Bobcatfans magazine Feb 2010

February 2010

Mardi On The Square n a S

Burgernomics A Lesson in Fast Food

Trip Out

s o c r a M

Gadgets of 2010 Sweet New Toys

BobcatFans Magazine| 1 Last Minute Spring Break Getaways

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with

BobcatFans’

Mardi On The Square Bash

February 16th Beads start flying at 10pm

$200+ Prize Pack to the best dressed Mardi Gras Partier

Hurricanes and Drink Specials All Night Long!

139 East Hopkins Street (512) 878-2448 HarpersPublicHouse.com

2 | BobcatFans Magazine

BobcatFans Magazine| 3

Maroon and Gold Team Publisher/CEO Rick Koch Art Director Will Bowling WBCreative.org Editor-In-Chief Steve Helsing

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Featured Contributors: Erik Helsing Tiffany Matthews David Eyre Max Strickler Robert Wood Chris Lehman Heath Herrera Contributors: Austin Nichols Brodie Corinth Michael Kelton Mark Hendricks Texas State Media Relations

Photos courtesy of Luciano Guerra & Texas State Media Relations

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Advertising Opportunities: rick@bobcatfans.com 361-236-5624 Copyright 2010 by: BobcatFans L.L.C. 4380 Mather Kyle, Texas 78640

The Roster 14 Deep Inside Mardi Gras Just the facts ma’am, just the facts.

07 David Eyre’s Think About It! Inaction is an action in itself.

09 Gadgets of 2010 Get your hands off my iPad.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part is

prohibited.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: BobcatFans.com BobcatFans Magazine is not an official publication of Texas State University but is The Official Publication for Bobcat Fans World Wide.

12 What It’s Like... The man who loves Guinness.

17 Burgernomics A drive-thru round up.

18 Subway Player of the Month Borski takes the mound.

19 Baseball 2010 Who’s coming to town.

25 Travel Last minute Spring Break trips.

Hello New Year, Hello New Decade, Hello 30!

That’s right folks, your resident BobcatFans Publisher is turning old. I really like having a “2” (as in twenties) at the beginning of my age but I will be saying goodbye to that numeral this month.

The 29 year-old me decided I needed to prioritize my life and set some new goals for the upcoming 30 year-old me. “Better at 30 than I was at 29” is my mantra for the year. A little corny but I don’t care.

I will share my physical goals with you. I need to lose a lot of weight!

Friends often refer to me as “Big Rick” for distinction. I am not a fan of the title, but I don’t blame them.

So the 29 year-old me contemplated a bit at the ending of 2009 and acknowledged that I wasn’t going to

4 | BobcatFans Magazine

do something by the time I was 30, I definitely wasn’t going to be happy with myself. Indeed I won’t be.

So on November 30th I joined a gym and started to take time to work on me as my first and foremost project. I figured if I joined a month before the New Year I would be more likely to follow through. So far, so good!

As of the time I wrote this I had lost 35 lbs. Not a bad start, but it will only matter if I finish. So setting realistic expectations, I want to drop 100lbs by the time you read the Feb/ 2011 issue of BobcatFans Magazine.

Lofty goal I know. But I think I can do it so I’m gonna try. For those

Publishers letter interested in following my progress you can go to BobcatFans.com and look for my blog. I should have a couple blog entries in there by the time this issue is on the stands.

On another note- FYI, BobcatFans is hosting a Mardi Gras Bash at Harpers Public House on the square Feb 16th. There will be all kinds of drink specials so come by and catch a few beads from the balcony and hang out with us on Fat Tuesday.

Here’s to a new decade! Let’s make it a good one for us, our family, and our friends.

Rick Koch

the Tidbits

Local Madden King to be Crowned Underground games

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Do you have mad Madden skills? Bored of constantly schooling all of your friends? Think you have what it takes to be the best of the best? Well then now is your chance to prove it in the first ever BobcatFans Madden Tournament. This bracket style tournament will lavish prizes on the baddest thumbs in town and the winner will be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine. Not to mention have bragging rights over, well, just about everyone.

The tournament will be held on March 6th at noon. There are a Just stop by Underground Games (across from Which Wich) to sign up and reserve your spot. Go to GameMoreNow.com or BobcatFans. com for additional information.

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Are you someone who likes to party? Are you someone who likes to hang out on the square at all times of the night? Do you know everything that is going on in the San Marcos night life scene? Would you care to share your experience and expertise with fellow Bobcats?

