Monthly Archives: June 2011

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 52)

Royal Wedding: William and Kate’s First Kiss, Too Short for Buckingham Palace Balcony

The Royal Wedding in Photos
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave Clarence House for Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. Actually Diana was a virgin, and it was Charles’ uncle (Louis Mountbatten) that gave him the advice that he should seek to marry a virgin.

I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to each other, and if they are then the result will be a marriage that lasts their whole lifetime. Nevertheless, I do not think it is best to live together before marriage like they did, and I writing this series to help couples see how best to prepare for marriage.

Here is an article that I found helpful below:

Cohabitation Confusion: What does the Bible say?

By Hal Lane – Aug 9, 2007 – 76 –   Email

The fact that many couples live together without the legal commitment of marriage surprises few in our morally dysfunctional society. What is surprising is the number of professing Christians who choose to live together without the benefit of marriage.

Churches and families are increasingly faced with the question of how to respond to these individuals who believe their personal commitments to one another are morally equivalent to legal marriage.

Every moral issue is fundamentally a biblical issue. Genesis 2:18-25 describes marriage as a divine institution. God presented Adam with Eve and established the first marriage.

Genesis 2:24 is the basis for all future marriages: “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” When Jesus was asked about grounds for divorce, He quoted this verse with regard to a legal, binding marriage relationship (Matt. 19:5).

When God revealed the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, there were many regulations regarding marriage. A man who seduced a virgin and had sexual relations with her before marriage was required to pay the father of the girl and was required to marry her if the father permitted (Ex. 22:16). Sexual relations with a virgin betrothed to another resulted in death by stoning of both parties (Deut. 22:23-24). These laws revealed the importance of marriage and the sin of premarital sex.

Malachi 2:13-16 speaks against the abandonment of wives by husbands. They are accused of breaking faith and abandoning their marriage covenants (v. 14). God’s intention was that sexual relationships between a man and a woman should occur only after a legal covenant was established. The covenant was to provide security and a formal obligation that could not be easily abandoned. Governmental regulation of marriage recognizes the importance of protecting the rights of marriage partners and children.

The New Testament also forbids sexual relations outside marriage. Hebrews 13:4 commands everyone to honor the institution of marriage. In 1 Timothy 4:3, Paul warned that a sign of the end times would be an abandonment of the divine institution of marriage.

Despite the arguments of some, the odds of a successful marriage do not increase because a couple lives together before marriage. In fact, studies reveal the opposite is true.

Where do professing Christian couples find justification for living together without marriage? Their own desires and an immoral culture provide support, but God’s Word is neither vague nor confusing on this point: A personal commitment between a man and woman is not the moral equivalent of a biblical marriage.

Weekend to Remember-Family Life…Fireproof your marriage

 

Tim Hawkins 70’s music in 6 minutes

Escobar killed as a result of this game, Top 10 most Controversial World Cup Games (W. Hatcher v. E. Hatcher, Part 4)

Today we are discussing the 7th most controversial game.

Everette Hatcher’s choice: I have chosen this game partly because it was a game that the USA won. Sadly Escobar was killed in a bar back in Columbia when he got home. Two of my sons were learning soccer at the time and they were 7 and 6 years old and I was teaching them the rules. I did comment on the fact that Escobar had knocked the ball in the wrong goal and he was later killed and my sons did not want to play any more. They thought I was saying that the rule was if you put the ball in the wrong goal then you will be killed. I had to straighten that misconception out so they would continue to play!!!!!

 

Andrés Escobar Own Goal (1994)
In the 1994 World Cup Colombia vs USA match, Colombian defender Escobar unluckily deflected the ball into his own net. Thus, Colombia lost 2-1 to the USA.
Andrés Escobar Own Goal

Andrés Escobar Own Goal

Wilson picks:

England vs Argentina (1998)
Argentina knocked out England on penalties. Beckham kicked out at the Argentinean midfielder getting himself sent off. He received death threats by fans.

Beckham kicked out at the Argentinean midfielder getting himself sent off


_________________________________________________________-

Here is a list I got off the internet:

West Germany vs Austria (1982)
West Germany vs Austria in 1982 FIFA World Cup game is widely believed to have changed the rules of future World Cup tournaments. A win by one or two goals would be enough to send both teams through. The games was seen as being fixed, both teams had an unspoken agreement. West Germany continued to knock the ball around for the rest of the game.

