circles of influence

I truly believe that in every one's life there are circles of influence, or layers of understanding.  That each persons reality or world view, their political leanings, their attitude in life is bent by these different circles.  The closer they are to a person's core, the greater the bending of the world around them.  It also dictates how we spend our day, the kind of media we consume, and how we act on a daily basis.

Just as a rough example I will use food and printed word.

1. gammies meat loaf, your mother's diary
2. round rock donuts, your church bulletin
3. hamburgers, USA Today

The things in the inner layer are all personal.  They are only shared by a handful of people over the course of your whole life.

The things in the next layer are all unique to your community or town.  A few hundred to ten's of thousands of people get to share these with you.

The outer layer are things that you share with everyone.  There isn't really anything special about these until you are out of the country (ever wanted that hamburger when you are in Europe? its the best McDonalds you ever tasted).

Of course there are many more layers than three.  But it makes it much easier to understand by simplifying it.  I believe it works kind of like a whirlpool, the closer you get to the center the higher the magnitude of the pull and the greater the influenced on your world.  Which explains why you can feel closer with some people over others even when it seams like they should be the same.

That's why you are closer to some of your friends than others.  Even if to outsiders it seems like they have flaws (don't we all), it doesn't matter to you.  They understand the moments that shape your life.

cool, no worries, it is what it is.

-G-

Waste - Buying Beer With Your Food Stamps

Is it wasteful for someone to buy beer or cigarettes with their food stamps?  Why?  People like to complain about things like this as some sort of example on government waste.  And then they go on and on about tax dollars being thrown out the window..... buying beer instead of bread..... blah blah blah.

From an economic perspective you should be jumping for joy. Welfare dollars go right into your local economy.  Last time I looked they had an economic impact of like a $1.06 for every dollar that is spent.  They give people who need them the ability to buy more and give more people jobs ringing up merchandise, stocking shelves, driving trucks to the stores, etc.  Also, last time I checked the things at the grocery store including the Miller High Life's and Marlboro cigarette are mostly American made.

So its really a question of what they should be allowed to spend money on.  And I understand the point of view that says it should only be allowed to be spent on health things.  But who gets to draw the line?  What about sugary breakfast cereal?  Or ho-ho's?

Then there's the people that want to give out drug tests before handing out welfare.  Which of course will cost money to perform.  So that's wasteful.  But it will be jobs for the people to administer.  People to make the pee cups.  Hand out the pee cups.  Test the pee in the cups.  Write up the reports.....  Of course it will be our tax dollars creating these jobs.

So to sum it up.  Does it really matter?  Is there such a thing as government waste?  Doesn't it really just translate to jobs?  So why fight about it?  You could argue for greater accountability or more open records.  But you really can't stop the cycle.

In honesty, none of this really upsets me.  But to some people it's an outlet.  They are mad about something in there lives and they are blaming it on others.  No one in particular, just these face-less, name-less others who must be gaming the system and wasting their hard earned tax dollars.  But in reality these are people that need help.  And if you can come up with a better system, I'm sure people would love to hear it.

Cool.  No worries.  It is what it is.

-G-

Texas Football, The End of the Gilbert Era?

So its 3am and I can't sleep.  Texas just won a way closer than it should have been victory over BYU 17-16.  We used 3 different quarterbacks in the game and unless things change in a hurry, I am expecting to win about 6 games this season.  Why only 6, because we won't commit on a QB.  If we would leave Gilbert in the whole season, we would probably win 8 maybe 9.  But that just isn't good enough for Texas fans.  We'd rather throw away this season, so we can be "great" next year. 

Here is a question for you.  Who is the fan favorite at quarterback?
Answer: whoever isn't in the game.

Let me say this about Garrett Gilbert, he is head and shoulders above the other 2 quarterbacks when it comes to talent on this team.  The guy can flat out sling the rock.  He also has a decent set of wheels, remember the Nebraska game last year, in Lincoln.  He is one of the greatest QB's in the history of Texas high school football.  He won 2 state titles.  The guy can play!  His lack of success on the football field at UT belongs to the coaches and the unrealistic, spoiled Texas fans.