BobcatFans.com is looking for bloggers for the website to keep the Bobcat faithful up to date with the latest and greatest happenings in the area. If that’s you, please send your thoughts and ideas for a new blog to BobcatFans@gmail. com and you could become a staple on one of the largest websites covering the life and times of Bobcat fans.

rigs for the smaller alternative.

Tata Motors is placing their bets on it appealing to Americans and is preparing aggressively.

One thing for certain is affordable mass produced vehicles will be assaulting the U.S. shores sooner than later. When us Texans get our chance at a first hand look of the Nano, the price tag will likely be somewhere around $5,000-$7,500.”

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Worlds Cheapest Car Behold the Tata Nano. Created

by Tata Motors out of India, this sub-subcompact 4-seater is set to hit the U.S. market in less than three years. The 50 mile per gallon Nano was a huge topic of discussion at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The extremely affordable Nano costs only $2,500 in India and has a top speed of 65 mph. Experts debate over whether Americans are ready to trade in their big

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ence compared to what it sells for in India is that some of the car’s features, including meeting U.S. emissions standards, would need to be modified. The Nano debuts in Europe in 2011.

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Mardi on the Square

Picture yourself in the middle of the French Quarter wearing a colorful mask, an elegant costume and, of course, Mardi Gras beads. You are a stranger in the crowd of masked faces, and the smell of spicy Cajun cuisine is so close that it makes your mouth water.

The upbeat sounds of New Orleans carnival music are everywhere. Everyone is offering you beaded necklaces of all shapes and colors. People are in the streets celebrating the fun, colorful and exciting carnival that is Mardi Gras.

Then, you snap out of your dream and realize you have neither the means nor the time to travel to the crazy festival in New Orleans. Yet, there is a part of you wanting to break out and celebrate. Let BobcatFans create the feeling for you.

While we are no New Orleans, we will be hosting the biggest FAT TUESDAY Bash the San Marcos Square has ever seen! BobcatFans is taking over Harpers Public House and transforming it into a bead throwing paradise on February 16th. Dress up, get beads and party in SM like you were in The Big Easy.

Tweet Back Follow us @ twitter.com/BobcatFans BigRedinTejas @BobcatFans Eff’ing Horns fans. It’s not like UT is on. Eat’em Up Cats! kbohls @BobcatFans Congrats to the Cats. atxsports @BobcatFans Jumbotron shouldn’t have to ask.

They should just know.

GumbysSanMarcos@BobcatFans We will be opening next to the 7-11 next to Campus. We would love to have you guys come in. I am always reading the forum on your site

Pen waited for Paper to Catch Up Head Football Coach Brad Wright, to the relief of many fans who follow the recruiting season, finally signed his contract with Texas State University to remain the head cheese for 3 more years. So what took so long?

Lawyers and agents were hashing it out over the legal jargon and fine print for what seemed like an eternity to Bobcat faithful. “I am very pleased and excited with the progress of the contract”,

said Wright in an earlier statement, “We are in the negotiation stage where the school is looking to protect their best interests and I am looking to protect myself”.

The final contract has been reported to raise Wright’s salary to around $190,000 per season with incentives that could give him an earning potential close to $300K for a national championship.

In the Forum Women’s Basketball 99-18 lose to Baylor 1/2/10

Football: Bobcats @ Cougars Sept. 4th

RiverRatCat06 wrote: Maybe we

Jody wrote: Woohoo,

should let the volleyball team play the rest of our basketball schedule.

TXST wrote: 18 points by Texas State

marks the fewest total points by a Baylor opponent in NCAA history, breaking the previous mark of 26 points by Oklahoma State on Jan. 11, 2006.

Txstatesco wrote: We made more

headlines with this game than any this season! Bad publicity is still publicity?! right!

6 | BobcatFans Magazine

sounds like fun. Anybody know Case Keenum? If so they need to remind him what happened to Bradford during his senior year!

deftool33 wrote: Yeah

now i have a reason to go visit family in houston HAHA!!

Canaquedista Man wrote: I predict that TEXAS

STATE will bring the most fans to Robertson stadium in 2010.

We need to make a big showing.Hopefully, a super showing will help in our move to the FBS

think about it Inaction is an Action in Itself David Eyre

Another year is upon us and another year has slipped by without measurable progress to achieving the student-demanded goal of moving the Texas State University football program to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). As far as I can tell, TXST has not made any additional funding available to support this goal and it appears, other than the generous donations made by the Fields, the only available funding has come from additional fees the students voted to pay to achieve this goal. Where would TXST’s athletics programs be without them? This tells me TXST leadership simply does not support this goal.

determination, and someone who knows how to make it happen. Everyone I talk to is sick of excuses, so where is the accountability? Whether Coach Wright is the best man for the job cannot be established without TXST’s administration fully supporting the program. Regardless, he obviously cares about the program and has the desire to succeed. Who can deny he has the competitive spirit TXST needs?

