UTDD

Fair enough, I think we just define superstar differently and totally agree with your points about the need to make defenses fear him more than they do now. For me right now even Embiid is not a superstar yet but he's getting there. I think Simmons has to be the best PG in the league (or clearly elite enough that it doesn't matter if he's say 2nd) that can carry the team on all levels and clearly be the best at his position to get that title. Right now, I'd only say LeBron, Curry, Durant, Davis, and maybe Giannis are actual superstars. Maybe Kawhi if things go well, maybe Harden. I'd probably stick with the first four only personally as of today although everyone else listed here is awesome.

I think they had more possible value last summer for their assets and missed a chance, but I think their GM situation might have had an impact. They still could do something this summer as I am skeptical this roster as is can win it all, although if Simmons developed into a true superstar it's possible I suppose.

I think all three of these are fair although #1 doesn't impact me personally much. I think Cruz is pretty much a scumbag and not a true Texan so he was vulnerable to me. I think Beto also should have run a lot more ads about how Cruz visited all Iowa counties to run for President but what has he done for Texas in the same vein while he (Beto) has visited every county? What is Cruz's real priority, Texas....or Cruz? What has he done in the last 4 years? There was a good opening for negative attack ads and I think he didn't utilize it enough. On the other hand, I think Cruz ran a very good TV ad attacking Beto as more extreme compared to Warren/Sanders etc on TV. That works in Texas.

You can one way out from camp to prior locales with the lodging upgrade at I think 325 bucks after you upgrade the 200 dollar one first. You have to use cash with stagecoach to fast travel the other way, which I do quite often now for areas I have explored already.

I know a few people that do it that way because they can get time off work and often people take a half day with no resistance for that reason.

I really like Toronto's defensive potential. Good length and speed everywhere. They definitely can win the East if they play well. OG/Siakim/Ibaka/Kawhi are really good parts for a great defensive lineup and guys like Green are no slouches either and he was All-Defense 2nd team pretty recently to boot. I think Lowry is no slouch defensively either even with his size.

Embiid is looking more efficient on offense and has clearly worked on trying to limit his turnovers from last year. Considering he was already very advanced defensively, his new possible offensive upgrade is making him into a complete two-way center at a very elite level. It's exciting watching him develop from his injured past to where he is right now where he might get in the future. I'm extremely excited for the NBA right now with big men like Davis, Embiid, and Jokic out there even with the calls of death knells for big men in today's NBA. I think Simmons is also an incredible talent but is still 1-2 years away from being a more complete player. Having said that, he's still amazing. Philly needs to take advantage of their cap window. I think they only have like mid-60s in cap for next year, so they can make moves before Simmons is up, and they have an albatross contract in Chandler coming off the books too. Having Covington at his current rate is huge too, because I think he's very high value at that price when you consider what many other teams are paying for similar - and often inferior - wings. I think it's one of the best contract gambles in the NBA right now, he's already a good value and could end up even better.

I think statistically it was about a 75% or so shot to make a 38 yard field goal and about the same odds to make 1 yard. So I would have gone for it.

Well, let's see after this Tuesday, I think 2018 is mostly defined by this day more than any other. Also, each district/county/state is different than one another, so I don't think you can blanket statement that kind of thing so easily. I think it's a case by case basis and it greatly depends on the specific opponent, demographics, potential base turnouts, prior voting history/trends, and many other factors. If Manchin or Tester for example didn't run in the middle somewhat, they would possibly get annihilated in their specific situations. Whether Beto's strategy was best will be greatly shown Tuesday. I personally think he ran a good campaign except for his TV ads so I can't fault him much overall.

I think Beto ran to try and turn out in his mind a dormant base that has never been fully committed and motivated enough to make a difference in Texas. He could have tried to run as a moderate to siphon off some voters that way, but you can't easily fault someone for running as their authentic self. I get the sense he'd rather lose as himself than triangulate just to win. I think his grass roots campaigning has been good for him but also other candidates in this and future cycles. Even if Beto loses, he might help a few local candidates get over the hump with increased turnout. My only real gripe with his campaign has been his TV stuff -- I think the ads I have seen haven't been very good and did not showcase his personal charisma and appeal. I think he should have ran more like Obama did in 2008 on TV -- showcasing a movement for change (showing crowds/individual people (that other Texans could identify with) being emotionally moved with Beto and with their real problems maybe being addressed) and real impact in Texas and get people excited about a larger theme that way...