Maradona’s Goal Celebration (1994)
Argentinean team’s Maradona in the 1994 tournament raced towards the nearest video camera with a psychotic look upon his face. Then a urine sample was asked for, showing that he had taken a banned substance in ephedrine.
Maradona’s Goal Celebration

Maradona’s Goal Celebration

England vs Argentina (1998)
Argentina knocked out England on penalties. Beckham kicked out at the Argentinean midfielder getting himself sent off. He received death threats by fans.

Beckham kicked out at the Argentinean midfielder getting himself sent off


Andrés Escobar Own Goal (1994)
In the 1994 World Cup Colombia vs USA match, Colombian defender Escobar unluckily deflected the ball into his own net. Thus, Colombia lost 2-1 to the USA.
Andrés Escobar Own Goal

Andrés Escobar Own Goal

Zidane’s Headbutt (2006)


Zinedine Zidane
got himself sent off in the final of the 2006 tournament. He apologized for his headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
Zidane’s Headbutt

Zidane’s Headbutt

Kuwait vs France (1982)
In the 1982 FIFA World Cup, a controversial incident happened in the match Kuwait vs France. The French team scored the 4th goal while Kuwaiti players thought that they had heard the referee blow the whistle before the goal scored, thus they stopped playing.

England vs Argentina (1986)
In England vs Argentina match in the 1986 World Cup, Diego Maradona scored one of the best goals ever seen in a World Cup. This goal was overshadowed by his Shilton into the back of the net. This goal was considered to be Hand of God.
Hand of God

Hand of God

President Obama went to England while worst Tornado in USA history hit Joplin

Obama was in the air en route the British Isles when the deadliest tornado in U.S. history struck Joplin, Missouri. Rather than return, he continued on, for days of celebrations with the British Royals.

 

Other tornado related posts:

Pictures of aftermath of Springfield, Mass Tornado

Springfield MA tornado aftermath A smashed car sits next to the South End Community Center, which lost most of its roof in a tornado that touched down in Springfield, Mass., Wednesday, June 1, 2011. (/AP Courtesy Marque Tortoriello An apparent tornado has caused damage in Springfield, Mass. Twister: This photo, taken through a window, shows […]

Best videos of Springfield, Mass Tornado

Springfield, Mass. Tornado – Multiple Views – June 1, 2011 (lots of cursing) ___________________________________ Raw Video: Tornado Strikes Springfield, Mass. An apparent tornado struck the downtown of one of Massachusetts’ largest cities Wednesday afternoon, scattering debris, toppling trees, and frightening workers and residents. _________________________________ Tornado touches down Springfield, MA _____________________________________

Rare Tornado hit Springfield, Mass

  Steeple of First Church of Monson lays The steeple of The First Church of Monson lays in rubble on the ground after a tornado swept through the downtown area of Monson, Mass., Wednesday, June 1, 2011.… Read more » The Associated Press reported this morning: SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Rev. Bob Marrone was pained […]

All posts dealing with Joplin Tornado

Best Storm Chaser videos of Joplin Tornado May 22, 2011

Destructive Joplin Missouri Torando On May 22, 2011 a destructive and sadly a deadly tornado tore through the town of Joplin, MO. Here is video of the tornado entering the southwest side of town. Filmed by TornadoVideos.net Basehunters Colt Forney, Isaac Pato, Kevin Rolfs, and Scott Peake. Good Morning America: Joplin, Missouri Tornado Video: Storm […]

Pictures of Tornado damage in Joplin, MO May 22, 2011

  Destroyed helicopter lies on its side A destroyed helicopter lies on its side in the parking lot of the Joplin Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 22, 2011. A large tornadomoved through much of the city, damaging the hospital and hundreds of homes and businesses Emergency personnel walk Emergency personnel walk through […]

Video clips of tornado in Joplin,MO May 22, 2011(includes footage from the air, and storm chaser video)

 The last video listed does not have very good pictures but you hear when the tornado hits a building where people inside are filming. The sounds are just horrible and a cold feeling went through my body just listening to it. Joplin, Missouri tornado damage from the air Tornado damage of Joplin, Missouri. Aerial coverage […]

At least 89 dead, but still counting in Joplin, MO

    Volunteer firefighters William Jackson Volunteer firefighters William Jackson, left, and Ashley Martin, center, from Oklahoma, and Johnny Ward of Joplin look through the wreckage of a home whereit was feared a pregnant woman as feared to be trapped following a tornado in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 22, 2011. A large tornado moved through […]