It has been a little over a year since I have written a column for BobcatFans Magazine. I decided to give TXST’s leadership a chance to make some progress toward the move to FBS. I wrote the following list of TXST shortcomings over a year ago and in reviewing it was struck again by how little has been achieved.

Not recruiting leadership qualified to advance athletic programs beyond their present status.

• Not having a results-based system of accountability.

The progress made to date basically • Not recognizing the equates to a new football stadium importance of athletic programs “TXST’s President addition with the Fields’ name on it in attracting top quality (rightfully so), along with suites for absolutely must make TXST management and existing educators, athletes, students, continual statements of advertisers. It is my understandand in portraying an image ing that the recent stadium adaffirmation and generate of excellence. dition is only a small portion of the funding necessary what will be needed to bring the • Very limited detailed stadium within FBS compliance, to support the move to information regarding TXST so where will the additional fundFBS. Without this type of iniatives is made available to ing be generated? the public. leadership, attaining the It was announced during the recent • Not adopting best practices FBS goal will fail.”

UT vs. Alabama national championship football game that the President that other universities employ of Texas Tech University was in attenthat are proven to be successful. dance to observe coaches for recruitment • Having numerous athletic purposes. What a fantastic message of support and solidarity. TXST’s President absolutely must make continual statements of affirmation and generate the funding necessary to support the move to FBS. Without this type of leadership, attaining the FBS goal will fail.

There is a steady murmur of discontent regarding TXST athletics. “The Drive” campaign is essentially a lost cause. I have previously stated my objections concerning “The Drive” campaign. In the past year, what specific advancements have occurred to achieve the goal of moving to FBS? What momentum has been gained?

There have been recent comments questioning Coach Wright.

In my opinion, questioning Coach Wright is simply a deflection of where blame should squarely be placed – on TXST’s Athletics Director. If there is one thing I’ve learned in life, it is that you can not just sit back in your recliner and wait for magic to happen. It takes hard work, personal comittment, grit, dogged

•

• • • • •

programs and not supporting them in the manner other successful universities do.

Not hiring a professional marketing agency.

Not advertising outside of the San Marcos area.

Not having radio station broadcasts of athletic events outside of the San Marcos area.

Not having TXST-licensed promotional items available in major metropolitan areas.

Removing the TXST name from the football uniforms.

David can be reached at loyal2youtsu@yahoo.com

BobcatFans Magazine| 7

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Best New Toys To p G a d g e t s o f 2 0 1 0 ESPN has announced it will start a 3-D network While not necessarily a gadget ESPN has announced it will start a 3-D network over the summer starting with the first FIFA World Cup Match on June 11. This will be interesting to see if they can successfully bring an idea that has had most of it’s success on the big screen to the small screen. The thought of actually feeling like you are in the middle of the action is an interesting idea and should at least bring some viewers to it out of sheer curiousity.

BFMK PIC Apple iPad This could be the biggest and best new gadget of 2010.

This device will give you an e-reader, have iTunes, as well as have full web browsing capabilities. In addition all the apps that you currently have for your iPhone will be usable on this tablet as well as apps that will be made exclusively for it. It will be able to play video as well as stream from YouTube and you will even be able to watch MLB games on it. The word processor, spreadsheet, and slide show program will be extra.

The Google Nexus One Phone The Google Nexus One Phone – This phone is supposed to be faster than the iPhone and be able to run all the Google based apps that the iPhone currently doesn’t run. It is completely unlocked although with the need for a sim card it still limits the networks it can be used on since not all companies use a sim card for their phones.

The V12 Conova A dual LCD touchscreen computer that is supposed to if nothing else look really cool. This computer also will have a microphone for speech commands. At the time of publication there was no word on what OS it would be running or any specifics about memory, but expect this to be a highly anticipated release when it does come out.

