in the booth. I'm not too much a fan of Lil JOn, but to market a drink that literally SUCKS has to be a humbling experience.That was before I witnessed some history in the making. Brooke Turner, the younger sister of Michelle Turner, set a new record for strikeouts in a single season, sitting down 11, and relegating Meredith Cervenka's old record to second place, in a 2-1 victory over UC Riverside, who were very feisty to begin with. We took the series after Bridgette Pagano drove in a 2-run homer over the left field wall to make it 4-3 in the second game. If these ladies don't get a regional berth, let alone bid (Mayfair Park A Go Go), the NCAA can kiss my ass. I'll even send the Eiken Club to boob-slap the selection committee into submission, fate willing.Meanwhile, back at Blair Field, another ridiculous festival of short balls, long balls, and foul balls caught (and dropped) by salty old farts who still have it culminated in Kurt "Wide Load" Wideman dropping the ball, enabling "Sugar" Shane "The Pain" Peterson to drive in the winning run in a 14-13 victory for the Beach. Yes, football has returned to the Beach. Football scores, that is. The chicks were digging the long ball, the alums were scooping the foul balls, and I scolded a bloody idiot of a booster for failing to give a high five to me. Sit with the Tigers if you would like to be that way. I'm not obliged to even fake a smile to those cellar-dwelling punks. Actually, I thumbed my noses at a few other Tiger supporters who were clearly fairweather to the core. That's why we have seats behind home plate, so you can make up your bloody minds, you indecisive wanks.Overall I did 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14=107 push-ups for the men soon to be in a box. As well as the others. Well, I guess CRUNK had its benefits. Somewhat.While most of the local teams were rolling (Beach Tennis will face of against the Zots tomorrow for the crown after taking out the Gauchos 4-0), I knew that women's water polo was going to be the goats of the day. I was surprised that I was actually RIGHT. The swiss cheese porn girls from Northridge edged us, 8-7. This year has gone to hell for Cat von Schwarz, and she knows it.---This leads me to my premise of four nervous cities.COLUMBUS, OH and UNIVERSITY PARK, PA should be nervous, in spite of winning their respective tournaments. Pepperdine stunned BYU in five. While both of them swept Ball State and George Mason (respectively), Shawn Patchell's men had a letdown to be damned for all time: after going up 2-0 in 30-28 wins, the Waves proceeded to win Game 3 32-30, Game 4 30-27, and complete the rally 15-8. The question for these cities is this: who gets the Waves, and who gets the at-large team? I'll give you this: the team who DOES NOT get Pepperdine should be considered lucky. Somewhat.LONG BEACH, CA and PROVO, UT should also be nervous. Both teams shared the regular season title, yet both of them fell to Pepperdine. Uh oh. The question for these cities is this: who gets to be the at-large team, and who will they face? The Cougars have more wins, and advanced farther, but the 49ers defeated the Cougars in both meetings at Wally's House.I would see the situation to be this:Penn State vs. PepperdineOhio State vs. Long Beach StateIf even Mark Pavlik's boys can't solve the Amazing Australian Alien, a.k.a. Paul Carroll, then this tournament will turn on its head in a hurry.---Meanwhile, down at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy were back to their winning ways, taking down Chivas USA 5-2. A brace from Alan Gordon and a hat trick from Landon Donovan sealed the Goats' fates. Also, Toronto FC continued their climb, and Chelsea fought back to set the deciding week to be next week in the Barclays Premier League down in England. And the Lakers...well, it was just the same old stuff driven down Denver's throats.Also, in about a few hours from now, the USA women's field hockey team faces Belgium in a game that will determine Lee Bodimeade's fate. Well, it HAS to, with a berth in Beijing on the line. More on that next entry.
This Thursday flat-out SUCKED.
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What you just saw above is a microcosm [sic] of a forgettable Thursday.
Well, this was just pathetic. I am just a few hours removed from internalizing Long Beach State delivering the letdown of letdowns against Pepperdine. I just heard news that the LBCC conterparts failed miserably. Hours and hours ago, the women were drinking the Kool-Aid of false hope against Cal.
I nearly lost it when I find out that I didn't get a link to the ballot. That's just wrong: students who finish in the Fall can't vote in the Spring as their last election to participate in as an undergrad. I don't want to get the impression that the numerous messages they drop on my Facebook profile were in vain. I had to do it. I'm just glad that my write-in vote will count. Gives me closure as I press on in my ROP journey.
I am surprised that I am on pace to get enough hours for one year equivalent of clerical office work. I thought I needed to seal the deal with summer work. Looks like I get a chance to see what the folks at Sperka need. And then I move on.
At least the Habs and Lakers (and Angels?) are doing the usual, so the day wasn't a complete failure. And the USA women's field hockey team is still alive. I originally was going to change the URL of this blog if they had failed in winning the tournament [which we won't know for a while], but Pepperdine making a mockery of their record in emphatic fashion expedited the sealed fate of the Bedlam.
One who has followed the Masters' journeys this season can only hope that the NCAA (those scalliwags who I still thumb my nose at) decides to make up for screwing with the internal affairs of our men's hoops team by letting the volleyball counterparts in as an at-large. Should they give it to someone else, my damnatio memoriae on Larry Reynolds and Reggie Howard will stand, ever after centuries.
Not trying to be biblical or Erich Honecker-like, but you can tell that I deem this Thursday to be forgettable indeed.
New blog URL
After several months of paying tribute to Arina Tanemura (albeit indirectly), I am changing my blog URL. The URL will be:
I decided to go forward with this, after I witnessed one of the most embarassing efforts by one of my teams. This is all your fault, Paul Carroll, you Aussie motherfucker!!! DAMN YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PEPPERDINE CHEATING VOLLEYPRICKS! YOU MADE ME DO THIS!!!!
As well as me. Since this is MY blog. ;p
Please take note of the changes. See you around...the Bedlam. Whether for good, or for even worse, something is going on.
EDIT: I hope to make the transfer complete by later tomorrow. I'm having some difficulties getting it done.
EDIT 2: Well, they could have said this, instead of the generic crap they generate:
"This is a minor glitch. Please try again in 5 minutes. Thank you."
I mean, is it really that hard to make it that assuring? I mean, deviantART has something similar and I find it fair enough (though I can weave through and refresh). These guys could learn a lot from dA (of which I am a proud supporter of).
Oh, for those of you who were wondering about the recent comments, to put it short: The transfer is complete.
The test of fate
LBSU to face much-improved Pepperdine team - Sports
I joked to my fellow 49er brethren that the only way we can stop Pepperdine is if Paul Carroll is injured, or is feeling so ill that he would be a no go the next we face the Waves. This match will be a test of fate to see if we can beat Pepperdine WITH the Australian King Arthur of the team.
I joked to my fellow 49er brethren that the only way we can stop Pepperdine is if Paul Carroll is injured, or is feeling so ill that he would be a no go the next we face the Waves. This match will be a test of fate to see if we can beat Pepperdine WITH the Australian King Arthur of the team.
An example of BoBA reality
Allow me to illustrate, using words, a typical Bedlam conversation.
"We understand you," said Mom to me.
"I hope so," I replied.
"But you have to understand us, as well. Choose the right words."
Well, duh! I've had to deal with that for the last two decades plus! It seems she didn't tire of saying the same old recycled advice that Mary Schmick hinted at in a column that Baz Lurhmann glorified a decade or so ago.
"Well, I congratulated him on finding his keys. Isn't that enough?"
"But it's too late. He doesn't need it."
"Okay, then I take back the congratulatory remark, and replace it with, 'Note to self: your key is in your compartment. You should have shook your head and kicked yourself for not looking for it there first.'"
That's where he found it. Four hours after the search began, sacrificing a buffet run to Hokkaido, on Cherry and Spring.
I'm happy for Dad. He is, once again, able to do what he does best: accommodate to those living in the mad house that is Intercommunity Care Center in Signal Hill. Too bad he interpreted the reminder as an insult. And it's a bummer that of all the places he didn't look for first, one of them just had to be that compartment of his.
It's a bummer to be senile, innit? In my dictionary, it's the same as old. Well, I can sympathize, because, sometimes, I don't look in the places I am most familiar with first when looking for something important. It happens.