Fox News reported today:   Rescue crews dug through piles of splintered houses and crushed cars Monday in a search for victims of a half-mile-wide tornado that blasted much of this Missouri town off the map and slammed straight into its hospital. At least 116 people died, making it the nation’s deadliest single tornado in nearly […]

By Everette Hatcher III, on June 8, 2011 at 9:26 am, under Current Events. No Comments
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Senator Pryor asks for Spending Cut Suggestions! Here are a few!(Part 60)

Senator Mark Pryor wants our ideas on how to cut federal spending. Take a look at this video clip below:

Senator Pryor has asked us to send our ideas to him at cutspending@pryor.senate.gov and I have done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

On May 11, 2011,  I emailed to this above address and I got this email back from Senator Pryor’s office:

Please note, this is not a monitored email account. Due to the sheer volume of correspondence I receive, I ask that constituents please contact me via my website with any responses or additional concerns. If you would like a specific reply to your message, please visit http://pryor.senate.gov/contact. This system ensures that I will continue to keep Arkansas First by allowing me to better organize the thousands of emails I get from Arkansans each week and ensuring that I have all the information I need to respond to your particular communication in timely manner.  I appreciate you writing. I always welcome your input and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you in the future.

Therefore, I went to the website and sent this email below:

 Here are a few more I just emailed to him myself.

Senator Rand Paul on Feb 7, 2011 wrote the article “A Modest $500 Billion Proposal: My spending cuts would keep 85% of government funding and not touch Social Security,” Wall Street Journal and he observed:

Here are some of his specific suggestions:

Reducing Federal Travel: Saves $7.5 billion
Since the implementation of the requirement that all federal employees use travel charge cards to pay for the
expenses of official government travel, the dollar volume of travel card transaction has increased from $4.39 billion in
FY1999 to $8.93 billion in FY2009. Audits have found significant weaknesses in internal controls over travel card use,
which costs the government millions this year.
Examples of card misuse by federal employees include unauthorized trips with premium seating, reimbursements for
airline tickets that were never purchased and even laser eye surgery. Auditors have also determined some federal
agencies have not collected reimbursements for millions of dollars’ worth of unused airline tickets.
With rapid and continuing improvements in communications technology, the need for face-to-face meetings is no
longer necessary.

I love Woody Allen’s latest movie “Midnight in Paris”

I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” was so good that I will be doing a series on it. My favorite Woody Allen movie is Crimes and Misdemeanors and I will provide links to my earlier posts on that great movie.

Movie Guide the Christian website had the following review:

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS is the latest Woody Allen comedy. As such, it contains some of the fantasy elements of some of his older movies, like THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, where a man from a 1930s movie steps out of the frame and enters the life of a woman neglected and emotionally abused by her husband.

The movie stars Owen Wilson as Gil, a successful yet unfulfilled screenwriter who hopes to become an acclaimed literary novelist. He and his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) are visiting Paris with her parents, a city Gil finds fascinating because of its rich history from the 1920s literary scene of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Picasso, and other acclaimed writers and artists. Gil is uncomfortable with the modern-day changes in Paris, and dislikes a couple who are friends with Inez, so he opts to walk alone late one night through the city while Inez and her friends go dancing.

At the stroke of midnight, a luxurious 1920s-era car pulls up and tells him to climb inside. Once he does, he finds himself surrounded by people like Hemingway and Fitzgerald and his wife. They take him to a series of parties that seem real, but when he leaves each morning, the neighborhood around him transforms into modern-day drabness and he can’t find the car and the party the next night when he tries to prove what happened to Inez.

As Inez starts to thinks he’s crazy and starts spending more time alone with the male from her friend, Gil keeps going out at midnight and getting drawn further into a delight-filled social circle of the greatest writers and artists of the 20th Century. He also gets emotionally drawn to a woman named Adriana (Marion Cotillard), who bounces from relationship to relationship among the artists and starts winning Gil’s heart. [SPOILERS FOLLOW] Eventually, he has to confess he no longer feels Inez and he have anything in common, and she reveals she’s had an affair the whole trip with her male friend. Gil and Inez split up, with Gil staying in the city of his dreams but with a new romance brewing with a modern-day bookseller who loves the past as much as he does.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS is a refreshing soufflé of a comedy that will appeal mainly to older bohemians, rather than mass audiences and younger viewers. It has fun with famous literary and artistic figures. Even the few sexual innuendos and references in the movie are relatively innocent, especially compared to other movies in the same genre, but the storyline does involve some promiscuity that is condoned. With only brief foul language, all the actors involved have a blast with their roles, especially the ones playing famous figures. The frequent casual drinking and smoking fit the setting of the 1920s era.