BobcatFans pick:

Far and away the best of this bunch is going to be the iPad. This product has the ability to change the way we use computers. With the e-reader and a deal already in place with McGraw-Hill (a text book publisher) it won’t be long until you are able to keep all your text books in a device that weighs less than your smallest book you have to carry now. Plus with the ability to use programs that will enable you to prepare presentations and term papers in the palm of your hand, this has the potential to be the only device you will need to bring with you for all your classes. If you are still skeptical just look at how the iPod started out and how Apple was able to make that into what it is today. This first generation of iPad is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

BobcatFans Magazine| 9

Silver Screen Upcoming Movies

Cop Out Valentine’s Day Dear John Release Date: February 12, 2010 Release Date: February 26, 2010 Release Date: February 5, 2010 An ensemble piece featuring Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan Channing Tatum (Step Up, G.I. Joe) stars as a soldier who falls Ashton Kutcher, Bradley Cooper, star in this buddy cop comedy Jessica Biel, and Anne Hathaway directed but not written by Kevin in love with a college girl and continues a correspondence about the pressure that this Smith. with her through seven years of special day puts on both couples Look for this movie to be full active duty. and single people alike. of Bruce Willis one-liners This movie is sure to be a reminiscent of John McClain This movie is apt to be favorite of any girl who loves reminiscent of He’s Just Not That without having the serious romantic dramas. Based on a Into You and Love Actually where undertone that the Die Hard book by the same author of The the sum is greater than the parts. series had. In fact look for Notebook, expect your female Likely to be just the right kind of this movie to poke fun at it, companion to love it, while guys fare for the day it is named after especially with Tracey Morgan may find themselves being as Bruce Willis’s partner. This without being too sappy. dragged in and secretly liking movie will probably have both you and your date in stitches by the movie but never willing to admit it. the end.

Smoke & Silver Screen Smoking and the movies go hand in hand, but not smoking while at the movies, well until now. The Stratosphere Lounge is now hosting a weekly Movie Night. They’re showing two movies every Sunday night, one movie at 6p & 10p, and the other at 8p & midnight. Free popcorn available plus you can bring your own snacks, but better yet, remember The Stratosphere is BYOB! This screams good times. Check out their Facebook Fan Page for a weekly listing of what’s showing. Or check out the BobcatFans.com Calendar & Twitter Page for info of what’s happening in San Marvelous.

Tip: Get there for the first movie at 6p and take advantage of the Stratosphere half-price bowl happy hour special.

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The Wolfman Release Date: February 12, 2010 Benicio Del Toro stars in this remake of the classic horror movie as a man who returns home only to be attacked by the beast and to become a werewolf.

This movie is sure to be heavier on story than you would expect with Anthony Hopkins being featured as Del Toro’s father.

While still providing plenty of scares for the horror aficionado this movie is sure to get your woman to cozy up to you while in a dark theatre.

Gamers Austin Nichols

BobcatFans Game Reviews Underground games

GameMoreNow.com

Happy Hour everyday from

underground games

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“St Practice Day”

Halo 3:

Demon’s Soule:

Little King’s Story

ODST (Microsoft Xbox 360)

(Sony Playstaion 3)

(Nintendo Wii)

In this latest installment of the Halo franchise, you’ll center in on the Covenant invasion of New Mombasa from the perspective of a scattered squadron of Orbital Drop Ship Troops (ODST). The single player campaign is strong enough to hold its own; it’s interesting and entertaining albeit a bit short. But what sets ODST apart from the rest of the Halo series, and gives it an addicting multiplayer all its own, is the addition of the new game mode FireFight. Team with up to 3 friends or go it alone into a closed arena and prepare for wave after wave of Covenant forces bent on your destruction. The action is quick, intense, and significantly increases the game’s replay value.

Bundled with ODST, is a copy of Halo 3 Mythic. Mythic is the multiplayer component of Halo 3, streamlined for playing off the Xbox hard drive plus all Halo 3 multiplayer maps along with 3 new ones.

Demon’s Souls is a game to die for – and you will die, over and over again. It is more challenging, aggravating, and unforgiving than any game on the market today. Yet, Demon’s Souls is also more visually stunning, more engrossing, and just more fun. With its combination of deep inventory management, traditional RPG style character leveling, responsive 3rd person real-time combat, and spectacular level design, Demon’s Souls is a game that will satisfy anyone looking for a challenge.

Imagine a combination of Harvest Moon and Pikmin, and you’ll have an idea of what Little King’s Story offers. The storyline follows a young boy, Corobo, after he is transported to, and becomes king of, a small island named Alpoko. As Corobo, you must direct your people to build and expand the kingdom, while caring for their needs and relationships. Citizens are born and grow old, work and slack off, all under your watchful eye. Your kingdom will soon prosper but can you lead your people to the game’s ultimate goal of conquering the world?

