So 3 days and 3 tennis matches. We played South Albany, who are ok, and won 5-3, though I lost 7-6, 6-2 in 2 Singles. Then we headed up last year’s Valley champion Sprague and dropped them 5-3, with me picking up the W 6-4,6-0 at 2 Singles. Our game today was against Lebanon. Everyone told us they were chumps, so we didn’t play our top two players and I got to play 1 Singles for the first time ever.I won 6-0, 6-0. My first Double Bagel. Damn, they were pitiful. Here are some of our scores: Paul won 6-0,6-0 at 3 Singles. We Double Bageled at 1 and 3 Doubles. Nate got a Golden Set in the exhibition (he won every single point in the set). We won 6-0, 6-1 at 4 singles and 2 doubles. They were terrible. Word. So now we’re 3-0 to start the season. It’s awesome playing for a winning team, heh. We’ve been in the top ten in state every year I’ve been in high school. And, damn, playing one singles is the best. I’ve finally got to the top of the ladder (or at least number four)! Heh, I remember that Freshman year, I was #20 on the ladder and thought the guys at the top were way too good to beat, and now the young guys on the team say that about me. It’s sweet. Yay for being a Senior!

Here’s an interesting story from coming back from Sprague. (By the way, Sprague is absolutely loaded with fine chicks; these sweet track girls were sitting down watching my match). Anyway, we went to Burger King for dinner. I paid for Andrew “Can I Get Fries With That?” McQueen cuz he didn’t have any cash, and the total was 6.86. $6.86 from a ten gave me 3.14 in change, so I turned to Andrew and said “Hey, look, I get free pi.” And the guy at the counter was like…”Hmm…allright,” and he went and grabbed me a free Hershey’s Pie. It was damn good, and even better cuz it was free. How sweet is that?

More scarringly, I learned in class today that my meal at BK was more than twice the cost of a prostitute in Africa. Depressing.

A wicked balanced report on the strengths and weaknesses of Oregon schools. Unfortunately, it’s mostly good news from the past. Our SAT scores are good, we have lots of AP Classes. Our buildings are in some of the worst shape of any school facilities in the nation. Spending per student, after inflation, is down 5% from 1993 state-wide (and far more than that in Eugene). Oregon ranks 47th in terms of students per teacher. The average Oregon teacher salary is $7400 than the national average. Will a true leader please run for governor? Anyone?

So bad news about CM. My sources tell me that this waiter from IHOP took her on a date and that she thinks CM and the guy are prob’ly gonna hook up. *sniffle*. Ah well. I prob’ly should’ve made a move, but I was getting sorta mixed signals and I would rather stay friends with her than have there be something wierd between us in the future. I was talking about a related issue with Gazelle and her cousin (or Paulina and her cousin, as the case may be). P was wondering why guys don’t tell girls when they like them. I don’t really have an answer, but I think that it’s common, and not just among guys. I think the only girl I’ve ever told was hot was EB, and I woulda been in trouble if I didn’t, right? Prob’ly a couple others could’ve guessed that I thought that even though I never said anything. I’ve definitely liked more girls. Is it a confidence thing? I mean, I’m not *the* most confident guy (I am the King of Humility, right Tyler?), but I think I’m atleast somewhat confident when it comes to girls. From this discussion, since we never came to conclusion, I think I have a couple rules that apply to pretty much everyone:

You’re more popular, relative to other people, than you think. Even the most popular people I know (hmm, prob’ly Hannah and Erin) sometimes have nothing to do, so who cares if you get to hang around sometimes and just read or play video games or do whatever it is you doMore people like you than you think. I think three people have told me that they liked me at X point in the past, and I had absolutely zero idea on any of them. I would think this is pretty common, since, concerning me, the vast majority of girls that I’ve liked, at least a little bit, probably had no idea.

Don’t like me? Drop a Google Bomb. Courtesy of the fantastic Uber Daily.

Oh, and last thing on the CM deal. Of course I’m sorta bummed out that it never worked out, but actually I wasn’t expecting much, so it’s ok. Set the bar low, that’s my motto! (Well, not in all things - set it realistic, heh). Anyway, someone should find me a date for Prom now! I have absolutely no idea who I should go with. And one more thing: “I think the only girls I’ve ever told was hot was EB” seems sorta wac grammar-wise to me. I had the same problem with a similar sentence the other day. How can you say this correctly? You could go “I’ve only told one girl that she was hot and that was…” but it doesn’t have quite the same connotation. English is confusing.

