I feel a certain way about the news of airlines lifting their mask mandates for a few reasons, and I'll tell you why.

What Happened?

According to Reuters, United Airlines, American, Delta, Southwest Airlines Alaska Airlines and JetBlue all announced Tuesday morning that masks are now optional.

Uber and Lyft also announced that they have tossed out their mask mandates for drivers and riders. Reuters reports that Disney also followed suit, saying that wearing masks would be optional for fully vaccinated visitors, but still recommends that you wear a mask if you aren't vaccinated.

While some may look at this as a good thing, I am looking at it differently.

Yes it's good we don't have to wear uncomfortable masks, but is that really safe?

COVID Numbers Are Drastically Dropping In Bell County

According to the Bell County Public Health's Dashboard, Bell County is at a Level 4, controlled transmission which means the transmission is limited. New outbreaks are quickly controlled and public healthcare systems are within capacity. As of  April 18th, there was one recorded case of a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

You read that right - just one person.

There are only 54 active cases of the virus in the entire county, so the reasoning behind ending a mask mandate is 100% justified.

My Opinion On Masks Has Changed

When I travel to Austin Bergstrom International Airport, as frequently as I do, I get annoyed having to wear a face mask as I travel throughout the airport. Frankly, it really pisses me off wearing a mask on the plane. Sometimes it's hard to breathe, and sometimes I get a headache. The list of complaints could go on, but I was fine wearing a mask as long as others had to wear one too.

Now while we are still in a global pandemic twoyears later, and running into passengers who have been to other states and countries where COVID still runs rampant (we are STILL in a global pandemic) concerns me.

But I guess I have to get over it now, huh?

This $170M Texas Ranch With 65,000 Acres Is a Dog Lover’s Dream Home

Mesa Vista, the 65,000-acre Panhandle ranch, which belonged to oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens until his death three years ago, has been up for sale since 2017. The list of mind-blowing amenities is long, but for the price it's quite a deal!

The property includes its own golf course, a chapel with a memory garden, an airport with a private apartment for the pilot, and a 40-unit kennel, complete with a bronze dog sculpture in front of the building. Pickens, who was an avid hunter and dog lover, told Land Report in 2015Back when I couldn’t afford one bird dog, I had two. When I couldn’t afford two, I had three.”

Let's take a look around this incredible piece of property, which was recently reduced from $250 to $170 million, and see what kind of luxuries you and your furry friends could enjoy!

The Most Dangerous City in Texas for 2022 May Surprise You

According to FBI statistics, Texas had 438 violent crimes and 2,562 property crimes per 100,000 residents as of this year. For every 100,000 residents, there are 224 police officers statewide.

Crime rates are expressed as the number of incidents per 100,000 people.

Texas' Top 15 Pro Athletes from the Past 25 Years in No Particular Order

Texas' Top 15 Pro Athletes from the Past 25 Years in No Particular Order

These are, in my opinion, the Top 15 Professional athletes from the past 25 years.

Of course, we'll start with the Dallas Cowboys (of course we will) and go from there.

The NFL's most prized franchise won 3 World Championships in the 1990s in 1992, 1993, and 1995.

Those teams saw numerous Hall Of Fame coaches and players from Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. 

You can't forget about the dynasty the San Antonio Spurs had that started in the late 90s and came into the 200s as an NBA Powerhouse winning 5 NBA Championships led by players such as David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and in their later years Kawhi Leonard.

What about that 2011 Dallas Mavericks team that gave Dallas their first-ever NBA Championship under the leadership of Dirk Nowitski, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and company?

We definitely can't deny new superstar Luka Doncic and the Mavericks of today inching closer and closer to becoming a dominant West Coast Team.

I would be foolish not to mention those Houston Rockets teams that repeated as NBA Champions in the mid-90s, (I did say past 25 years right?) and the James Harden led team, who along with Chris Paul boosted the Rockets to the playoffs year after year ultimately leading them to the Western Conference Finals.

Here are my top 15..

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