There are, however, a couple jokes made against “right-wing Republicans” and the Tea Party, but they are met with funny reactions in return by the Republican characters. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has a Romantic worldview that features brief foul language, innuendo, promiscuity, and plenty of social drinking.

_________________________

I have decided to start a series of posts on the characters referenced in the movie “Midnight in Paris.” Right now I have plans to look at William Faulkner,Cole Porter, Fitzgerald, Heminingway, Juan Belmonte,Gertrude Stein, Gauguin, Lautrec, Geores Brague, Dali, Rodin,Coco Chanel, Modigliani, Matisse, Luis Bunuel, Josephine Baker, Van Gogh, Picasso, Man Ray, T.S. Elliot and several more.

Below are other posts about Woody Allen:

Was Hitler Right in 1919 letter about Jews? (Humanists have no answer!!)

In an earlier post I went into great detail about this. Today I am only going to show that the atheist and humanist has no intellectual basis for saying that one group of humans versus another group should survive at all. Of course, Christians have the Bible which teaches that all are created in God’s […]

Humanist asserts: “Neither am I an advocate of Hitler; however, by whose criteria is he evil?” (Hitler’s letter from 1919 revealed)

  The Associated Press reported today:   The signature under the typewritten words on yellowing sheets of nearly century-old paper is unmistakable: Adolf Hitler, with the last few scribbled letters drooping downward. The date is 1919 and, decades before the Holocaust, the 30-year-old German soldier — born in Austria — penned what are believed to be […]

Solomon, Woody Allen, Coldplay and Kansas (Coldplay’s spiritual search Part 6)

Here is an article I wrote a couple of years ago: Solomon, Woody Allen, Coldplay and Kansas What does King Solomon, the movie director Woody Allen and the modern rock bands Coldplay and Kansas have in common? All four took on the issues surrounding death, the meaning of life and a possible afterlife, although they all came up with their own conclusions on […]

Insight into what Coldplay meant by “St. Peter won’t call my name” (Series on Coldplay’s spiritual search, Part 3)

Coldplay seeks to corner the market on earnest and expressive rock music that currently appeals to wide audiences Here is an article I wrote a couple of years ago about Chris Martin’s view of hell. He says he does not believe in it but for some reason he writes a song that teaches that it […]

Is God responsible for evil, many Arkansas Times bloggers say yes!!(Part 3)

Below is a post from the Arkansas Times Blog that I am responding to: Who is a better person? The one who helps their fellow man and does what is right because they it’s the right thing to do, or one who treats people well only because they are threatened with an eternal punishment? Posted […]

Mike Huckabee to Osama bin Laden: “Welcome to Hell” (Part 8)Woody Allen’s movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” is a perfect example of why hell the only “enforcement factor”

Crimes & Misdemeanors (pictured is Judah and his criminal brother, ultimately his brother hires a hitman to take out Judah’s girlfriend who threatens to turn Judah over to the cops) Crimes And Misdemeanors 1989 9/13 Adrian Rogers – Crossing God’s Deadline Part 4 crimes & misdemeanors Best scene of the movie!!!! _________________________________ John Brummett in […]

Mike Huckabee to Osama bin Laden: “Welcome to Hell” (Part 7)Woody Allen’s movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” is a perfect example of why hell the only “enforcement factor”

Crimes And Misdemeanors 1989 7/13 Adrian Rogers – Crossing God’s Deadline Part 3 Crimes And Misdemeanors 1989 8/13 John Brummett in his article “Huckabee speaks for bad guy below,” Arkansas News Bureau, May 5, 2011 had to say: Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is in hell where he has official […]

Mike Huckabee to Osama bin Laden: “Welcome to Hell” (Part 6)Woody Allen’s movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” is a perfect example of why hell the only “enforcement factor”

Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 Adrian Rogers – Crossing God’s Deadline Part 2 Jason Tolbert provided this recent video from Mike Huckabee: John Brummett in his article “Huckabee speaks for bad guy below,” Arkansas News Bureau, May 5, 2011 had to say: Are we supposed to understand and accept that Mike Huckabee is […]

Will Maria Shriver’s marriage survive Arnold Schwarzenegger’s admission of infidelity? I hope so (Part 31)

Governor Schwarzenegger goes to cast his vote on election day with his wife Maria Shriver and their daughters Christina and Katherine (her first time voting), at the Kenter Canyon elementary school in Brentwood.
The Schwarzenegger Family Voting

Governor Schwarzenegger goes to cast his vote on election day with his wife Maria Shriver and their daughters Christina and Katherine (her first time voting), at the Kenter Canyon elementary school in Brentwood.

