Utah is Awsome

I was browsing "The Best Page in the Universe," and I discovered that Maddox writes about my home state. I gotta say, he says some pretty mean things about it, especially Lagoon (I love that place). Let's pick out my favorite parts of his essay:

The food here [is awful]. There's no place decent to eat.

Bull! You get Arby's, the Pizza Factory, Little Ceasers, and friggin' Artic Circle! Over here you get a bunch of little resteraunts selling sauerkraut, pizza that tastes like old people, and bread hard enough to double as a bomb shelter! Trust me, compared to elsewhere, Utah food rocks!

Everything is illegal in Utah.

So? Your close to Vegas for gambling, you're close to Wyoming for fireworks... heck, Utah's got it made! Just get off your lazy cheeks and roll over, and you're somewhere with looser laws.
On the other hand, here in Germany you can't even pass someone in the right lane of traffic. And then they don't pass laws here you will inevitably wish they did (like, no peeing on people's houses).
Also, my I remind you of this beautiful law.

Horrible local television.

At least Utah's not still showing episodes of Disney's "Gummi Bears" (Germany still is, and it's awfully dubbed, too).

The traffic is horrible.

After being in South Korea where they make six lanes out of four, and Germany where they get out of their cars in the middle of the friggin' street (it's worse than China, the light's not even red when the German's do it), I'll be thankful to be back in Utah traffic.
Look, there's a reason I want to move back; Utah rocks! The only time you'll have problems is if you attend the University of Utah, and that's your fault (not Utah's, U of U people don't know how to live in Utah)! Go hang out at BYU and things will be better.

I am "In Danger of Failing High School"

I just got a message today from FIS saying that I am in danger of not graduating high school because I have so much CAS I still haven't done. For those unfamiliar with CAS, it's a program at International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, which requires someone to fulfill 75 hours of "Creativity, Action, and Service." Apparently, I haven't been submitting my hours, and am "in danger of failing high school."
Don't worry about me, though. I'm actually involved in lots of projects that I'll finish right on the deadline, so I'm not worried. The school's just wasting my time, is all.

New Lord of the Questions

Roman gave me a link to a site called "Stupid Questions Answered" last time I posted a stupid question on here (link), but then I had a question that they haven't answered:

How can there be an interstate highway in Hawaii?

It is true that there is an interstate highway on the Oahu island, but last time I checked an interstate highway linked two states (source). But there are no bridges or underwater highways to any states that I know of.
So, I asked Jeeves, and found the link below. I must say, Jeeves is a very wise person. But hey, the same result came up in Google (since Google's hosting my blog and giving me my e-mail service, gotta make them look good for the peeps).
Anyway, at least I'm still learning things, despite actually being accepted to college, which means senior-itus! Now nobody can call me lazy!

Brigham Young University

When I had last updated on my college aplication status, I had still only been accepted to BYU Idaho. Well, in that post, I said:

I'd still rather get into BYU Provo if possible, but at least I have a back up plan now, and can just relax...

Well, now BYU Provo just accepted me! Score! I found out in this e-mail to my father:

Dear Stephen,

I have news regarding both of your sons. Both Anthony and Christopher have been admitted to BYU starting summer term 2005. Due to your situation, I inquired to see if we could get a final decisionfor both of your sons so you could make proper travel and living arrangements. Their admission letters will be sent out this upcoming Monday. Give them both my congratulations.

Sincerely,

Andrea Beck
Admissions Counselor

Time to break out the big red bold text with the caps lock on in celebration again!

HECK YEAH! WHOOO HOOOO!

Anyway, this means I'll probably be starting college while I'm still age 17 (the BYU summer term starts in June, but my birthday's in July). That makes me feel smart, and lends proof to the whole "I rock" story I've been passing around. Anyway, I'm going to go celebrate.