So Eyal showed me this article that drinking impairs driving more than joints. Now, my response is that killing yourself by burning at the stake hurts more than shooting yourself, but I don’t reccomend either. But on a policy level, drug legalization (at least pot) is making more and more sense to me every day. Don’t get me wrong: I am heavily, heavily against any type of drug use on a personal level. I think it is corrupting. This includes alcohol. It makes you make decisions that you will regret. This is not a possibility. This is a fact. I’ve been to many hundreds of NA meetings when I visited my dad. I personally have met *thousands* of people who had their lives seriously altered in a bad way because of drugs, and nearly all of these people started by drinking and using pot. Many of them are brilliant. One was worth $250 million from a business he started after he got clean. No matter how smart you are, chemically-altering substances can make your live very very bad. But the current drug policy not only restricts the American *right to make your own life bad* (after all, BK Whopper’s certainly aren’t good for you, and we don’t ban them, nor should we), but it also, I think, increases drug use. I saw two studies that showed countries who delegalized drugs in the 1970’s have drug problems, but that their drug problems are far less grave than in the United States, and the use of pot is far lower even though it’s legal.

And one of those studies was an academic study that used tons of big words. It was meant for a mass audience. You guys know my art rule, right? “If I can do it, it doesn’t count as art.” Similar thing applies to words. If you use a word or make an allusion that I don’t know, the vast majority of the people your article is intended for won’t understand either. I don’t think of this as cocky or anything; it’s just that I know a lot of big words and get most allusions, moreso than Joe on the street. It’s something I’m good at. So stop using big words just to sound smart, stupid article writers. No one will know what “ameliorate” means. We’re reading Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” right now. He makes freakin’ allusions to things like the Greek Tragedy “The Faust”. Now, I’m willing to bet that even most educated people aren’t gonna know what the hell he’s talking about. And it’s not just Conrad. References to “Machiavellian puzzle” are everywhere, but honestly, how many people have read or are familiar with Machiavelli’s “The Prince”? Certainly not the mass market.

As for good writing, check out Lileks site. He’s able to eloquently express sarcasm, which is a damn rare gift. This guy is funny and informative at the same time. I wish my writing were even in the same ballpark as his. The article I linked to is him complaining about the pompous airbag of a Leftist that is Michael Moore. Now, admittedly, Moore was hilarious in his movie Roger & Me, and his show TV Nation was a hoot and a half. But much like Howard Stern, he’s one of those guys that’s hilarious only no one actually agrees with what he says. And he’s a damn hypocrite, which nobody likes. Check the link for the stunning incrimination.

The best new weblog on the internet, Gunner20, made a bunch of interesting comments this week. First, don’t spend more than you have. It boggles my mind how people with 80 grand coming into the clinker every year wind up in bankruptcy court. Stop buying stuff you can’t afford! Sheesh Louise.

Second, he’s a military and International Relations buff, so his comments as to why the Taliban army had no chance were really interesting. Military these days has nothing to do with personal strength or bravery, and everything to do with organization, technology and communication.

Last but not least, Gunner doesn’t like that 83% of teens think morals are relative. I think the question is just worded wrong. I don’t think morals are either relative nor non-relative in the conventional sense. I believe that there are, in most areas, choices that are simply better than the other choice. I don’t believe that, in most areas, there is any way of knowing in advance what the better choice is. I think this is a relatively accurate summary of the thoughts of teenagers. Or maybe it’s just me.

And last but not least, a quick comment on the lack of pessimism among my generation. Now, IHOP had a free pancake day six weeks ago (I just found out now, we all shoulda went!). No strings attached. It really was just a customer appreciation kinda thing. Now, when you tell people my age this, they say “Wow, that’s awesome.” I think that the general sentiment among the peoples of greater telomere maturity, or if you want to be technical, the old folks, is to think, “There must be some catch.” Why all the cynicism? I’m quite glad the future will be less cynical. Some college admissions officer that I was reading about said that essays are far more optimistic over the last three years than she’s ever seen. 9-11 or not, yay for the future. Petty concerns are just that - petty.

MP3 Prime Cut: “Caravan” by Timo Mass ft/ Finlay Quaye
Timo Maas is the producer responsible for the wicked remix of Azzido de Bass’ “Dooms Night” (y’know…the “wub wub wub wub” song - it’s like track 5 or 6 on my New Years Eve CD if you have that). This is a cool Fatboy Slim sounding-piece with male vocals: “We ain’t got no master plan. It’s just people like you in a caravan.” Also check out the choppy-bass of Timo Maas’ “That How I’ve Been Dancin’” with the “I’ve been waitin’ for so long / I’ve been dancin’ for so long / I’ve been rockin’ for so long” vocal.MP3 Prime Cut Extra: “God Bless America” by Kim Sozzi
I haven’t got too much new music this week, but check out this rave-style remix of God Bless America featuring Sozzi’ vocals. It sounds like wicked modern gospel, heh. I can imagine something like this played at a sports stadium.