The university of Texas at El Paso played a football game against the team from the university of Texas at Austin last night. And Austin beat El Paso by 42 to 13.
I attended both universities, but I graduated from U.T. El Paso. It is my hometown too, so I guess it would be normal for me to support the El Paso football team. But frankly after living in Europe for almost 20 years I find American football brutal and boring. I would much rather watch what the rest of the English language speaking world calls football, and what in America we call soccer.
The score got me to thinking. I think that ratio is about right. 42 to 13 is the same as multiplying by 3.2
The city of Austin is 3 times nicer than El Paso in most ways. Austin is much greener and more attractive. Austin is at least 3 times ahead of El Paso in creative, modern thinking.
El Paso is a very poor border town. Being located right on the border with Mexico has certain advantages, but in general it is negative. Genuine problems with poverty; having to deal with people who are illiterate in the English language, and in fact in some cases can’t even hold a decent conversation in the English language. Abysmal average educational standards in large part caused by all the poor immigrants. Not to mention the political corruption and the horrible war being waged against women. And the drug lord mafias routinely killing each other. Mass firings (and killings) in the police forces.
On the other hand El Paso has lower humidity than Austin. And the desert has a beauty of it’s own, if you can overlook all the trash and plastic bags.
The sticker weeds in El Paso can be a problem for your doggie. Cars, food, utilities, insurance, and gasoline cost about the same either place, but housing is cheaper in El Paso. The property taxes are higher in El Paso than in many other parts of Texas. If one doesn’t have health insurance, cheap drugs and dental care are available nearby in Mexico.
Comparing schools, UTEP vs. UT Austin, the ratio of 3 times nicer, better, and bigger also applies. UT is nationally respected for its educational standards. UTEP is know locally as “high school on the hill” only somewhat in jest…
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