And then we go off and fantasize about what we think SHOULD have happened, losing our touch with reality for a few idle minutes. I've observed this for a while, and it's a cycle. It happens every day in this house. Sometimes it's flat out fun to watch from a distance. Sometimes, the rationale would make the audience boo with disgust, as if it were a sitcom gone wrong.
But it makes people think about how good times, followed by bad, followed by good, alternate with each other. It's the Yin-Yang, the balancing act, that mystique that is the Bedlam.
"We understand you," said Mom to me.
"I hope so," I replied.
"But you have to understand us, as well. Choose the right words."
Well, duh! I've had to deal with that for the last two decades plus! It seems she didn't tire of saying the same old recycled advice that Mary Schmick hinted at in a column that Baz Lurhmann glorified a decade or so ago.
"Well, I congratulated him on finding his keys. Isn't that enough?"
"But it's too late. He doesn't need it."
"Okay, then I take back the congratulatory remark, and replace it with, 'Note to self: your key is in your compartment. You should have shook your head and kicked yourself for not looking for it there first.'"
That's where he found it. Four hours after the search began, sacrificing a buffet run to Hokkaido, on Cherry and Spring.
I'm happy for Dad. He is, once again, able to do what he does best: accommodate to those living in the mad house that is Intercommunity Care Center in Signal Hill. Too bad he interpreted the reminder as an insult. And it's a bummer that of all the places he didn't look for first, one of them just had to be that compartment of his.
It's a bummer to be senile, innit? In my dictionary, it's the same as old. Well, I can sympathize, because, sometimes, I don't look in the places I am most familiar with first when looking for something important. It happens.
And then we go off and fantasize about what we think SHOULD have happened, losing our touch with reality for a few idle minutes. I've observed this for a while, and it's a cycle. It happens every day in this house. Sometimes it's flat out fun to watch from a distance. Sometimes, the rationale would make the audience boo with disgust, as if it were a sitcom gone wrong.
But it makes people think about how good times, followed by bad, followed by good, alternate with each other. It's the Yin-Yang, the balancing act, that mystique that is the Bedlam.
On the mystique of the izakayas in Gardena, the Bedlam, and Dagwoods
Yesterday, I went down with my big sis and her fiancee down to this izakaya in Gardena called Azuma. I ate this big combination plate of teriyaki and tempura. The decor and look of this is consistent, I would think, with those in Japan. There are a lot of izakayas down in Gardena. It is a strong testament to the Japanese-America community there. I literally went through the kitchen to get to my seat. Brilliant.
I learned something about the aura of the Bedlam today. It does not favor me over my other family members, nor vice versa. It favors itself over everyone, with everyone. Last week, I was given the epithet of family scapegoat after misplacing my wallet. This weekend, my father misplaced his car keys. As I acknowledged the Bedlam at work, I sympathized.
I don't believe anyone would want to misplace his or her car keys. No way. Well, to be safe, at least order two or three backup copies, and store them in a place that is safe, deep in your family vault. Problem solved. And if you need to buy another, since you are using one in reserve, you can. Very unfortunate for Dad.
I've never been to Dagwoods. This is a sandwich/fast food chain down in Quebec. I'm hearing those commercials about the food there while listening to the Habs. When I go to Montreal for a visit, I wil make it a priority to check it out and have a bite to eat. With some poutine, I might add. But only if they get Stanley Cup #25. And if they don't, well, I may still go...but there are no guarantees.
As of this blog post time, it's Game 6 of the series between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins, and the Bruins are leading 5-4. The next game at the Bell Centre could be the last one.
Meanwhile, down in Northridge and Santa Barbara, the Dirtbags and 49er softball clubs are back to and continuing their winning ways. 16-2 and 9-2 hurtsplosions by the Bags (where was this the past few days pre-Pepperdine 10-0 washout?) combined with 8-6 and 5-2 wins over the Gaucho softball teams made things mighty nice today for the folks.
I learned something about the aura of the Bedlam today. It does not favor me over my other family members, nor vice versa. It favors itself over everyone, with everyone. Last week, I was given the epithet of family scapegoat after misplacing my wallet. This weekend, my father misplaced his car keys. As I acknowledged the Bedlam at work, I sympathized.
I don't believe anyone would want to misplace his or her car keys. No way. Well, to be safe, at least order two or three backup copies, and store them in a place that is safe, deep in your family vault. Problem solved. And if you need to buy another, since you are using one in reserve, you can. Very unfortunate for Dad.
I've never been to Dagwoods. This is a sandwich/fast food chain down in Quebec. I'm hearing those commercials about the food there while listening to the Habs. When I go to Montreal for a visit, I wil make it a priority to check it out and have a bite to eat. With some poutine, I might add. But only if they get Stanley Cup #25. And if they don't, well, I may still go...but there are no guarantees.
As of this blog post time, it's Game 6 of the series between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins, and the Bruins are leading 5-4. The next game at the Bell Centre could be the last one.
Meanwhile, down in Northridge and Santa Barbara, the Dirtbags and 49er softball clubs are back to and continuing their winning ways. 16-2 and 9-2 hurtsplosions by the Bags (where was this the past few days pre-Pepperdine 10-0 washout?) combined with 8-6 and 5-2 wins over the Gaucho softball teams made things mighty nice today for the folks.
Pope Benedict enters the ballpark
But you know what would really make me beam with glee? His Holiness presiding over Mass at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Pope presides over Mass for thousands at Nationals ballpark
Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles TimesPope Benedict XVI delivers the homily at an open-air Mass in front of a gathering of thousands at the new Nationals Park baseball stadium in Washington D.C.In homily, Benedict tells 46,000 that an active Catholic Church is needed to confront a complex society. He again addresses the clergy sexual abuse crisis and urges reconciliation.washington -- Pope Benedict XVI today presided over the first open-air Mass of his trip to the United States and urged Christian renewal through loyalty to God as a way to confront troubled times.
Speaking in Nationals Park, a sports cathedral more suited to the cheers and jeers of baseball than the notes of sacred music and words, Benedict told 46,000 faithful that an enthusiastic and active Roman Catholic Church is needed to deal with a complex and often troubled society.
"Who can deny that the present moment is a crossroads, not only for the church in America but also for society as a whole," the scholarly Benedict said in his homily.
"It is a time of great promise, as we see the human family in many ways drawing closer together and becoming ever more interdependent," he said.
"Yet at the same time we see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society: signs of alienation, anger and polarization on the part of many of our contemporaries; increased violence; a weakening of the moral sense; a coarsening of social relations; and a growing forgetfulness of God."
The pontiff said he was confident that the "profound harmony of faith and reason" will empower Catholics to confront urgent issues that shape the future of American society.
"Let us trust in the Spirit's power to inspire conversion, to heal every wound, to overcome every division and to inspire new life and freedom," the pope said. "How much we need these gifts!"
For the third day, the pope addressed the clergy sexual abuse crisis that has rocked the Catholic Church, again urging healing and reconciliation among those who have been hurt.
"No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse," the pope said.
Benedict spoke in a bright spring sunshine as a banner, proclaiming the official theme, "Christ Our Hope," stirred in the breeze.
After two days of pomp and protocol, this morning's focus was on Benedict's role as spiritual teacher for the faithful. Later he will address Catholic educators at The Catholic University of America. He will also meet with leaders of other faiths at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.
The role of Latinos was a key note through today's proceedings, testament to the importance of the group to the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. One of the scriptural readings was in Spanish and the pope directly addressed the crowd in Spanish after the homily.
"Do not be overcome with pessimism, inertia or problems," Benedict said in Spanish. He told Latinos that their faith grows deeper every day with the knowledge of Christ that allows their hearts to be conquered by love and forgiveness.
"The church in the United States, taking to its heart so many of its immigrant children, has grown thanks also to the vitality of the testimony of the faithful Spanish speakers," Benedict said.
The pontiff arrived at the stadium in the popemobile around 9:30 a.m. EDT. Surrounded by security guards, his vehicle traveled around the perimeter of the ball field as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Parishioners began arriving hours earlier, crowding the subway before dawn. Vendors hawked souvenirs, flags and buttons.
The rising sun illuminated the colors of the faith. Plumed hats denoted the Knights of Columbus. Clerics wearing bright red robes bustled in formation around the field. Today's ceremony was the first non-sporting event to be held in the stadium, which opened for its first Major League Baseball season this year.