He still missed a few key throws with a painful miss on Beck and then Ingram in the end zone, but overall, he is hugely improved from last year. He went from a true liability and concern on turnovers to essentially as good as you can reasonably expect with TOs at the QB position. That's a gigantic change to me. His vision is better and he is much faster on his progressions from last year. He's tough and has good moxie and competitive spirit you want from the position. I am confident he could be really something as a junior, and I am very confident Comsi can play either tackle position next year well too which is a great feeling going into next year. I am still curious how Rising is as a passer too, but right now no real complaints.

The ugly truth is that there are still a lot of stupid people in America. At least now it is mostly harder to be so blatant about it, but it's still out there for sure.

Agreed. Texas is the real danger for the GOP and while I don't think Texas turns blue yet, I do think in about 10-15 years, Texas could absolutely be a strong purple with trends as they are now.

As much as Texas has some interesting drama on a minor level. I think Georgia and Florida's elections are so much more nasty and crazy on a number of levels. I am very curious how that turns out for both states.

Sure I get that too, but I don't care if they are from Mars, I just want talent.

I can get that for some people but for me personally, I desperately would appreciate certain more certain types of talent coming into Austin specifically. I literally cannot find a few specific people for work that has been dormant locally for months with extensive recruiting and right now is remote hired out of California in the meantime.

I think Tech only has a chance if OU has turnovers -- that helped Texas too in their game. Maybe it goes like OU 44, Tech 35 or something along those lines.

I hadn't seen the actual penalty until that article -- it looks pretty tame to me personally. Not a fan of either team at all so I don't feel biased saying that at all.

20-21, I am not sure the team has enough shooting. I feel ok otherwise in this prediction.

Relief that the shitstorm of political ads and dumb talking heads is mostly over, but a sense of foreboding knowing that the 2020 train is speeding towards my living room...

The CIA/NSA/NRO and more always have and always will spy on domestics as needed -- anyone thinking otherwise is way too naive. I also happen to think it's helped the country on more than one occasion despite the ugly reality of it.

Republicans wouldn't be shifting on pre-existing conditions like they are if they didn't already know it matters a lot to people. You even saw Trump tweet about Republicans protecting pre-existing conditions. It's a real issue.

Many conservative judges are pretty textualist/originalist (Scalia wing) and it's hard for me to see how the 14th Amendment can be tweaked to be interpreted differently than what appears to be it's plain meaning on birthright citizenship. I think it would take the sort of judicial activism you ordinarily would not see from a Gorsuch type judge. While there was some other meaning behind it specific to the Scott case, it also clarified a pretty plain meaning right in my humble opinion. I personally wasn't happy with Obama overreaching sometimes on executive orders and the same applies for me with Trump. The nature and reach of executive power and jurisprudence by judges is far more critical long-term than any one political issue or party/politician.

That one is going down to the wire I think. Much like Nevada most likely. The fear about pre-existing conditions on health care is very real in Arizona and she is getting pounded in ads for her prior votes on Obamacare. Republicans in general are shifting strategy to say they support saving pre-existing conditions just as much as Democrats now.

I think the team overall is a little better, but still a lot of work to do. I think the offense has marginally improved, but still with some key concerns right now. This year, red zone scoring % is 78.6% which is very bad at 101st nationally. Last year, Texas was at....78.7% red zone scoring. A minor improvement in converting third downs with 42.9% this year versus 38.1% last year. Slightly more points, yards, and points per play across the board but none of these ranking well with best rank being 31.2 PPG at 40th nationally. The lack of offensive turnovers is also a nice improvement which has helped win games. The defense is down this year, but not terrible. The biggest difference I suspected by the eye test and I think confirmed by statistics is Texas can't get off the field on third down. Last year, Texas ranked # 3 in the entire nation in 3rd down conversion percentage at 27.1% allowed and this year they are at 39% so that's a pretty big change to me. Punting is not the same which hurts the defense as well. I'm hopeful for the future but have no issues believing that Texas could win or lose virtually any game this year (not Kansas perhaps) with what I see with the eyes and on paper. I do like the talent from this class and going forward, I am hopeful the team becomes great.