Texas fans say they want to win BCS games and championships, well take a look at teams that do that around the country.  Very few ask their QB's to do what we ask of Gilbert.  Look in the SEC.  Bama and LSU are starting guys with half of Garrett's ability.  Instead, they use their running backs and defense to win games.  They throw the deep ball.... after setting it up with the run.... and only when they have a match-up advantage.  When we sub in Ash and McCoy 2, all we do is run, we have no passing game beyond 5 yards, yet magically, they led us on several successful drives.  HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?  Oh, because we have 4 Running Backs that most teams would kill to have 1 of.  If the back-ups can hand off the ball... then so can Gilbert.  The difference being with Garrett in the game we have an actual chance of throwing down the field passes, like the two 50+ yarders to Davis LAST WEEK.  How many catches did Davis have this week? 0!  Our best receiver had 0 catches.

If Gilbert would have gone to a SEC school or a BIG 10 school he would be talked about as one of the top QB's in their conference, instead he came to Texas, where he gets boo'd when he runs on the field.  How am I the only one seeing this?  So now what Texas fans?  Ash?  McCoy2?  So you can boo them in a few weeks when OU kicks our heads in?  Having no starting QB is the worst thing you can do.  Believe me, I was there in Dallas at the Big 12 championship game when Simms was boo'd off the field and we lost to Colorado, a team we had beat earlier that year by 30.  I was there in San Diego when VY got boo'd off the field at the Holiday Bowl and we lost to Washington State.  It's like we never learn.  I heard several times tonight that Gilbert didn't show enough leadership, that's because Texas fans have ruined him.  Booing him and bad mouthing him on local radio and message boards.  The coaches have given into it and yanked him off the field several times and now his psyche is shot.  If they didn't think Gilbert was the guy, they should have never started him this year.

The kids that Texas recruits are talented and gifted players.  Most of them can go to any school they want.  If the Longhorns lose on the field it isn't due to a lack of ability.  Playing for Texas has become incredibly high pressure, it's like playing for the Yankees.  The guys that are successful aren't necessarily the most talented, but the ones that can handle the rabid and fickle mob of obsessed fanatics.  But unlike the Yankees, these aren't 30 year old men making millions, they are 18, 19, and 20 year old college kids.

Texas fans need to take a deep breath, step back, and hope Mack sticks with Gilbert.  He is our best shot at winning the Big 12 and he has earned the right to be our quarterback.  Garrett has fought through the ups and downs and we as fans need to cheer for him and not against him.

Thanks for the read... hook'em!

Mack Under Attack

Mack is under attack from fans and local sports media guys.  Some are saying he doesn't have the passion anymore.  Some are saying he should resign.  Many think Mack was unprepared for Muschamp to leave and now is questioning his coaching legacy.  All I can say is "are y'all out of your minds or are you trying to get your 5 mins of fame kicking Texas when they are down?"  Yes, we had a 5-7 season.  Yes, I am every bit as dissatisfied as you are.  But what if I told you back in 1997. "Over the next 13 years if you hire Mack Brown as head coach you will have: 9 seasons with 10 or more wins, you will go to 4 BCS games and win 3, you will have more players in the NFL than any other school, you will become known as defensive back U, you will have 2 of the top 10 players in the history of college football, and lastly you will win a national championship, but you will have 1 season where you go 5-7...... or....... you can take your chances with some one else."  And your choice would be?  Mine would be Mack.  But you may be one of those fans who grumbled when we hired him instead of Bob Davie.  Ask an Irish fan how that worked out.  College football is always a wave.  You peak with a certain group of players and go back into the valley for a year or two.  Texas has just been very lucky to avoid the usual flow of things for a decade.  In the long run this year will be good for us.  Would you rather have beaten Iowa St and now be focusing on the gallery star furniture .com bowl?  Or take your lumps in a year that you weren't a national contender and use it to build the team.  I'm not trying to go overboard with excuses, but I am trying to be honest.  UT will be fine.  We will get some new blood in the coaching staff and in a few years you won't even remember this season.  Never forget.... it could be worse, just ask the Dallas Cowboys.

Hook'em