The altar was built in what is normally the outfield, and the home plate area was decorated with the symbols of the church and archdiocese.
It took more than 300 clerics more than 20 minutes to distribute the host to those taking Communion.
Michael.muskal@latimes.com
Tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com
Wilkinson reported from Washington and Muskal from Los Angeles.
click to enlarge
Photo Gallery
Super Tuesday Stimulus Packages
As the deadline to file those income taxes passed, all those who filed it ahead of the deadline got the stimulus packages they were waiting for. Of course, I was treated to a few stimulus packages myself.
First off, the Dirtbags picked themselves up from the unfortunate series against Irvine, and roughhoused Pepperdine, 10-0. Earlier that day, Aldershot Town FC clinched promotion to the Football League, 16 years after being blasted off the face of the footballing world, drawing 1-1 with Exeter City. Also that day, the Lakers clinched the Western Conference #1 seed, beating the Sacramento Kings 124-101, the Avengers defeated the Blaze this week by the score of 79-62, the Angels defeated the Rangers 7-4, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals 4-2, the Los Angeles D-Fenders defeated the Colorado 14ers 102-95, and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins, 1-0, to put the stranglehold on the series, as it goes back to the Bell Centre.
But what really got me feeling all chipper today was the Mighty Roos. Who are the Mighty Roos, you say? well, they are this hockey team from Australia, and they beat China, 1-0, to clinch the gold medal in their side of the world. Out there, it is winter by now, if not late autumn. And these guys are just a tournament away from qualifying for Vancouver 2010, and skating with the big boys!
Now, some of you may be thinking, wait a minute, how can Australia have a national ice hockey team, when they are known more for their summer sports? Well, ice hockey has been played in Australia for more than a century. It was in 1908 that the International Ice Hockey Federation was founded, and it was in 1908 that ice hockey was first played, in Adelaide, SA. So, the timing of the event, held down in Newcastle, NSW, couldn't have been any better.
One wonders if some disgruntled North American expatriates inject some fresh new blood into a team that is gaining a huge chuck of momentum after gaining the gold medal that eluded them before (they were second place to South Korea [yes, they DO have a hockey team there, too]). Remember Dale Begg-Smith? Yeah, you know who I'm talking about. He could have given Canada another mogul gold. Instead, due to logistics that were unfavorable to the ad master, he gave Australia Winter Olympics Gold Medal Number Three. Having the Mighty Roos qualify for Vancouver 2010 can only make the presence of Winter Olympic sport in Australia that much more significant, that much more credible, and that much more validated.
Congrats Australia. The world is watching you now.
First off, the Dirtbags picked themselves up from the unfortunate series against Irvine, and roughhoused Pepperdine, 10-0. Earlier that day, Aldershot Town FC clinched promotion to the Football League, 16 years after being blasted off the face of the footballing world, drawing 1-1 with Exeter City. Also that day, the Lakers clinched the Western Conference #1 seed, beating the Sacramento Kings 124-101, the Avengers defeated the Blaze this week by the score of 79-62, the Angels defeated the Rangers 7-4, the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals 4-2, the Los Angeles D-Fenders defeated the Colorado 14ers 102-95, and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins, 1-0, to put the stranglehold on the series, as it goes back to the Bell Centre.
But what really got me feeling all chipper today was the Mighty Roos. Who are the Mighty Roos, you say? well, they are this hockey team from Australia, and they beat China, 1-0, to clinch the gold medal in their side of the world. Out there, it is winter by now, if not late autumn. And these guys are just a tournament away from qualifying for Vancouver 2010, and skating with the big boys!
Now, some of you may be thinking, wait a minute, how can Australia have a national ice hockey team, when they are known more for their summer sports? Well, ice hockey has been played in Australia for more than a century. It was in 1908 that the International Ice Hockey Federation was founded, and it was in 1908 that ice hockey was first played, in Adelaide, SA. So, the timing of the event, held down in Newcastle, NSW, couldn't have been any better.
One wonders if some disgruntled North American expatriates inject some fresh new blood into a team that is gaining a huge chuck of momentum after gaining the gold medal that eluded them before (they were second place to South Korea [yes, they DO have a hockey team there, too]). Remember Dale Begg-Smith? Yeah, you know who I'm talking about. He could have given Canada another mogul gold. Instead, due to logistics that were unfavorable to the ad master, he gave Australia Winter Olympics Gold Medal Number Three. Having the Mighty Roos qualify for Vancouver 2010 can only make the presence of Winter Olympic sport in Australia that much more significant, that much more credible, and that much more validated.
Congrats Australia. The world is watching you now.
3 April
Australia Win Gold With Perfect 1-0 Win
Australia is Number 1 in Division II Group BBy Peter Lambert, Ice Hockey Correspondent
No longer is ice hockey a novelty in Australia. A magic tournament ended with a fairy-tale ending, as the Mighty Roos Australian Senior Men’s Ice Hockey team closed down the Chinese national team 1 goal to nil in Newcastle, New South Wales Australia. The Aussies were perfect through the tournament, winning each of their five games in regulation time; their last two games in shut-outs, denying their opposition a single goal. Australian goalie Matt Ezzy was awarded ‘Best Goalie of Tournament’ for his feat in winning four games from four played, and allowing only four goals by him throughout the tournament.
China started out strong but almost immediately shortened their bench to their top six players. The Aussies held off the early assault, and then scored on their first opportunity.
Melbourne’s Lliam Webster poked his own rebound through the goal pads of China’s Yu Yang, with assists going to Andrew White and tournament MVP Greg Oddy.
From that point the Chinese never seemed like they had what they needed to win. Both teams hit the posts but the Aussies also won in that phantom category; 5 to 1 in the almost-goals.
Captain Anthony Wilson hold aloft the tournament winners plate as
IIHF Official Dr Hans Dobida presents him with his gold medal.The Australian win means many thing, but the significance of happening on the Centenary of ice hockey in Australia, and the Centenary of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and on home soil made it a very special occasion for the capacity crowd. With volunteers and players included, rink management estimated an unprecedented 1200 people in the rink to witness the victory.
Veteran defenceman Tyler Lovering came out of retirement when he heard about the bid to host the tournament in Australia. Now he has a World Championship Gold Medal in his collection.
‘I had to work really hard to get back into the Australian team.
‘It’s been 10 years that I’ve played on this team.
‘We have a fantastic team of guys, I couldn’t be more proud.’
Team Manager Ross Noga was justifiably elated as he packed his players aboard their bus to head off and celebrate the milestone achievement.
‘100 years of ice hockey in Australia, 100 years of ice hockey of IIHF, you can’t beat this.
‘Here in Newcastle, in front of the home crowd. The crowd was fantastic with the hair colour, painted faces, the “Aussie Aussie Aussie” chants, the flags, it doesn’t get any better.’
The Australian team will break up after their celebrations on Monday, but with little chance for much rest as the Australian Ice Hockey League starts this coming weekend. All players in the Aussie squad belong to one of the eight clubs and may be back in training as soon as Tuesday.
The Australian ice hockey community is already buzzing with the challenge of competing with Division I countries. The task is a mammoth one but not one person involved will believe that it is impossible.
The only good day was Saturday.
As I catch wind of the news that the Los Angeles Galaxy lost to Toronto Football Club 4-3, I realized that this weekend, the only good day was Saturday. And it was for a number of reasons.
* Bridgette Pagano may have choked against Cal Poly in softball, but Brooke Turner didn't. She ended up winning the series the following day.
* The baseball pulled off a suddenly rare win over UC Irvine, 5-1.
* The women's tennis team toasted Pacific, 7-0.
* And the biggest prize of the day...see below.
As I made my way back to campus from the events at the Billie Jean Tennis Courts and at Blair Field, I had to look for a couple buses leaving Wally's house. There was a step show getting ready to be going on inside the Myd. I got on the student bus. We were heading off to Northridge, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. There was a men's volleyball game going on down there.
During the entire 12 hours I was out and about, I ate to what amounts to a Texas-sized last meal. Here's what I ate and drank.
* One cup of green tea.
* Three cans of Dr. Pepper.
* Two cans of Pepsi.
* Roughly a gallon or two of water (it was hot outside!)
* One whole pizza (Large, vegetarian [green pepper topping]). I kid you not.