Ghetto Gansta

It was a completely normal day today, so I'm posting my thoughts instead
Have you run into "Ghetto Gangstas?" I'm referring to the people who spend hundreds of dollars on snowhats, baggy pants and "bling-bling," so they can look "Ghetto."
These people annoy me so, friggin' wannabes! Most of them (at least at my school) are richer than me.
I'm interested in seeing what would happen if one of them were taken to a real ghetto. A friend of mine, whom everyone calls "Sanchez" due to his mexican heritage, claims that there was a reality TV show that did that. I knew reality TV couldn't just be sleep inducing! I wish I'd seen it.
Anyway, in conclusion, don't be ghetto.

Business... Not My Forté

A friend of mine, Matt Snyder, has approached me with a business proposition. He's convinced that he can make a program to create online forums, and keep it running at a small cost to himself. He wants to program the thing, and have me design the interface. He plans to charge $1 per forum per month.
He wants me to help him by opening a joint paypal bank account for the income. He's convinced we both stand to make a good profit from this, and that I would do well to help him get started.
My loyal readers, I don't know what to do. Napster was started by a highschooler, and that took off like crazy when it started, but I don't know if I want to take that kind of gamble. What do you all think? Please comment.

I met George W. Bush!

Wow! I just had the greatest day in my young republican life! George W. Bush was in town today, and I got to meet him as he was leaving!
The procession of events started with me going to school. The German kids were whining about how they were closing down the Autobahns for President Bush. I didn't pay much attention, but I did learn that my brother, Tony, and I weren't going to be the only people meeting Bush, but that my friend, Ryan, and his girlfriend, Jenny, would also be coming. We rode with them up on a bus.
Then the Secret Service went through the standard security procedures: sending us through metal detectors, turning on our electronics to make sure they weren't explosive, and checking to make sure we had the right clearance. Then they herded us into a waiting room, where we got free water bottles, free hot cocoa, and free cookies. They were all great quality, too. Ryan commented while in the waiting room, "I wish the president would come over everyday!"
Then we were herded outside, where we saw Airforce One waiting for its presidential passenger. I took photos like crazy, and Ryan begged me to send them all to him. I did, of course.
Then, after excitement over seeing Airforce One cooled down, the biggest motorcade I've ever seen came by. One of the cars in that motorcade, of course, contained president George W. Bush. But the instant his motorcade came out, my camera stopped working! Ryan was pissed, because I was his photo guy for this trip. But at the crucial moment (when Bush came into good photographing distance) I fixed the camera! I rule! I took his photo three times, and shook his hand once (as did Ryan, Tony, and Jenny).
Afterward, when he was safely on Airforce One, it taxied into runway position. Man, Airforce One has awesome engines! I swear, getting hit from the blast those things made as they taxied was probably what flying feels like to a bird! It was exhilarating!
After that, it was time to go. Ryan said, in reference to skipping basketball practice to be there, "That was definitely worth it." I tend to agree.
This isn't the first VIP I've met. I also met Collin Powell (former Secretary of State) while I was in South Korea. This, however, was definitely better. I enjoyed it immensely.


This is me, standing in front of Airforce One.


And this is a picture I took of president George W. Bush before he got on Airforce One. My camera screwed up a bit, but that's still a quality photo.

Update: Somebody commented on this post, and I responded back! The link to my response is here.

Vote for Pedro

School's back in, so I'm back to getting up at 5:30 am, which is tied with homework as my least favorite part of school.
Anyway, before the break, me and a few friends made plans to wear the Napoleon Dynamite "Vote for Pedro" shirts Chris Rigby (one of those friends) gave us while we we're shooting photos for his senior page (a page the graduating seniors at FIS get in the yearbook to put whatever they want), just so everyone would see quickly that we are friends. I was the only one who wore the shirt.
The others all forgot, but fortunatly, alot of people had seen the movie, and were congratulating me for wearing a shirt from such an awsome movie. Other people asked me who Pedro was, and I just told them to rent Napoleon Dynamite.
In fact, the only person who saw the movie and didn't like it, I really dislike anyway, so I felt good wearing that shirt, even if I was alone in doing so.