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  2. SUMMER ROAD TRIP ACROSS TRUMP’S AMERICA This summer, a long-time female friend -- with benefits, UT alum, 16 years younger, randomly met at art conference, no-so-humble brag! -- called me out of the blue and asked if I would ride with her from DC to Tucson. She had taken a leave from her job to spend time taking of aging mom who needed to be moved to rest home in not-so-hot of a city. I said sure and drove back to East Cost in a rent-a-car. Our goal was to take a leisurely drive across America, see some sights, catch up on things, and keep phones in our bags. Regarding what one sees from a car going down interstates through big cities and two-lane highways through small towns, some patterns became clear. Some predictable, others insightful about the state of America. We drove through Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. I drove back through Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia etc. — Our drive was not only the interstates, as we drove on many two lane highways through small towns. Let me begin with a funny story that I shared on the football board. GRUMPY OLD VOLUNTEER FANS Outside Knoxville early one morning, we stopped in a rando Starbucks to use the rest room and grab some coffee. Literally, the only customers in the place were two old pot-bellied codgers (probably in their mid-70s), both decked in Volunteer tee shirts and caps. I am just wearing jeans and cotton shirt, nothing to connect me with any school. I could not resist, so I said: “Y’all gonna let them Longhorns take over the SEC” Tennessee Codger 1: Takes off his Vol cap, rubs his balding crown, and merely takes a breath shakes his head. Tennessee Codger 2: “Yeah, it was a big mistake to let them in the SEC” … said with scowl on face. Me: “Yep, they’re gonna kick butt this year. They ain't like the Aggies” Codger 2: "No shit they ain't the Aggies!" I amble over and grab the two coffees and banana bread. About this time, my friend emerges from bathroom and as we walk out the door, she flashes the HOOK'EM sign and laughs. (Looking rather smoke in her tight jeans, boots and red hair; yeah she likes to flash her good looks for the locals. We were meeting some of her friends for lunch in Nashville, so she was dressed for the occasion.) Codger 1: “What the hell?” Codger 2: “Them God Damn Longhorns! TRUMP TEXAS Here's some insanity in Texas. On the right side of I-20 in west Fort Worth, there was a Trump (airbrushed to look GQ handsome) billboard that said something to the effect of: “Born in New York, with the Spirit of Texas” Lulz. Interestingly, very few Trump signs or flags (unlike how it was a few years ago when I drove from East Coast to Texas to visit brother). RELIGION GALORE We saw zillions of churches/steeples, dozens of religious billboards promising salvation and eternal life, several religious anti-abortion signs, even 2 anti-evolution billboards. Heading into Knoxville, there were 2 giant bright electronic billboards positioned on both sides of the highway. The billboard on left side of highway was flashing JESUS (all caps), the other was flashing SAVES (all caps). So, entering Knoxville, interstate drivers see this flashing glory:: JESUS … SAVES JESUS … SAVES JESUS … SAVES NEAR ZERO SCIENCE We saw only ONE sign that referenced anything to do with science, a local science exhibit. Far west of Nashville, there was a Rest Area that had a Solar Power Exhibit in a separate room. Sponsored by University of Tennessee, it was very impressive, Sadly, of the 30 or so cars and trucks there when we stopped, she and I were the only people who looked at the exhibit. No doubt, that exhibit will be dismantled soon. Ohio had a rest area with murals celebrating John Glenn and NASA. All in all, in the visual landscape near highways and in small towns, America seems to have zero need for science, except for docs and dentists. THE ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CATASTROPHE ZERO! Yes, zero signs referencing the environment, climate disruption, global warming, or anything to do with conservation, etc. Of course, there were signs directing people to state and national parks, the true gems of America. We hit a few for brief hikes and could tell they were understaffed. Some billboards promoting good ole fossil fuels. Drill baby drill! LOTS OF MAGA DUDES IN BIG ASS PICKUP TRUCKS. There were zillions of big pick up trucks (especially) with gun decals, flag decals, MAGA-oriented stickers, patriotic slogans, religious decals, etc. If the pick-up was pulling a trailer of tools, then the likelihood of the driver being having some kind of MAGA-oriented decal increased. We could often see their Oakley sun glasses and goatees And these were some tail-gaiting fuckers! AK-47 BILLBOARD Of course, there were a few signs promoting the local gun and ammo store. In Indiana, there was even a billboard advertising AK-47s for sale, with a billboard wide photo of one. Insane. COMMERCE FLOWING, SO FAR In the places we stopped, hotels, bars, and restaurants were busy. The mall parking lots (we saw from highway) had plenty of cars and trucks. Many Amazon 18-wheelers, so Bezos is doing okay. LACK OF RESTAURANT WORKERS Interestingly, several restaurant asked for our "patience" as they were short-staffed. We even hit a McDonald’s drive through early one morning in a small town and they had a sign saying they were short staffed. I wonder why! Food was good, people friendly, at least in restaurant and hotel settings. TL/DR SUMMARY Trump’s America is the nation of BUY, EAT, PRAY, and PARTY DOWN ON PLANET EARTH … followed by SALVATION and DAMNATION for the non-MAGA true Americans. The environment and ecosystems have zero chance. ZERO. So does secular scientific civilization. We have a culture in sheer denial of what is going down and going to happen in this country.