* One giant bowl of salad topped with Feast from the East sesame dressing
* Six or seven packages of SkyFlakes crackers
* Three Sunflower Cracker sandwiches
* One banana, maybe two
* Three round tostadas caseras
* One bowl of Bush's Baked Beans
* One can of Sprite
* One can of Squirt
* A sip of wine (Nasty-tasting, I might add)
* Three pieces of chocolate
Add plenty of walking, and running, and jumping, and cramping, and screaming, and the calories were burning up. But back to the trip.
So, as we got to the Matadome, we ended up standing next to the Matador student section. It was Senior Night in Northridge, and the guys had never lost a game in the Matadome (which really ISN'T a dome, just a glorified high school gym). We had to fix that, especially after they edged us in five at the Gold Mine.
As the game progressed, a courageous CSUM student waved her banner at us. I told her, "If I get my hands on it, I am tearing it to shreds. Don't wave it in our section. Don't risk it." She eventually complied. I joked with Mark Andrews and the guys about Cal State Northridge's epithet as Porn Star State University. Hey, they ARE located in the San Fernando Valley. And I even joked that we passed by houses that might have had adult film scenes taken, or are being taken right now. I went so far as to suggest that the Playboy Mansion was close.
Only in Northridge do you hear Kenny Loggins and some industrial music that has the sitgma of being associated with gay/lesbian nightclubs. So, I got my nasty on for a bit, even going to so far as to do some booty shaking, mocking the sleazy mojo that ISaac Kneubehl, Cody Loe, Eric Vance, and the rest of the pricks wer riding on.
I directed the students in the cheers, posed for the camera, did the things that I was known for doing. I was surprisingly calm for the bulk of the game, a sharp contrast to the game at the Gold Mine.
When Paul Lotman got the final kill off the touch in Game 3, we flooded the court. But before that, the guy looking over the CSUN Student Section told us not to leap over the equipment. As a gesture of goodwill, I shook his hand, saying, "Thanks for having us." I flung my shirt in the air, and joined the leaping mass of humanity. It was like jumping with the men's basketball team as they made their case for the Big West title a year ago. Good times they were. I said to any other Matador faithful remaining, "THAT'S for beating us in the Gold Mine and ruining our then-perfect home campaign." I left the place laughing like a [Monson?] Maniac. It was a nice feeling, one I haven't felt in a long time. And I left the Valley, knowing that it has an implicit apology from the Masters of Le Sexy Volleyball for their transgressions.
Great timing, apology accepted, now let's kick some ass in about 11 days time.
It should be noted that we actually SHARE the regular season title with BYU, but since we kicked their tails at the Myd, we get to host the semis and finals.
* Bridgette Pagano may have choked against Cal Poly in softball, but Brooke Turner didn't. She ended up winning the series the following day.
* The baseball pulled off a suddenly rare win over UC Irvine, 5-1.
* The women's tennis team toasted Pacific, 7-0.
* And the biggest prize of the day...see below.
As I made my way back to campus from the events at the Billie Jean Tennis Courts and at Blair Field, I had to look for a couple buses leaving Wally's house. There was a step show getting ready to be going on inside the Myd. I got on the student bus. We were heading off to Northridge, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. There was a men's volleyball game going on down there.
During the entire 12 hours I was out and about, I ate to what amounts to a Texas-sized last meal. Here's what I ate and drank.
* One cup of green tea.
* Three cans of Dr. Pepper.
* Two cans of Pepsi.
* Roughly a gallon or two of water (it was hot outside!)
* One whole pizza (Large, vegetarian [green pepper topping]). I kid you not.
* One giant bowl of salad topped with Feast from the East sesame dressing
* Six or seven packages of SkyFlakes crackers
* Three Sunflower Cracker sandwiches
* One banana, maybe two
* Three round tostadas caseras
* One bowl of Bush's Baked Beans
* One can of Sprite
* One can of Squirt
* A sip of wine (Nasty-tasting, I might add)
* Three pieces of chocolate
Add plenty of walking, and running, and jumping, and cramping, and screaming, and the calories were burning up. But back to the trip.
So, as we got to the Matadome, we ended up standing next to the Matador student section. It was Senior Night in Northridge, and the guys had never lost a game in the Matadome (which really ISN'T a dome, just a glorified high school gym). We had to fix that, especially after they edged us in five at the Gold Mine.
As the game progressed, a courageous CSUM student waved her banner at us. I told her, "If I get my hands on it, I am tearing it to shreds. Don't wave it in our section. Don't risk it." She eventually complied. I joked with Mark Andrews and the guys about Cal State Northridge's epithet as Porn Star State University. Hey, they ARE located in the San Fernando Valley. And I even joked that we passed by houses that might have had adult film scenes taken, or are being taken right now. I went so far as to suggest that the Playboy Mansion was close.
Only in Northridge do you hear Kenny Loggins and some industrial music that has the sitgma of being associated with gay/lesbian nightclubs. So, I got my nasty on for a bit, even going to so far as to do some booty shaking, mocking the sleazy mojo that ISaac Kneubehl, Cody Loe, Eric Vance, and the rest of the pricks wer riding on.
I directed the students in the cheers, posed for the camera, did the things that I was known for doing. I was surprisingly calm for the bulk of the game, a sharp contrast to the game at the Gold Mine.
When Paul Lotman got the final kill off the touch in Game 3, we flooded the court. But before that, the guy looking over the CSUN Student Section told us not to leap over the equipment. As a gesture of goodwill, I shook his hand, saying, "Thanks for having us." I flung my shirt in the air, and joined the leaping mass of humanity. It was like jumping with the men's basketball team as they made their case for the Big West title a year ago. Good times they were. I said to any other Matador faithful remaining, "THAT'S for beating us in the Gold Mine and ruining our then-perfect home campaign." I left the place laughing like a [Monson?] Maniac. It was a nice feeling, one I haven't felt in a long time. And I left the Valley, knowing that it has an implicit apology from the Masters of Le Sexy Volleyball for their transgressions.
Great timing, apology accepted, now let's kick some ass in about 11 days time.
Golden turnaround: Men's volleyball wins MPSF title
No. 4-ranked 49ers sweep CS Northridge in three close games to clinch first outright league title in program's history.
By: Bobby Chore
Posted: 4/12/08
NORTHRIDGE - Back in late February, the Long Beach State men's volleyball team had to watch No. 3-ranked CS Northridge celebrate a five-game victory over The Beach on the hardwood of the Gold Mine Gym. It was the 49ers' first home loss of the season and they entered the Matadome Saturday night with intentions of avenging the setback.
LBSU surely did and got more than it bargained for.
The No. 4-ranked 49ers battled with CSUN for three hard-fought games and won all of them (32-30, 30-27 and 30-26) to clinch the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and the top seed in the upcoming league tournament.
Ironically, LBSU (23-5, 18-4 MPSF) dealt the Matadors (22-6, 17-5 MPSF) their first home loss of the season in front of a crowd of 1,481. The raving screams of Matador fans didn't sidetrack the 49ers, especially sophomore opposite Dean Bittner, who notched a game-high 22 kills on a noteworthy .645 attack clip.
Senior outside hitter Paul Lotman added 10 kills, the last one hitting CSUN's back corner to seal game three and the match for the 49ers, as they jumped in excitement and celebrated with the LBSU fans who made the trip to the San Fernando Valley.
Game one featured 15 tied scores and four lead changes, but LBSU came out on top behind Lotman's six kills. The 49ers led the entire way in game two and had their biggest margin at 23-16 after Lotman and Alexander combined for a double block. It was Bittner who was dropping kill after kill on CSUN. Bittner finished with nine kills in game two, as the 49ers appeared to have control of the match. The Matadors, however, wouldn't go down easy.
CSUN jumped all over the 49ers at the beginning of game three and took a 16-12 lead off a double block. The Matadors extended the lead to six with an 18-12 advantage, but LBSU responded with a furious 5-1 run to cut the lead to two and took over from there.
Two kills by Bittner and a service ace by Lotman tied the game for the 49ers at 20, and a block by freshman outside hitter Josh Riley gave them the lead.
The teams traded leads until several hitting errors by the Matadors put the game out of reach. Lotman's scintillating kill brought the 49er faithful onto their feet and the MPSF title back to Long Beach. Head coach Alan Knipe pumped his fists and the assistant coaches raised their arms in victory.