Schwarzenegger fathers a love child

Maria Shriver Asks – How Do You Handle Transitions in Your Life?

Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to his wife several months ago that he had fathered a child about 10 years ago with a member of their household staff. Maria moved out, but has not filed for divorce. In the you tube clip above she comments:

“Like a lot of you I’m in transition: people come up to me all the time, asking, what are you doing next?” she said, adding: “It’s so stressful to not know what you are doing next when people ask what you are doing and they can’t believe you don’t know what you are doing.”

“I’d like to hear from other people who are in transition,” she said. “How did you find your transition: Personal, professional, emotional, spiritual, financial? How did you get through it?”

Mrs. Shriver has asked for spiritual input and I personally think that unless she gets the spiritual help that she needs then she will end up in the divorce court. I am starting a series on how a marriage can survive an infidelity. My first suggestion would be to attend a “Weekend to Remember” put on by the organization “Family Life” out of Little Rock, Arkansas. I actually posted this as a response to Mrs. Shriver’s request on you tube

John MacArthur had some helpful comments below:

Should I Confess My Unfaithfulness to My Wife, Even If Telling Her About It May Hurt Her More Than Keeping It a Secret Would?

There is no doubt that in some cases confessing a sin may cause as much hurt as the offense itself. Nonetheless, I believe that in all cases the unfaithful party in a marriage relationship broken by adultery should confess the sin to his or her spouse.

Why? For one thing, it takes two people to commit adultery. The other party in the sin already knows about the offense. It compounds your unfaithfulness to share a secret with your cohort in sin but keep your spouse in the dark. The lack of total openness–the need to hide things and keep secrets–will continue to be a barrier to the proper unity of the marriage. Something as serious as a breach in the marital union cannot be repaired if the truth must be kept from your marriage partner. Failure to confess simply compounds lying and cover-ups. That sort of thing will eventually destroy the relationship, whether or not theadultery is repeated.

As difficult as it may be for both you and your spouse, you must deal honestly with a sin like this. If the offended spouse discovers the sin through other means, the hurt that is then caused will be drastically increased. You owe it to him or her to confess.

Weekend to Remember Story – Dennis Rainey

Chip Ingram – Two Biblical Requirements to Resolve Conflict (pt 4)

To resolve conflict effectively and Biblically there are two absolutes that both parties must agree on – do you know what they are? Without this framework, you can try all kinds of things to avoid or resolve conflict in your marriage and relationships, but you probably won’t be successful. Listen and discover the common ground that can literally transform even the most challenging points of conflict. Want to learn more? Download the full message from guest speaker Tim Lundy for free at: http://www.venturechristian.org/files/sermons2/t032011.mp3

Ronald Wilson Reagan (Part 91)

https://i0.wp.com/www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/C38364-20.jpg

President Reagan meeting with Anatoly Shcharansky, released dissident from the Soviet Union USSR, in the Oval Office. 12/10/86.

the first presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale in 1984

Lee Edwards of the Heritage Foundation wrote an excellent article on Ronald Reagan and the events that transpired during the Reagan administration,  and I wanted to share it with you. Here is the fourth portion:

The measure cut all income tax rates by twenty-five percent, with a 5 percent cut coming that October, the next 10 percent in July 1982, and the final 10 percent in July 1983. The law also reduced the top income tax rate from 70 percent to 50 percent, indexed tax rates to offset the impact of inflation, and increased the tax exemption on estates and gifts. Conservatives have consistently argued that ERTA was a prime factor in the economic growth that prevailed throughout the 1980s.

There followed sixty straight months of economic growth, the longest uninterrupted period of expansion since the government began keeping such statistics in 1854. Nearly fifteen million new jobs were created — a total of eighteen million by the time Reagan left office. Just under $20 trillion worth of goods and services, measured in actual dollars, were produced from 1982 to 1987. To give some notion of how much that is, by the end of 1987 America was producing about seven and a one-half times more every year than it produced in John Kennedy’s last year as president.[viii]

The expansion was felt everywhere, as conservative economists had predicted, including in the government’s own income. Total federal receipts in 1982 were $618 billion. Five years later, federal receipts were just over $1 trillion, an increase of $398 billion. More than enough, one would have thought, to satisfy all but the most eager advocate of the welfare state.