You Little King’s Story Pick It! (Nintendo Wii) Family Pick Rated: T for Teen

Halo 3: ODST (Microsoft Xbox 360) Late Night Munchies & Friends Pick Rated: M for Mature

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Demon’s Souls (Sony Playstation 3) Must Try At Least Once Pick Rated: M for Mature BobcatFans Magazine| 11

What it’s like

....To be a Pub Owner

Name: Mike Harper (Mic) Age: 36 School: Del Mar College Credentials: Founder and Co-Owner of Sean Patrick’s Texas Pub & Grub, which is the only non-chain Irish Pub in San Marcos who has been serving drinks to Guinness lovers for over three years Growing up, our family past time was dining out. Even as a child I paid a lot of attention to the things I liked and disliked about the restaurants we were in from fine dining to pub grub. I grew to love being in places that served people.

My younger brother and I were on a family trip when we were about 10 & 12. Our mother was great at keeping us entertained while on these road trips and simply asked “Ok boys, what do you want to be when you grow up?” He and I looked at each other and smiled. While we were both devoted soccer players, there was only 1 answer to this question, “We want to own restaurants!”, What kind of restaurants?” she asked, “Irish pubs!”

When I was younger my drive was based on money, after that it was surf trips abroad, after that it was getting my own place to run. Now that I have done a bit of everything above, the best motivation to work I’ve had yet is family.

The Keeton Griffin building had been vacant for over 30yrs. When we signed the lease it was nothing more than four 105 yr old walls, caliche for a sub floor, a decrepit excuse for a roof, not to mention home to about 2000 bats. We saw something there, and what we saw is the Sean Patrick’s you see today!

My brother and I are Irish and Texans, so a Texas-Irish Pub just made sense.

If you’re not willing to sacrifice you probably won’t be successful as an entrepreneur. To me it seems like the younger generations

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today have a lot at their finger tips, they have been programmed to expect things to happen right away. Unfortunately, that does not translate into the business world.

In my industry you have to be a “coach”. It can be repetitive, and your staff may need constant follow up. But that is your “job”, to help teach attention to detail and promote the building of a real work ethic. My challenge is reminding myself that I was there too once.

Attracting the right customers is a delicate balance between decor, aesthetics, atmosphere, type of products sold, the quality of those products, but most of all, the quality of the staff selling them! “You get what they pay for” has been a favorite slogan of mine. I think the meaning is clear.

My favorite drink is Jameson on the rocks (any occasion).

Failure is a crap shoot! I look at failures as a definite way to learn how to not do something. They’re lessons, nothing more. In my rodeo days we used to say “cowboy up” because it wasn’t if ya fell, but how fast you got back up!

The role of a restaurant owner is • 2 part Coach • 1 part Father • 1 part Shrink • 1 part Babysitter • 3 Part Friend It can take a lot out of you if you’re not prepared and you don’t really love it.

BobcatFans Magazine| 13

Just The FactsAbout

Mardi Gras

Also known as “Fat Tuesday,” the Mardi Gras celebration existed many years before Europeans came to the New World.

Some time in the Second Century, during mid-February, Ancient Romans would observe what they called the Lupercalia, quite similar to the present day Mardi Gras. This festival honored the Roman deity Lupercus.

When Rome embraced Christianity, the early Church fathers decided it was better to incorporate certain aspects of pagan rituals into the new faith rather than attempt to abolish them altogether.

Carnival became a period of abandon and merriment that preceded the penance of Lent, thus giving a Christian interpretation to the ancient custom.

It is generally accepted that Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer, Sieur d’Iberville. He sailed into the Gulf of Mexico, from there he launched an expedition up the Mississippi River.

On March 3 of 1699, Iberville had set up a camp on the west bank of the river about 60 miles south of where New Orleans is today. This was the day Mardi Gras was being celebrated in France. In honor of this important day, Iberville named the site Point du Mardi Gras.

However, according to some sources, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans began in 1827 when a group of students who had recently returned from school in Paris donned strange costumes and danced their way through the streets. The students had first experienced this revelry while taking part

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in celebrations they had witnessed in Paris. In this version, it is said that the inhabitants of New Orleans were swiftly captured by the enthusiasm of the youths and quickly followed suit. Other sources maintain that the Mardi Gras celebration originated with the arrival of early French settlers to the State of Louisiana.

Nevertheless, it is known that from 1827 to 1833, the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebrations became more elaborate, culminating in an annual Mardi Gras Ball. The Carnival was well established by the middle of the Nineteenth Century when torch lit parades started to take form.