LBSU, coming off a frustrating 11-17 season a year ago, began the season on a major roll, as the team ran through several opponents to go 9-0. The 49ers then lost their first match at Pepperdine and began to hit the tougher part of their schedule in the middle season. Consecutive losses to No. 7-ranked UC Irvine and No. 6-ranked UCLA put the team's focus into question, but the 49ers managed to right the ship with a four-match winning streak, all on the road, culminated with a surprisingly short three-game sweep of the Matadors.
After the match, an energetic Knipe spoke of the team's intensity and dramatic turnaround toward the end of the regular season.
"The things that we weren't satisfied with - our intensity, our focus - we had to watch videos and be extremely aggressive on this road trip," Knipe said. "We needed to get back to the things that we trained at. We'll have a short memory; I have a lot of faith in my guys."
Knipe spoke of the team's high work ethic and dedication to practice at the beginning of the season, and reinforced his words after the big victory.
"The 11-17 season and this year speaks for itself," Knipe said. "One year later [after last season], it took an extremely huge effort for us to get back together. It's rewarding and it shows the quality of our gym."
Bittner, who called the Matadome "one of the loudest places [he's] been in," said the team had an answer for the raving sea of red.
"We just got a little louder with each other," Bittner said. "Confidence was pretty much there the whole time. It's a huge weight off our shoulders."
The No. 1-seeded 49ers will host the MPSF Tournament for the first time in the program's history. The tournament begins April 19 with quarterfinals matches. LBSU's opponent is yet to be determined. © Copyright 2008 Daily 49er
It should be noted that we actually SHARE the regular season title with BYU, but since we kicked their tails at the Myd, we get to host the semis and finals.
Quick hits, 4/12/2008
Some quick hits from today's action...
Men's volleyball
BoBA...is in heaven. Long Beach State FINALLY, FINALLY defeats Northridge, sweeping them, 3-0, at the Matadome. That's the way to find forgiveness from me. Now it's time to regroup, and get ready to host the MPSF Final Four on April 24 and 26. You know how the Montreal Canadiens are starting their 16 to 25 campaign? Well, we are preparing for a 4 to 2 Campaign. 4 straight match victories clinches our second NC. Will the Masters be up for the challenge? Find out in 12 days.
Softball
This time it was Bridgette Pagano playing the role of goat for our teams. We were up 3-0, and Cal Poly storms right back in the second game to win 4-3. Of course, Brooke Turner pulled her weight in the first one, a 3-1 decision. Can she clinch the series tomorrow? Find out at the 49er Softball Complex.
Women's tennis
And Pacific is swept 7-0 on Senior Day, and Stephanie Bengson gets Number 72. Let's see if our hoodoo against Fresno can be broken in a few days time.
Baseball
Holy smokes. UCI felled, 5-1. The Bags aren't throwing the towel just yet, which is not a bad thing. The series concludes at 2:30 at the Blair.
Men's volleyballBoBA...is in heaven. Long Beach State FINALLY, FINALLY defeats Northridge, sweeping them, 3-0, at the Matadome. That's the way to find forgiveness from me. Now it's time to regroup, and get ready to host the MPSF Final Four on April 24 and 26. You know how the Montreal Canadiens are starting their 16 to 25 campaign? Well, we are preparing for a 4 to 2 Campaign. 4 straight match victories clinches our second NC. Will the Masters be up for the challenge? Find out in 12 days.
Softball
This time it was Bridgette Pagano playing the role of goat for our teams. We were up 3-0, and Cal Poly storms right back in the second game to win 4-3. Of course, Brooke Turner pulled her weight in the first one, a 3-1 decision. Can she clinch the series tomorrow? Find out at the 49er Softball Complex.
Women's tennis
And Pacific is swept 7-0 on Senior Day, and Stephanie Bengson gets Number 72. Let's see if our hoodoo against Fresno can be broken in a few days time.
Baseball
Holy smokes. UCI felled, 5-1. The Bags aren't throwing the towel just yet, which is not a bad thing. The series concludes at 2:30 at the Blair.
Random hits - 4/9/08
I'm going to need to get a new Social Security Card, and some other new IDs. Fast. And that will be the last time I buy long pocketbooks.
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Mexico's football teams must be feeling like they are going through foreclosure right now. A few days ago, Hugo Sanchez got the axe after his U-23 side failed to qualify for the Olympics. Now, it looks like Leonardo Cuellar is going to join him in the unemployment line. His women's national team lost to Canada tonight, 1-0. And they won't be going to Beijing, either. Ouch.
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That has to be a huge irony down in Ciudad Juarez: Canada and the USA fighting it out on Saturday for the CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament title in Mexico. It makes you wonder if there will be anyone bothering to come down there.
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This April has been a crazy month. Mugabe is still alive (unfortunately) and has become a dirty, blind old ape willing to fight to the death to keep his patch of wasteland that is Zimbabwe. A 75-year old lady dies making an illegal left turn after getting the Blue Line crash into her. A couple of teen girls lose their lives after being thrown out of a taxi, but not before trying to stab the driver. David Petraus wants more blood. China is trying in vain to reel Tibet in. Beijing 2008 is poised to become Moscow 1980 Revisited. Memphis' John Calipari and his team are being barbecued for their inept free throw shooting by sportswriters who feast on writing articles of futility so that they can earn their peanuts. The Dirtbag baseball team has now become so beatable, Cerritos College would blast bad boy out of the Blair.
Darfur is still Darfur. Iraq is still Iraq. And the feud between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is still that.
Fuck. And a third of this already Bedlam-infested year ain't over yet! Oh God.
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Mexico's football teams must be feeling like they are going through foreclosure right now. A few days ago, Hugo Sanchez got the axe after his U-23 side failed to qualify for the Olympics. Now, it looks like Leonardo Cuellar is going to join him in the unemployment line. His women's national team lost to Canada tonight, 1-0. And they won't be going to Beijing, either. Ouch.
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That has to be a huge irony down in Ciudad Juarez: Canada and the USA fighting it out on Saturday for the CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament title in Mexico. It makes you wonder if there will be anyone bothering to come down there.
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This April has been a crazy month. Mugabe is still alive (unfortunately) and has become a dirty, blind old ape willing to fight to the death to keep his patch of wasteland that is Zimbabwe. A 75-year old lady dies making an illegal left turn after getting the Blue Line crash into her. A couple of teen girls lose their lives after being thrown out of a taxi, but not before trying to stab the driver. David Petraus wants more blood. China is trying in vain to reel Tibet in. Beijing 2008 is poised to become Moscow 1980 Revisited. Memphis' John Calipari and his team are being barbecued for their inept free throw shooting by sportswriters who feast on writing articles of futility so that they can earn their peanuts. The Dirtbag baseball team has now become so beatable, Cerritos College would blast bad boy out of the Blair.
Darfur is still Darfur. Iraq is still Iraq. And the feud between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is still that.
Fuck. And a third of this already Bedlam-infested year ain't over yet! Oh God.
ASI Recycling Center ad campaign tells students to "Recycle or Die" - News
ASI Recycling Center ad campaign tells students to "Recycle or Die" - News
This is a great place to dump your plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Eschew those other places that don't pay well. Leave those for the poor transient suckers.
This is a great place to dump your plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Eschew those other places that don't pay well. Leave those for the poor transient suckers.
Galaxy 2, Earthquakes 0
I guess everyone out here now knows why we are GLAD that frank Yallop is NOT our manager, and GRATEFUL that Joe "Loose" Cannon is NOT our keeper. JP dellaCamera has to be a bloody idiot to to tout Cannon. before the game. I reckon he got his W's and L's mixed up as to the train wreck that was last season.
It's a starry, starry night for Galaxy in victory
Article Launched: 04/04/2008 12:00:00 AM PDTCARSON - Well, who in their right mind needed to see any more than the first 37 minutes of Galaxy soccer Thursday night?Flashbulbs popping, girls screaming, Kobe smiling (yes, that Kobe, not just Cobi).
Twice, in electrifying fashion, the stars lit up Home Depot Center for the Galaxy in their 2-0 win over San Jose in front of an announced sellout crowd of 27,000.
