Cal athletics usually don't get a mention unless it involves football and basketball. But rugby seems to be the pride and joy of the department. The past 13 years have brought national championships here every one of those 13 years. They have a De La Salle type winning streak going against American schools. Their coach has refused offers to coach rugby overseas. Two of those things ended yesterday, at, of all places, Stanfurd. Stanfurd played host to the national rugby championships where yesterday, Cal lost in the semifinals to Air Force. Sorry, but this does not happen often, so rugby losses deserve a mention.

Getting little attention last night was that the Democrats held a debate among the nine candidates running for President. I don't remember anything like this happening this early, but as a Republican, it's nice to see the other party fighting for a change. Even with power, it seems Republicans still want to pick fights amongst themselves and against the Democrats. But this debate is notable in that even though the faces are somewhat recognizable, no one broke out of the pack. At least three seem to be running just because they were opposed to the war and can be dropped pretty quickly. The front runners are Joe Lieberman, the vice presidential candidate with Al Gore in 2000, Richard Gephardt, former Democratic leader of the House, and John Kerry, Senator from Massachusetts. Close behind are Howard Dean, Governor from Vermont in the "Democratic wing of the Democratic party," rising Democratic star John Edwards, Senator from North Carolina, and Bob Graham (Senator, Florida), a late-comer to the race after some heart surgery. The message loud and clear was we need to get Bush out of the Oval Office, but which one should be doing that task? No clear answer was offered. Plus, after all, there are 9 candidates on that stage.

Were you one of the lucky ones who watched Alias tonight? If so, you were treated to a rousing two-hour finale where everything that changed on that Super Bowl episode changed again with the (spoiler) discovery of Francine as the other double, Sloane reuniting with Jack, and the sudden transport of Sydney two years into the future. Is it simply a kidnap and memory loss? Has Sloane put together a time machine by Rambaldi? Are Sloane and Rambaldi the same guy? See, it's this intrigue that makes this series so good, but its intelligence and many storylines are probably what turns people off. Can't wait til next season.

That's it for now. The countdown is on. 7 instruction days left in the semester.