In French, “Mardi Gras” literally means “Fat Tuesday,” so named because it falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day prior to Lent, a 40-day season of prayer and fasting observed by the Roman Catholic Church which ends on Easter Sunday.

Since the modern day Carnival season is sandwiched between Christmas and Lent, with Christmas day being December 25 on the Gregorian calendar as set by the Roman Catholic Church, this means that other Holy Days are “floating” in nature. Easter always falls on a Sunday, but it can be any Sunday from March 23 through April 25.

Mardi Gras is always 47 days prior to this allotted Sunday (the 40 days of Lent plus seven Sundays).

from 1872 when the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia visited New Orleans. During his stay, he was given the honor of selecting the official Mardi Gras colors.

Interestingly, the colors of Mardi Gras also influenced the choice of school colors for both Louisiana State University and Tulane University who happen to be in-town rivals. When LSU was deciding on its colors, the stores in New Orleans had stockedup on fabrics of purple, green and gold for the upcoming Mardi Gras season. LSU, opting for purple and gold, bought a large quantity of the available cloth. Tulane purchased much of the only remaining color... green (Tulane’s colors are green and white).

Today, Louisiana’s Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans, but also in numerous smaller cities and towns around the state and in the neighboring Gulf Coast Region.

Now BobcatFans is bringing Mardi Gras to San Marcos as it will host it’s 1st annual BobcatFans Mardi Gras Bash at Harpers Public House on the square February 16th.

Join us for an old celebration new to San Marcos.

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The accepted story behind the original selection of these colors originates

Bead Launching Zone

Mardi Gras Fun Facts The origin of “Fat Tuesday” is believed to have come from the ancient Pagan custom of parading a fat ox through the town streets. Such Pagan holidays were filled with excessive eating, drinking and general bawdiness prior to a period of fasting.

In New Orleans laws against concealing one’s identity with a mask are suspended for Fat Tuesday. Banks are closed, and some businesses and other places with security concerns (such as convenience stores) post signs asking people to remove their masks before entering.

Inexpensive strings of beads have been thrown from floats to parade-goers since at least the late 19th century. Until the 1960s, the most common form was multicolored strings of glass beads. These were supplanted by less expensive and more durable plastic beads. Lower-cost beads allowed riders to purchase greater quantities and throws have become more numerous and common.

Outside the French Quarter, attitudes towards women flashing are much less lenient. While many visiting tourists think of Mardi Gras as an “adult” holiday, most residents view the parades mainly as sources of enjoyment for children. Many families with very young children gather along the parade routes Uptown and in Mid City. In these areas, nudity is discouraged and could lead to quick arrest.

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BobcatFans Magazine| 15

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Burgernomics Ounce for ounce, foods eaten away from home are more calorie-dense than foods prepared at home, and thus could be a factor in the obesity surge.

America has gotten fat and is now among the heaviest nation on the planet. We are putting on more pounds and doing it at a younger age. How America got to this point is a complex tale but here we look at the economic plot line for some answers.

Jack In The Box Sirloin Burger Calories: 897

You know the saying “Time is money”, that relates to food consumption as well. While the money you are willing to spend for a product is usually a major component of its price, its “full” price includes all the other costs. For instance, the full price of a home cooked meal includes the cost of ingredients, travel time to the store, time spent preparing the food, and so on….. When you can get a double cheesy burrito for .89¢ and not have to a clean a dish, who wouldn’t find that an attractive savings in monetary and time costs?

Fat: 60g

Food prices, whether at the store or at a restaurant have been declining relative to prices of all other items. The ratio of food prices to the price of all other goods has fallen by more than 12 percent in the last 60 years. But the drop is more dramatic if we factor in convenience, greater variety, and all-pervading restaurants and vending machines. Foods that once were available only seasonally are now available year-round. Advances in food processing and packaging have introduced a multitude of ready-to-eat foods, available virtually anywhere and at any time.

Fat: 29g

At subsistence income levels, people spend most of their income on food and choice is determined mainly by price and availability. As incomes grow, preferences exert a greater role.

Nowhere is this effect of rising incomes more visible than Americans’ habit of dining out. As income increases, people tend to spend a greater share of additional income on dining out than on foods prepared at home. Research shows a 10 percent increase in income leads to a 4.6 percent increase in a household’s away-from-home food expenditures. The amount of ones income expenditure that Americans spend on dining out has risen by almost double since 1962.