Yet there's always a party pooper somewhere, and Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit indulged himself in crediting the likes of rookie defenders Sean Franklin and Brandon McDonald rather than David Beckham and Landon Donovan.
"Everybody always asks me about David and about Landon," Gullit said after his first victory. "Everybody knows them already, so therefore it's important for me to talk about the other players who have done extremely well."
OK, great, Coach.
It was Beckham, taking perfect pass from Donovan in stride and effortlessly guiding it through goalkeeper Joe Cannon's legs for a 1-0 lead only eight minutes into the game that had the place rocking. Finally, in his seventh game with the Galaxy, Beckham had his first MLS goal, and got it on a night that MLS Commissioner Don Garber happened to be in the house. The guy might be worth a couple million bucks after all.
Then it was Donovan beating defender Ryan Cochrane to Beckham's perfectly chipped lob pass from midfield and flicking a shot over Cannon and into the net in the 37th minute, that kept the crowd roaring.
A goal and assist from their two luminaries wasn't the only big news for the Galaxy. They erased the taste of the Ruud awakening they received in the opener in Colorado, a 4-0 loss to the Rapids that made the visitors look like a dumbfounded expansion team.
"The energy level was totally different tonight than it was last week," Beckham said. "We spoke about the altitude in the first game, but the blame can't go on that. Tonight we were more relaxed going into the game. Last week we were tense, and maybe nerves set in.
"I think what changed is our positional play. In the first game we were all over the place, from right in the back to midfield to up front. We were all out of position in different stages of the game."
This time, it was expansion San Jose getting the treatment in the Earthquakes' rebirth two years after the original franchise fled to Houston.
"We were all a little embarrassed after Saturday," Donovan said. "It was good to have a game quickly, and we worked this week on one, a better attitude; and two, tactically - the way we were going to be and the way we were going to move as a team, and I think it paid off."
The Earthquakes have former Galaxy coach Frank Yallop leading them, but about all he could say in this game would have been something like, "Why couldn't Becks have done that for us last year?"
Instead, the Galaxy fans experienced the opposite of frustration. In Beckham's luxury box, the Kobe Bryant family enjoyed themselves.
On the sidelines, Gullit and first-year assistant Cobi Jones, were far more relaxed as they found some structure after a dreadful opener.
And the Galaxy was without defender Abel Xavier (suspension) and forward Carlos Ruiz, who underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a knee ligament.
L.A. seems to be OK without the attacking Ruiz, considering the 1-2 punch the Galaxy fielded in the home opener.
"As long as you don't see the football you like, then it's frustrating," Gullit said. "But I knew that we had it."
In resuming the rivalry with San Jose, the Galaxy moved to 22-12-5 in the all-time series in MLS games. It was the first meeting between the clubs since Oct. 29, 2005, in a Western Conference semifinal series won by the Galaxy.
No joke about it.
Every election seems to be different, yet all share the same materials in common: a provisional envelope set, a white box, a red box, and a ballot box, among necessities. This special April 8 election that I will be working has its own unique quirks. No InkaVote. A simple large ballot sheet. A cardboard ballot box. The first voter even gets to help out the pollworkers. Compared to the County elections, this looks simpler and old-fashioned, but effective. And, given the fact that it IS a mere primary, AND that this is just for thr City of Long Beach, it should be a nice change-up to the next election, held in early June.
This is the second of four elections I will be working this year.
It seems that early on, this month is going to be a busy one. For example, I have an interview tomorrow, along with my regular ROP and internship fluff. And then I have the election and a few other events going on next week. I am keeping myself occupied. This will be a short entry. I'm cutting it off here.
This is the second of four elections I will be working this year.
It seems that early on, this month is going to be a busy one. For example, I have an interview tomorrow, along with my regular ROP and internship fluff. And then I have the election and a few other events going on next week. I am keeping myself occupied. This will be a short entry. I'm cutting it off here.
Another mixed weekend, more so inept than successful
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The weekend did not start auspiciously well for my guys. The men's volleyball team played like the chokers they were against Northridge and Penn State last night. We were leading UC Irvine by two games, and then, in a collapse that made the Berlin Wall's fall look diminutive, we let the Anteaters rally in five. How pathetic. And I thought our chances of defending our surfboard were going to get better. At this point, we are down two games to one against UCLA. Could we get a rally going against these guys in the same fashion the Zots dealt us? One can only hope.
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But this wasn't the only team to have a weekend from hell.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us have a moment of silence for the sudden, and horrifically unexpected passing of Long Beach State's baseball mojo, which, like so many brave souls that did not leave this ugly, yet beautiful [sic] world in vain, died honorably on the fields of Northern California. The body will be cremated, and the ashes will be sent to the University of California at Berkeley. Date for the possible resurrection has yet to be strenuously determined.
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Meanwhile, the softball team keeps its mojo alive. UC Davis was swept in a doubleheader today, by the scores of 1-0 and 8-3. Brooke Turner pitched a gem of a shutout, while Bridgette Pagano held her ground in the second game.
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A funny thing happened on the way back home, after I got back from doing some palleting and shredding of old documents down at the SPJA office in Anaheim (which was refurbished very well, looking like an actual office, decked with anime volumes for the staff to watch). On the OCTA Route 50, this old guy gets into a heated argument with the bus driver, and all the passengers were wondering why this scrooge was holding us up. Finally, we took another bus heading the same way, and the old geezer was arrested.
And I thought I had issues with some of my drivers. They now pale in comparison to this one.
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As of this blog, the Galaxy choked in their season opener to the Colorado Rapids, the Bruin men's basketball team returns to the Final Four (thankfully without the likes of Florida and Ohio State), and the Angels complete their preseason tour with a rout of the San Diego Padres. I suppose in retrospect, it wasn't a bad day; after all, I was able to do something that I haven't done in a long time: take a photo of the daruma head from Anime Expo. This was something that was gnawing and gnashing at me since last year's convention. I am proud to say that I finally got this out of the way. Hallelujah. This, along with the verbal confrontation, made my day in more ways than one.
Post Number 401 on the Bedlam...and it isn't a happy one
March 24, 2008 was a landmark moment in the history of this blog, as it reached 400 posts. But today, March 27, 2008, should be a landmark moment in the annals of 49er volleyball ignomity. You can't expect to win matches, let alone championships if you let the opponent come from two games down to win in five. I mean, how the fuck is that possible to win anything?
If my guys learned something, it's to go to the nearest place of worship and seek penance. In a hurry. Cause there is no redemption when you let UC Irvine get one step closer to winning this year's edition of the Black and Blue Rivalry Series. In fact, in the words of Lee Corso, "Forget about it!"
And you know what? I have a gut feeling that that won't the last time we choke in five. That's three times SO FAR this year (as of this post) our guys failed to shut the door on our opponents when it goes the distance. This game, obviously, had to hurt, because the match shouldn't have gone the distance in the first place.
If I'm Alan Knipe, any hairs remaining on my head are gone. And I already have Dr. Bosley's number, in case my boys find salvation any way they can get it, cause they weren't going to see the light tonight. Nope, not with the way we played after Game 2; only a black hole.
Pathetic.
If my guys learned something, it's to go to the nearest place of worship and seek penance. In a hurry. Cause there is no redemption when you let UC Irvine get one step closer to winning this year's edition of the Black and Blue Rivalry Series. In fact, in the words of Lee Corso, "Forget about it!"
And you know what? I have a gut feeling that that won't the last time we choke in five. That's three times SO FAR this year (as of this post) our guys failed to shut the door on our opponents when it goes the distance. This game, obviously, had to hurt, because the match shouldn't have gone the distance in the first place.
If I'm Alan Knipe, any hairs remaining on my head are gone. And I already have Dr. Bosley's number, in case my boys find salvation any way they can get it, cause they weren't going to see the light tonight. Nope, not with the way we played after Game 2; only a black hole.
Pathetic.
On Mini Eggs, a job well done in Gardena and a few Beach teams rising
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Once per year, I like to take the Easter weekend to snack on Cadbury Mini Eggs. They are these little pieces of chocolate encased in a sugar shell. I first ate these many years back, after watching a commercial featuring those little crunchy, yet rich, fruits of the bunny. Since then, I have made it an Easter tradition to gorge on one bag of these Mini Eggs. I eat them for breakfast, with some King's Hawaiian rolls, or as a snack that won't hold you down and never give you up. At this time of the year, it is all the rage.
