The Deck at 260 Part 26

We're on the deck for the Christmas edition. Quite a week despite many people being sick and waiting last minute for certain Holiday items. Here's the lineup. 

Sharrone Moore

Sickness/viruses/measles

Celebrity deaths this week 

Christmas Eve/Day plans

Is Christmas stuff done and why or why not? 

I cannot stop discussing nor thinking about former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. By now most know what he did as memes continue to surface and even his mugshot. However when you're creeping on your wife for two years with your assistant and all of the other messiness, how does your inner circle allow this to take place? Unless they truly didn't know. 

We now have the seasonal illnesses including a bad flu and virus going around. The biggest news in Upstate SC is a measles outbreak. Yes measles! This all of course brings up the vaccine debate again. I will just state a few points: 1. Please wash your hands. 2. Remember that vaccines have historically did well for herd immunity (please do your research, we just got out of a pandemic), 3. Don't trust anyone's food or cooking at holiday gatherings. 4. Dress for the season. and 5. Stop going places if you know you're sick and contagious. Ugh this happens every season because some people do not learn. 

The Grim Reaper is targeting the celebrities again. First Rob Reiner and his wife, then Steve Taneyhill and now Greg Biffle and his entire family. It's already hard enough celebrating without those that have already left us and being sick. We need to keep up the holiday spirit. 

Ok why do people wait until the last minute every year for everything Christmas related. From shopping to parties to family plans? It's the only holiday I see people talk about year round but are rarely prepared. Financially I get it far as gifts or the type of gift exchange. Now gathering shouldn't be as much of an issue as many make it to be. 

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all! Remember the true reason for the season. 

The Deck at 260 Part 25

It's officially bonfire season on the deck. I have a fire burning, my coveralls on and ready to discuss nearly two weeks of topics. 

Lane Kiffin, Christmas lights, Diddy, CFP, ND, Gaffney shootings, SNAP ban

College football is really heating up the deck this time of year as it's bowl/playoff season! In the midst of upsets and notable omissions from the CFP, Lane Kiffin is once again headed to another program. Ok he is clearly not the person at 50 that he was at 30. However he has a track record for not staying long at any program so why would anyone hire him with long term expectations? Also I see nothing wrong with allowing him to coach Ole Miss throughout the playoffs. He has made this program relevant again and wants to finish what he started. There is still so much to correct in college football. 

Notre Dame was left out of the playoff and has opted out of their bowl bid with BYU. I honestly have no problem with either. College playoff selection committee should expect this for a while. Outside of money and a strong finish, if the national championship isn't at stake, there isn't a strong reason for any team (especially one with upperclassmen headed to the pros) to stay, play and risk injury. I respect those like Kirk Herbstreit but that's a dated way of thinking. 

The biggest topic that we can't avoid is the newest (yep another) Diddy documentary. Just know this is parallel to OJ in the 90s. Fans and media are going to run this into the ground, at least until his sentence and sentencing are over. I'm done watching it at this point. Yes what Diddy and those did were heinous. However what are we accomplishing by rehashing the same story over and over? It's time for solutions and a way to move forward. 

I'm into the Christmas spirit more than ever. However I cannot believe how much people are paying to see overglamourized Christmas light shows. These are honestly people with more money than sense and failing to go to places with similar value but for lower prices. Why are many failing to see.the capitalism behind all of this? This is one of the aspects about the holiday season that I despise the most. 

There are far too many shootings in Gaffney, SC in the same area just recently and in the city the past few years. When are law enforcement going to focus more on effective solutions? There's mitigating the violence proactively, attacking the drug addiction problem and making it harder to obtain guns. There are already gun laws out there, no need to take away firearms from law abiding citizens. It's time to think outside of the box to keep them away from those that don't deserve them. 

We knew stuff would change with SNAP. And now at least in South Carolina sodas and candy cannot be purchased. I said years ago these are items that shouldn't be restricted. One modification could be an itemization of SNAP items based on household. For instance a single parent of 1 child that receives $800/month should only be allocated $200 for "junk food". There are ways to combat this and I cannot stand when the powers to be lack both compassion and critical thinking skills. 

It's getting colder but there's much more to discuss weekly on The Deck as we get closer to 12/25.