Ounce for ounce, foods eaten away from home are more calorie-dense than foods prepared at home, and thus could be a factor in the obesity surge. But the growing demand for dining out suggests that our preference for convenience, time savings, and variety is outweighing concerns about obesity.

Government intervention might be closer than most expect in this fight against the bulge. With national healthcare becoming more and more a reality and obesity being a major factor in the raising cost of health care look for Uncle Sam to start looking for a Fat Tax or penalty to place on those who need to shed a few pounds.

Saturated Fat: 18g McDonalds Big Mac Calories: 540 Saturated Fat: 10g Burger King Whopper Calories: 670 Fat: 40g Saturated Fat: 11g Wendy’s Spicy Baconator Calories: 880 Fat: 55g Saturated Fat: 24g

Whataburger Thick & Hearty Calories: 1040 Fat: 62g Saturated Fat: 24g

Discontinued Dec. 2009 BobcatFans Magazine| 17

FOOTLONG

Brian Borski

Pre-game iPod Playlist: “Rap music. I’m big on Lil’Wayne, Jay-Z, and a lot of songs that I don’t know the artists names.”

Coming off an impressive 2009 season RHP Brian Borski is this month’s Player of the Month. Having come to Texas State from St. Thomas High School where he led the Eagles to an appearance in the Texas State Championship game, he continued to perform at a high level from the get go.

Most Memorable Strike Out: “Pitching vs Lamar last year with the series tied 1-1 though 8 1/3 innings to win the series. I’m proud of that.”

In 2008 he was one of the top relief pitchers for the Bobcats giving up 22 runs and getting 17strikeouts.

He even earned his first career start against Rice. He followed that up with a solid 2009 season.

Last season Borski compiled a 7-3 record in 14 starts with one complete game. Borski also gave up a team low 35 earned runs. He compiled an impressive 49 strikeouts in the ’09 season including a solid outing against Army in the NCAA tournament.

Borski finished the season with a 3.71 ERA. Being one of the only returning starters from last year’s squad, look for this young veteran to be an impressive leader for the Bobcats in the 2010 baseball season.

Brian Borski

Returns as a top gun for the Bobcats after making 20 appearances in his TXST career.

Biggest Game Played: Regional vs. Army in 2009

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Favorite Pitch: Change Up

Glove: Rawlings Pro Preferred

player of the month at BobcatFans.com

Biggest Conference Rival: UTSA and Lamar

Baseball Fever By: Chris Lehman

home stands

against

On Deck for Bobcat Baseball There is a buzz surrounding Bobcat Country. A buzz that is akin to the calm before a storm. This storm does not bring the soothing sound of rain, but rather the sound of a fastball pinging off an aluminum bat.

Watch for falling objects because it is likely to be another Bobcat homerun flying over the fence.

The Texas State Bobcats return to the diamond on February 19th when they travel to the Bayou City to face the University of Houston Cougars.

The ’Cats will remain on the road through the month playing a tough schedule against Rice, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky. The Bobcats return home on March 3rd for Opening Night against the Rice

Quick FACTS

Owls. The Owls are perennially ranked in the Top-10, but that does not intimidate Coach Harrington.

We sent the #1-ranked Rice home with a loss a couple of years ago, and we beat the #2 Owls in Houston last year, 4-1. If Opening Night is anything like last year, I encourage you to buy your tickets as soon as you can. We set record attendance that night, and many fans were left sitting outside the fence wishing they could get in.

The rest of the season features home stands against Penn State, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, Houston Baptist, and Prairie View A&M, and roadtrips to The University of Houston, Rice, Baylor, Tech, TCU,

Beat the #2 Owls in Houston last year, 4-1.

2009 conference schedule record of 24-7

and a pair of games in Austin against the Horns. The Bobcats, who sailed through the 2009 conference schedule with a record of 24-7, are the defending Conference Champions.

They hope to go back-to-back and return to the NCAA tournament.

The 2009 season was great for Bobcat baseball. They opened a new facility in front of a record crowd, won the conference title, and had a 40-win season. They beat some tough opponents on the road, and received a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament. What are the Bobcats going to do next? Come out and see for yourself.

In 2009 #2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

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BobcatFans Magazine| 19

Fitness So, it’s already February. My hope is you’re still right on track with your fitness goals for 2010. One of the things I know helps is to take a different approach than most people do.

Let me explain: Most people want to LOOK BETTER NAKED. Hey, there is nothing wrong with that, but when that is the only motivation, it does nothing but leave you feeling frustrated, unfulfilled, and right back where you started.