I am elated after knowing my scores on the GRE Verbal and Quantitative sections. I got a 450 on the Verbal and a 610 on the Quantitative. Both scores meet or exceed the expectations set by the program that I am applying for, the Graduate Program in Sport Management. They needed at least a 450 on both sections. What makes this really special is that I didn't have any training on this exam, save for a practice exam and a little GRE review book that I took from Kaplan. When I saw my score, I pumped my fist. The cameras saw me, but they knew that I achieved my target score.
Also, I was relieved to see my baseball, softball, and men's volleyball teams get some big victories this weekend. This is the type of consistency and performance I will be expecting from them the rest of this year.
Thoughts on some Unfinished Business
In between queues for the Big Dance and the university softball and baseball teams getting their mojo back, I went off to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Events Center to watch some boxing action on Saturday.
I was sort of impressed, but mostly surprised by one of the bouts in the undercard. The first fight featured David Diaz against Cesar Montano in the lightweight division. No title was on the line, but this was going to be an opportunity for Diaz if he could get the job done, because he was anticipating Manny Pacquiao's move up the ranks to lightweight, and get a possible match against him.
The match went the full 10 rounds, but what surprised me was that one of the judges called the bout a draw. Ultimately, the match went to Diaz by majority decision.
The second match of the undercard was just ugly and ridiculous. I mean, you would think the match between the next big thing from Guadalajara, Abner Mares (an Olympian in Athens 2004, and, like Juan Manuel Marquez, trained under Ignacio "Nacho" Berestain), and a dehydrated, overmatched Diosdado Gabi, would be called off because of the circumstances of the latter. But they weren't. And in a two-round laugher, Gabi looked like he was fighting his very first fight, while Mares set poised to join the elite. Mares currently is the North American Boxing Organization champion in his division.
A Thailander by the name of Terdzak Jandaeng faced off against Steven Luevano in the third and final fight of the undercard. Jandaeng is an adept kickbozer. He wanted to try his hand at just using his fists because kickoboxing was too easy. Maybe he should consider jumping to Pride Fighting, K-1 or UFC. Luevano wore him down by decision.
Finally, the main event came. Manny Pacquiao went off to a good start against Juan Manuel Marquez, and he had a bit of an opening in the third round, when he knocked him to the canvas. Marquez got back up, and both of them gave the crowd, my mom and me a great show of bloodshed, hard-hitting action, and a headbutt that just made things that much tittilating.
The drama didn't come to a head until the judges scored the fight. Jerry Roth must be reviled by Pacman supporters. He called the fight 115-112 Marquez. The other two called it for Pacquiao, and he won by split decision. I was ecstatic as I roared his name to the heavens.
I think that fight more than made up for the volleyball team choking against Penn State.
I was sort of impressed, but mostly surprised by one of the bouts in the undercard. The first fight featured David Diaz against Cesar Montano in the lightweight division. No title was on the line, but this was going to be an opportunity for Diaz if he could get the job done, because he was anticipating Manny Pacquiao's move up the ranks to lightweight, and get a possible match against him.
The match went the full 10 rounds, but what surprised me was that one of the judges called the bout a draw. Ultimately, the match went to Diaz by majority decision.
The second match of the undercard was just ugly and ridiculous. I mean, you would think the match between the next big thing from Guadalajara, Abner Mares (an Olympian in Athens 2004, and, like Juan Manuel Marquez, trained under Ignacio "Nacho" Berestain), and a dehydrated, overmatched Diosdado Gabi, would be called off because of the circumstances of the latter. But they weren't. And in a two-round laugher, Gabi looked like he was fighting his very first fight, while Mares set poised to join the elite. Mares currently is the North American Boxing Organization champion in his division.
A Thailander by the name of Terdzak Jandaeng faced off against Steven Luevano in the third and final fight of the undercard. Jandaeng is an adept kickbozer. He wanted to try his hand at just using his fists because kickoboxing was too easy. Maybe he should consider jumping to Pride Fighting, K-1 or UFC. Luevano wore him down by decision.
Finally, the main event came. Manny Pacquiao went off to a good start against Juan Manuel Marquez, and he had a bit of an opening in the third round, when he knocked him to the canvas. Marquez got back up, and both of them gave the crowd, my mom and me a great show of bloodshed, hard-hitting action, and a headbutt that just made things that much tittilating.
The drama didn't come to a head until the judges scored the fight. Jerry Roth must be reviled by Pacman supporters. He called the fight 115-112 Marquez. The other two called it for Pacquiao, and he won by split decision. I was ecstatic as I roared his name to the heavens.
I think that fight more than made up for the volleyball team choking against Penn State.
Being a weeaboo isn't an unenviable epithet...it's a privilege.
Pinpointing 'sakura' arrival serious business, fine science
Staff writer
When spring comes, millions of Japanese happily turn their thoughts to one thing: When will the cherry blossoms start blooming?
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| "Sakura" cherry blossoms are in full glory at Asukayama Park in Kita Ward, Tokyo, last April. REIJI YOSHIDA PHOTO |
"Sakura" cherry blossoms, a symbol of Japan, last only about a week, so arranging a sakura-viewing party with friends or family at just the right time is a matter of keen concern for many in pursuit of this particular seasonal joy.
Though generally off by only a few days, the Meteorological Agency has often been criticized for inaccurately predicting the arrival of the cherry blossoms.
But now the agency has some competition: the Japan Weather Association and Weathernews Inc.
The pair are trying to crack into the market by giving sakura lovers more accurate and detailed predictions.
"It's better that we have three predicting organizations now," said Hirofumi Nakayama, a worker at Hamamatsu Flower Park in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Hamamatsu Flower Park boasts 1,100 sakura trees, including 500 of the popular "someiyoshino" variety, and sets up illuminations for night viewing.
But last year, the Meteorological Agency got its prediction badly wrong after inputting the wrong data into its supercomputer.
The agency forecast sakura would start blooming on March 13, 15 days earlier than usual, but the trees started budding on March 21 in Shizuoka.
Timing sakura is serious business for various sakura-related industries.
Tourism agencies arrange tours to famous viewing spots. Parks and city governments organize sakura festivals and stores must stock up on "bento" boxed meals for sakura parties at the right time. Companies also reserve sites and times for viewing parties.
"We started making predictions because so many people every year ask when sakura will start blooming," explained Chie Tanaka, spokeswoman for Japan Weather Association, which started challenging the Meteorological Agency two years ago with its own sakura predictions. Japan Weather Association, established in 1950, is a nonprofit foundation affiliated with the transport ministry.
Tanaka said the foundation is making predictions for 87 locations across the country this year, including many cities and towns the agency has stopped covering as part of the government's budget-cutting efforts.
The Meteorological Agency made predictions for 107 locations in 1996, but that number has dropped to 68 this year as local meteorological stations continue to close.
Following a personnel-cutting goal finalized in 2006 by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the agency now plans to further reduce the sakura-prediction sites to 53 in 2011.
Meanwhile, Weathernews Inc., a private weather service, has adopted an approach totally different from its two rivals: It asks tens of thousands of volunteers to send in photos of sakura buds by e-mail.
Predictions by the Meteorological Agency and Japan Weather Association are largely based on the analysis of past blooming times and temperature patterns in January, February and March.
Weathernews supplements this approach with images sent in by registered volunteers, who also pinpoint the location, the estimated age of the tree and the sunshine conditions.
The predicted date is then uploaded on the firm's Web site.
More than 10,000 volunteers across the country took part in the Sakura Project in its inaugural year last spring, according to Weathernews.
This year, there were 17,831 registered participants as of Friday, and the number is expected to increase as the blooming season approaches, said Yuka Yoda, spokeswoman for Weathernews.
"Japanese are very, very interested in when sakura will start blooming," Yoda said.
"Every participant is enjoying watching the sakura every day" and sharing the information with others, she said.
For the latest predictions, visit the Meteorological Agency site at www.jma.go.jp/ or Japan Weather Association's site at www.jwa.or.jp/ or the Weathernews Web site for the Sakura Project at weathernews.jp/sakura/
The Ventures are now in the Hall of Fame, at last.
You can't tell anybody, and nobody can tell you, that The Ventures do not belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They are now.