  3. You lost the argument when Derka pos-repped you. You also can't lead someone upfield running a slant. Ball has to be thrown 5 yards in front of him to be on time where the number two safety prospect in the country only has to close the other 5 yards to be there and he is already moving. Good luck.
  4. Ranch Fritos
  5. I saw Kellyanne doing a sideline report at a high school game last night and her introduction was as awkward as you’d expect. (I only saw her name displayed on the screen before.) Maybe I’m being childish but if they don’t leave some space between her first and last name and if you’re not paying close attention then you’re going to hear it wrong and I find that terribly amusing. I searched YouTube and found lots of examples. (Turns out she’s been with the local ABC affiliate for a couple years — shows you how much I watch them.) It would be better if she were hot and busty but here’s one example. I just can’t see her going far in broadcasting with that name. It has to invite snickers, right?
  6. I am 49 years old, and I still wake up too early on Game Day and can't fall back asleep. Let's get in the W column with many touchdowns to spare.
  7. Today
  8. Big respect to Almeida, helll of a ride yesterday
  9. these Dollar General cookies are exactly the same as Girl Scout Cookies but at half the price and sold year round
  10. 8AM. I'll be there around then.
  11. You guys are hilarious. Nothing is gonna happen.
  12. IU is not even in our top 10 list of most often played opponents. The story on campus was that we would schedule them in football as soon as they reciprocated in basketball (probably no longer true). There was also a pseudo-boycott of Bug10 schools way back. So no to IU, yes to Purdue.
  13. In case anyone has the same issue. I had trouble downloading my tickets using the TexasLonghorns app this morning; in prior years, I had been able to do it just fine. However, I was able to download them successfully using the https://TexasLonghorns.com/MyAccount link. After doing so, the app was then able to log in and manage my tickets. It's possible the issue was due to a maintenance window. Although I must say that the instructions from the athletic department did not mention the app they only mentioned the link.
  14. Bear here is what I will say. I find that this way of thinking about the world around me helps me out and perhaps it will help you as well. Think of all of the things that have importance in your life. Your family, your friends and other things in your personal life. Think of work related things as well and the importance they have in your life. Take this thought and apply it to the two previous things I mentioned. If you are still alive and kickin' in 20 years what will be the things of importance to you and what will be what matters in 20 years to you that also matters today. It won't be deadlines you had to meet at work or people you had to work with or work goals accomplished. The only thing that will matter 20 years from now that matters currently is your family and friends and how you treat people along the way. The rest of it just does not matter. Focus that big heart of yours on the things that intimately matter in your life and let the rest just be the rest. Keep doing good and keep being a positive light in the lives of folks that need it.
  15. Derka

    BB27

  16. I stand by saying that every time these people lie on camera there needs to be someone there to give them a shovel to the face.
  17. Wordle 1,540 4/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛🟩 ⬛🟨⬛⬛🟩 ⬛⬛🟩⬛🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
  18. Derka

    BB27

  19. I'd do both. Maybe divide it up between touristy and then reward with relaxation. Water is super relaxing + food. Not many places offer the scenic + clear, blue water. But you are right, there are nice beaches in a lot of places, but their differences are the problem. If I spend 5 or 6 days in cities, I'm going to almost want that equivalence vegging out somewhere I'm not fighting for space. I'm a super early riser to see sites without people, especially since I know how difficult it is to wake up kids and feed them, so I try to use that time to do the touristy things.
  20. Lack of depth chart has nothing to do with Bianco or whomever is in charge of texaslonghorns.com
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