New Year’s Goals

However, when the goal is to take better care of yourself for overall health and well-being, that’s when people see lasting results; it’s when they make real changes to their lives. If you have been daydreaming about reaching your health and fitness goals for 2010, you will find a road map to take that dream, establish your goal, and become the healthiest you have been in years.

S.M.A.R.T

You have chosen health and fitness to be different for you in 2010. Allow yourself to freely and safely explore this.

We will establish Your Goal from your answers using the S.M.A.R.T principle. Fill in these blanks to complete your health and fitness goals.

Specific

(What do I specifically want to achieve? Not just I want to lose weight, but how much weight or how many dress sizes?)

Measurable

(How many pounds, how much, how deep, how high, where, etc.)

Action-Oriented

(What days will I work to reach my goal? How much time will I spend during these days?)

Realistic/Relevant

(Your goal must be something that matters to you and will positively affect your life, i.e. losing this weight will allow me to be more active with my kids.)

Timed

(When do you want this done; make a realistic deadline. If you want to lose 10 lbs, a realistic time frame would be 5 weeks, or 2lbs per week. When will I get my first fitness evaluation and when will I be reevaluated? How long will I give myself to reach my goals?)

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Now you are ready to create your fitness plan.

Put it into action to reach your health and fitness goals in the time you desire. After you have done this, leave your goal in an obvious place in which you will see this on a daily basis, reaching your health and fitness goals 1 day at a time.

Heath Herrera, M.Ed., CSCS received his Master of Education in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University. Heath is a current member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. www.HHFitness.com

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San Marcos News Hostage Negotiations?

Instead of watching episodes of The Shield, (who doesn’t love Vic Mackey and the Strike Team?) the Department of Criminal Justice at Texas State hosted approximately 250 officers during the annual Hostage Negotiation Training Competition. Approximately 25 teams participated with municipal and state law enforcement units coming in from Florida, North Dakota, California and Washington, D.C., said Wayman Mullins, professor of criminal justice and an expert in hostage and crisis negotiations and terrorism.

Teams conducted mock hostage negotiation exercises at the Hines Academic Center on the Texas State campus. Teams were graded on how they negotiated with the hostage takers. “This is a roleplaying scenario that tries to mimic real life as much as possible.” explained Mullins.

Herbert’s Live’s On!

Since 1976 Herbert’s Restaurant has been slinging its crowd pleasing Mexican cuisine to willfully paying San Marcos residents. Sadly on December 18th the restaurant had to close due to part of building’s kitchen setting a blaze the building.

Luckily attentive employees noticed early what is now classified as an electrical fire and saved the famous San Marcos icon from total combustion. With only a six-week hiatus Herbert’s doors are now back open to the public. Keep the queso flowing.

Eyebrows were raised in 2008 when certain San Marcos City Council members contributions were highly outweighing their counterparts.

San Marcos city council members squabbled in a recent meeting over the idea of limiting individual campaign contributions. So what’s the problem?

Do we San Marcosites have the freedom to associate our money with any cause we like in any amount we desire to get those causes to work?

Or is the fairest way to limit what one can donate in order to achieve a model where a candidate’s views would determine who contributes to them and not the other way around? The verdict: a vote showed the council members closely spilt 4-3 against the idea of capping an individual’s donation

It’s Your Money

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BobcatFans Magazine| 23

E n t e rt a i n m e n t BobcatFans Movie Review Viewer: Erik Helsing Big Fan Rated: R First Independent Pictures How far does your love for your team go? That is the question that is asked by the movie Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt. Oswalt plays Paul Aufiero a life long New York Giants fan who puts his team in front of everything else in his life, including his own well being. After a run in with his long time hero, Quantrell Bishop, Paul is forced to put his fandom to the test.

This character based drama shows us the darker side of being so embroiled in a sports team as a fan that someone would forgive even the most atrocious crime just in the hopes of winning a championship. Patton Oswalt is definitely the driving force of this movie. He takes the lovable loser that he often portrays and turns this character into that loser. Except in this instance maybe you identify a little too much with his character to love him. Oswalt does an excellent job of giving life to Paul, in every twist through the movie he is believable as a man who feels that his identity is built solely on how his team does.

If you are comfortable enough with who you are as a fan, I recommend that you rent or download this movie (legally of course). If you aren’t I warn you to stay away, because this movie paints a harsh, if not always accurate, picture of how serious we, as fans, take the teams that we follow. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

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“This character based drama shows us the darker side of being so embroiled in a sports team as a fan that someone would forgive even the most atrocious crime just in the hopes of winning a championship”

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