Personally, I believe this was way past due. But I suppose good things come to those who wait; albeit for Ventures fans, they were getting restless until this news came out. I did find out about this, either, until I heard from KFWB News 980 a few minutes ago.
Hallelujah. Let those surf bells ring.
Personally, I believe this was way past due. But I suppose good things come to those who wait; albeit for Ventures fans, they were getting restless until this news came out. I did find out about this, either, until I heard from KFWB News 980 a few minutes ago.
Hallelujah. Let those surf bells ring.
The Ventures finally arrive at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Seattle Times staff reporter
Don Wilson of Sammamish plays rhythm guitar for The Ventures, a rock band that made its first recording in 1960 and will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tonight. Wilson is one of the founders — two Seattle guys who started out in construction jobs.
By the numbers
Billboard magazine rankings for The Ventures:No. 4 among all-time instrumental artists on its singles charts.
No. 6 among all 1960s artists on its album charts.
No. 20 in most albums on its charts, with 37 LPs.
The Ventures
Watch the induction
On TV: VH1 Classic airs the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 8:30 tonight
Ventures Party: Mark Christopher of KBSG-FM (now B97.3) hosts a free viewing party of the induction ceremony tonight at the Liberty Theatre in Puyallup, 116 W. Main St. Doors open at 7 p.m.
More information
The Ventures: www.theventures.com
Source: The Ventures
For years, it gnawed at Don Wilson, this thing with The Ventures being ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He took it personally, having co-founded the group in Seattle in 1959 with his friend, Bob Bogle.
They were two construction guys who bought $15 guitars at a pawnshop, taught themselves to play and evolved into a four-man band.
The rest was rock history resulting in an astounding 250 albums — that's right, 250 albums — with sales of 100 million copies.
The group still records and various members still tour. Wilson is 75. Bogle is 74 and lives in Vancouver, Wash.; he records but doesn't tour.
Last December, the announcement finally came: After 22 years of being eligible, The Ventures will be inducted tonight into the Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland. The Hall of Fame calls the group the most successful instrumental rock band in history.
The ceremony will take place in New York City. Also inducted will be the Dave Clark Five, Madonna, John Mellencamp and Leonard Cohen.
The Ventures will be introduced by one of their longtime fans, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame.
Numerous other artists, including George Harrison, Aerosmith, Elton John and Ted Nugent, have expressed their admiration for The Ventures.
But truth be told, despite the acclaim, it still gnaws at Wilson, this thing with the Hall of Fame.
Why did the acknowledgment take so long?
"We're like the Rodney Dangerfields of the rock world," he said last week at his home in Sammamish. "I don't think they realize or understand what The Ventures have done."
In just about every room of the home, there are posters, blowup photos of the group and its adoring fans, guitars and gold records. A storage room next to the garage has boxes filled with hundreds of more memorabilia items.
Wilson can pull out reference books that attest to the group's impact.
Here is Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Albums," compiled from Billboard magazine data.
Wilson opened to Page 481, which listed each decade's Top 20 artists.
"Look," he said, pointing to who was No. 7 for the 1960s.
It was The Ventures, surpassed by the Beatles and Elvis Presley, but beating out the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys.
Wilson can cite from memory the statistics, such as how in 1963, the group had a remarkable five LPs on the Billboard Top 100 at the same time.
So why so long? It gnawed and gnawed at Wilson.
"All we did was quietly sell millions of records," he said.
Over the years, their devoted fans have had various theories as to why The Ventures were snubbed by the Hall of Fame.
In an April 2007 article in www.ink19.com, a music site, Ventures fan Steve Stav theorized that maybe The Ventures were overlooked because "while hardly a collection of ugly mugs, the group isn't a gang of guitar-toting pretty boys, either — and image has always been at least half of the game."
The Hall of Fame says selections are voted on by rock historians and rock experts.
It's the nature of such voting that it is subjective. The historians and experts also have snubbed other eligible rock legends such as Alice Cooper, Mitch Ryder, Kool & the Gang, Heart and Lou Reed. There is an entire Web site, www.futurerockhall.com, devoted to listing rockers on the wait list.
The Ventures could have been voted into the Hall of Fame as early as 1985. Artists become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record, which for The Ventures would have been in 1960.
Blue-collar jobs to tavern gigs
Of course, it had been only two years earlier that they bought those $15 pawnshop guitars and learned to play them.
The two worked at Sahara Waterproofing. Doing masonry restoration. Bogle earned $4.50 an hour as a bricklayer. Wilson made $1.85 an hour as a hod carrier, carrying cement-filled buckets.
They learned their guitar-playing on long drives to various construction sites and during overnight stays at motels for out-of-town jobs.
Keeping their day jobs, they eventually landed gigs playing at taverns, splitting pay of $15 a night for playing four sets.
Wilson remembered one place, the Britannia in Tacoma.
"It was rough. I remember beer bottles flying around, and a paddy wagon parked right outside. You had a lot of soldiers and a lot of Air Force guys coming, getting totally wasted," he said.
That was not the rock future they wanted. They wanted to record but found no interest from the labels.
It was Wilson's mother, Josie Wilson, who for about $100 formed the label Blue Horizon Records to market The Ventures.
The Ventures actually were quite lucky.
They hit the jackpot with their second recording, a rock version of "Walk, Don't Run," an instrumental they had heard on a Chet Atkins record.
When they'd play it at taverns, the audience would keep asking them to keep playing it again — and they would, four or five times a night.
But when they began taking "Walk, Don't Run," to local radio stations, there wasn't any interest.
Breaking into radio; idols in Japan
Not until Pat O'Day, the legendary KJR-AM disc jockey, put it on the air.
The station had five minutes of news that began exactly at five minutes before the hour. But there always were one or two minutes to fill before the news.
"So we had something called a 'news kicker,' an instrumental to fill that time," O'Day remembered.
He began using "Walk, Don't Run." The phone began ringing.
It would become the group's signature tune, a classic that rocketed to No. 2 on the charts.
The band, which by 1960 had grown to become a foursome (the "classic" lineup also including lead guitarist Nokie Edwards and the late Mel Taylor at drums), began its long string of recording LPs, usually made up of covers of current hits.
But their original tune "Surf Rider" was memorable in Quentin Tarantino's movie "Pulp Fiction." Their many singles that made the charts included "Hawaii Five-O," "Walk, Don't Run '64" and "The 2,000 Pound Bee."
The latter recording is cited as one of the first uses of a fuzz-guitar in a song. It also was a favorite of the late comedian John Belushi and his friend, Dan Aykroyd, who held up a tape recorder to a microphone and played it to a startled audience at Belushi's memorial service. The story is that whoever died first, the other would play the tune at the service.
And then there is Japan.
A lot of 1960s groups went by the wayside as American rock tastes changed.
Not The Ventures.
They had started touring Japan in 1962, then opening for pop singer Bobby Vee.
The Ventures became idols in that country.
According to the Web site musicianguide.com, "Their instrumentals bypassed any language barrier, and before long, the group had established a popularity in Japan that rivaled the Beatles."
The group has released 50 LPs just for Japanese market. It makes an annual tour and has had 20 No. 1 hits there, said Wilson.
"Unfortunately, Japan is like Las Vegas. What happens in Japan, stays in Japan," he said.
Fans join campaign for Hall of Fame
Still, somehow it all eventually registered with the rock experts and rock historians.
In Seattle, Mark Christopher, a midday disc jockey at the oldies station KBSG-FM (now going by B97.3), collected some 10,000 signatures over the past three years to send to the Hall of Fame in support of The Ventures.
Washington state Lt. Gov. Brad Owen got the state Senate to pass Resolution 8645, asking the Hall of Fame to induct The Ventures.
On the Internet, Arnold van Beverhoudt Jr., of the U.S. Virgin Islands, spent eight years beginning in 1997 uniting Ventures fans worldwide at his www.sandcastlevi.com site.
"In all, I received a total of 5,900 petition e-mails from Ventures fans in all 50 states and 60 other countries. All together, the petition packages made up a stack of paper at least 3 feet tall!" he said.
So maybe after tonight, Don Wilson will finally not let frustration gnaw at him. He always knew The Ventures deserved to be in the Hall of Fame, but now it will be official.
"They say The Ventures launched 1,000 garage bands," said Wilson.
He laughed.
"Probably more."
Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com
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