EagleMBA

"Assault weapons" are, and have been, illegal. The use of the term always sets off an alarm that the user doesn't know his firearms very well. There is a reason why the scary-looking black rifle you can buy has a selector switch for "Safe" and "Fire" only, not to include "Burst". The weapon you buy that looks so scary can be bought in a not-so-scary configuration that functions the same. It is just a common semi-automatic rifle. A handgun is a handgun; most are semi-automatic, some people like revolvers. The price of the handgun should not come up, unless you're trying to imply socio-economic discrimination should play a part in gun control. I don't buy cheap shit...but to each his own. Shotguns are semi-auto or pump, usually limited to five or six rounds before reloading. Unless you are a collector of old weapons, have given the Government tons of paperwork and paid huge sums in "Stamps", and waited for months, plus forked over thousands of dollars for the weapon itself, you have one of the above. One that goes bang once each time you pull the trigger. My opinion is that all of this drama has ultimate goals of infringing on the individual's right to keep and bear arms and creating a national registration database. This, while diverting attention from the mental health problem in this country and the bureaucrats' inability to enforce the existing laws and manage the data they already have accumulated. Further affiant sayeth not.

Agree. The old "wounded tiger theory". Games like this make me very uneasy. We can listen to what coaches and players say, but we'll know for sure if they really meant it by about three minutes after kickoff.

Pluses: Homecoming, Weather, Clinch Western Div., Improve Bowl Profile, Remain Unbeaten At Home, Beatable Opponent, Revenge Factor, Opponent Has Lots Of Local Alumni Minuses: Opponent Having Poor Season, Opponent's Fans May Be Unmotivated To Attend My attendance prediction is: (inserts proprietary data into double-secret algorithm) 25,843

Mark's post raised a question in my mind. If we are losing kids we would like to retain to other schools, what are we doing to enhance the UNT programs in which those kids would logically enroll? Not trying to be critical folks, what can be done to elevate those programs so the kids stay and progress to graduation from UNT? It seems to me that the way to get a larger return on the TAMS investment is to make the investments necessary to strengthen certain departments/programs and enhance their academic reputations. More TAMS students might continue on here.

I honestly have mixed emotions. I know he could contribute if we could get him on the field in game shape. I give him credit for being a competitor that wants to be out there. My conflict is with my desire for his long-term well-being. If there is a chance that he is not quite recovered or if there is an increased risk of re-injury (could end his playing career if bad enough), then I want him to sit out. SL can play the NCAA Appeal Lottery and hope for the best for Mr. English.

We can't afford the luxury of feeling bad for them. We must focus and win this game because there is too much at stake. Oh, and we had a new coach last year...payback is a bitch! Please don't fall for the "woe is me" rhetoric from them, then watch them come out balls-on-fire and maybe pull an upset. The fisherman has no compassion for the bait!

UTEP lost to Army 35 - 21 on 9/30 and UTSA 31 - 14 on 10/28. They only gave up BIG points to Okla. and Arizona, so they must play some defense. That 21 points has been their maximum offensive output. I took these into consideration in whomping up my prediction. I think we'll score 5 TDs and settle for 3 FGs. We will allow them to match their season's best scoring. Mean Green Eagles 44 Unshaven, Burro-riding, Pickaxe-wielding, Rock-digging People 21

When UTEP breaks their huddle and comes to the line of scrimmage, THIS is what I want their center to see as he prepares to snap the ball:

To quote the famous Benjamin Dover:

Oh! And there is more! This just in, an email headline from the Washington Post: "Texas gunman should not have been able to buy a firearm, but the Air Force failed to alert FBI to his violent past" "The Air Force says it failed to follow policies for alerting federal law enforcement about Devin P. Kelley, enabling the former service member, who killed 26 churchgoers Sunday in South Sutherland, Tex., to obtain guns before the shooting rampage." "Kelley should have been barred from purchasing firearms and body armor due to his domestic violence conviction in 2014 while serving at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Kelley was sentenced to a year in prison and kicked out of the military with a bad conduct discharge following two counts of domestic abuse against his wife and a child, according to an Air Force spokeswoman." What law are you going to cook up to address THIS issue? Looks like this dude got a pass from everyone.

I just saw this article and will pass along the link. This dude had many, many warning signs, based on his profile. Wow! NO law would have done anything about this guy. It was not the gun...it was the nutcase holding it. Too many people saw and heard things (and did and said nothing); they apparently just turned him off. "Weirdo...not my problem". He has been sending signals for years!! We have seen this common thread before. http://www.wnd.com/2017/11/mental-health-now-focus-of-texas-church-shooting-investigation/

I love my doctor (in a manly sort of way) and trust him implicitly. He would certainly make an accurate determination if I were as crazy as an outhouse rat (and about to go off) due to his quality experience over time. I'm not sure about a couple of specialists he has referred me to in the past. I guess what I'm trying to say is that "it takes one to know one", i.e., I would be more comfortable discussing guns with a medical professional who was a fellow NRA member. Maybe one who has had military service. At the moment, my physician and I are at "don't ask, don't tell". He did go to Texas Tech ("Guns Up!")...does that count? A law that allows intrusive questioning could open the door to abuse for physicians with an anti-gun agenda, IMO.

Very thoughtful post. I appreciated reading it, even though I don't agree with everything you say. People who are legally prevented from obtaining a firearm but want one are going to find a way to get one. They will steal, they will buy from a thief, they will find an unscrupulous seller. No amount of laws will prevent that. The laws on the books now are sufficient to deal with people who violate those laws. The problem is mental health, IMO, and the politically-correct pressure to look the other way. I just underwent my annual checkup with my long-time personal physician. He asked all of the right questions but if he had asked about my firearms I would have told him it was none of his business. My audiologist knows, because external noise exposure over time is why I need him. He has a need to know. Having held a security clearance and passed FBI background checks for both military and civilian positions, having been honorably discharged, and holding a current CHL, I have submitted to all the anal probes I feel are required. Concentrate the fire on those sick or evil people with no moral compass...and do not infringe on my rights in any way.

One I can think of offhand is the casinos in Shreveport. Just ask someone who did the trip to LA Tech if they had a good time (if they layed up in Shreveport a couple of nights). It is like getting a twofer...football and a gambling trip. San Antonio, not so much.

Take this win, however it came, and savor it tonight. Tomorrow start thinking about payback for UTEP for that ass-whipping they put on us last season.

Have a wedding reception I must attend. Yippee. It is built around a brunch and it will be over before kickoff. Dave and Hank will insure that I won't miss a snap. YIPPEE!!!!

I made my earlier post from intermission at the Dallas Symphony, where I was letting Copland, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky polish off some of my rough edges. Checked the score then and saw that Marshall had come back. What happened? I trusted you guys to put up enough points to win while I was absorbing some culture. Jeez! Can't get good help anymore!! :(

It is still the third quarter. Now tied. Perhaps the dog that shits fast won't shit long.

Exactly. Looks like an effort to dilute the program's profile and success. We can't go around having excellence.

As I recall, that wooded area was elevated and there was a parking lot adjacent to it, maybe the south or southwest side. It was a nice spot and the basketball arena was open for restroom use. Things may have changed so don't take it as gospel. Since this is their Homecoming, I would think they might be using spaces like that.

How 'bout them Astros!! They got this title the hard way...they earrrrnned it. This series had some of the most heart-rate-intensive baseball I can ever remember. A tip of the hat from a Rangers fan to the Astros.

I have been thinking about this game and, in fact, I'm a little queasy. On reflection, that is probably the flu shot I got today. We are overdue to go off, so I'm going to stick my neck out and say we kick the bull out of the dogs: Eagles 51 Dogs 42

The times that I have made that trip, I always tried to hit this place. Downtown, on the west side of the river, not too far off the interstate. Good Cajun chow. I usually stayed at Diamond Jack's, east side of the river and just south of the freeway.

The latest weapon of choice, here and in Europe, appears to be a hijacked or rented box truck. I demand that legislation be passed forcing all rental companies to run background checks on all persons who wish to rent a box truck. Perhaps a waiting period should be imposed. Sick people/criminal people are gonna do what they feel like doing, at the expense of law-abiding people. Don't take away the rights of law-abiding people...look for sick people and criminals.