And as Reagan had promised, the military benefited the most from the economic growth. In President Carter’s last budget, America spent just under $160 billion on national defense. In 1987, the Reagan administration spent $282 billion, more than twice as much on the military. During Reagan’s first seven years, he was able to expend over $1.5 trillion on national defense, “a staggering amount by anyone’s standards.”[ix]

Top 10 most Controversial World Cup Games (W. Hatcher v. E. Hatcher, Part 3)

Today we are discussing the 8th most controversial game.

Everette Hatcher picks the Germany v. USA game in 2002.

2002 World Cup Quarter Finals: Germany vs United States

Close call on hand-ball: In the 49th minute of Friday’s Germany-United States World Cup quarterfinal, a shot by American Gregg Berhalter bounced off German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and hit the left arm of German defender Torsten Frings, who was standing on the goal line.

Scottish referee Hugh Dallas did not call a hand-ball on Frings. While Dallas might not have seen Frings touch the ball, even if the referee had, he would not be obligated to issue the United States a penalty kick.

According to Law 12 of the International Football Association Board’s Laws of the Game, the rulebook for soccer:

“A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player … handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area). … A penalty kick is awarded if the above offense is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.”

However, if in the referee’s opinion the ball hit Frings’ arm inadvertently, then he need not make a call, as a later note explains:

“If the ball strikes the defender accidentally, no offense is committed.”

Wilson picks the  West Germany v Austria in 1982. Here is some info off the internet below. 

West Germany 1 Austria 0 (1982)

West Germany had lost to Algeria (England beware)  but needed just a 1-0 win to go through at the Africans’ expense along with Austria. A 2-0 win would see Austria go home.

So happened the Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón (non-aggression pact of Gijon)…Horst Hrubesch put Germany 1-0 after ten minutes and after this neither side even tried to score a goal, resulting in 80 minutes of ‘after you’ football.

Tears were shed by Algeria and FIFA ruled after this that all final group matches must always be played at the same time to avoid a repeat.

Video: Even the Germans were unimpressed

__________________________________

1 Geoff Hurst’s third goal in World Cup final (1966)

Of course it crossed the line. End of debate. Apart from the bits of the ball that might not have done.Possibly.  When I met Geoff Hurst he told me the ball WAS over the line. When I met Franz Beckenbauer he told me it wasn’t. I know who I believe. A clear case of getting it right – well done lino…

Video: The whole ball enters the designated net area with malice aforethought

Bonus feature: how Brian Moore described it on the radio

2 Diego Maradona’s Hand of God (1986)

The fact the referee’s suspicions were not aroused by the fact that 5ft 2in Maradona was able to outjump man mountain Peter Shilton says more about him than the Argentinian wizard. He got away with it. Big time.

Cheating on a biblical scale will never be condoned anyone in this country – unless of course, Wayne Rooney does if for England this year to win the final.

Video: ‘Major controversy…’

3 Harald Schumacher v Patrick Battiston (1982)

We all adopted the French after England bowed out without losing a game in Spain. Their semi-final against West Germany was one of the best World Cup matches ever.

France let a 3-1 extra time lead slip before losing on penalties but the only talking point was how German keeper Harald Schumacher managed to avoid a booking/red card/prison sentence for his disgraceful charge into the clean-though Battiston who lost teeth, consciousness and broke ribs and spinal bones having shot wide. France didn’t even get a free-kick.

Video: Ooh la-la! C’est GBH ou ABH…

4 Kuwait v France (1982)

There was a whistle in the crowd just before Alain Giresse scored for France.

So incensed were the players that the goal was allowed to stand they complained. Then the head of the Kuwaiti FA took his players off in protest until the goal was wiped out. Which it was. Incredibly. But France still won 4-1.

Video: Referee rules out goal under Giresse

5 Argentina 6 Peru 0 (1978)

Argentina had to win by four goals to make the World Cup final in front of their own fans at the expense of bitter rivals Brazil. Peru missed a couple of early sitters. Cue another stunning evening. Accusations about this match have been rife since it finished but nothing has been proven.

Video: Noise, noise, goals and tickertape…

6  Zidane headbutt on Materazzi (2006)

Zinedine Zidane’s last-ever match ended in shame when he head-butted poor old Marco during the World Cup Final itself, the Italian left to rue that snide comment he made about the Leaning Tower of Pisa being far than Eiffel’s rubbish effort.

Video: Come here and say that…

7 Clive Thomas disallowing Brazil goal v Sweden (1978)

Clive always did it by the book and allowed just eight seconds of injury time during which time Nelinho’s corner was headed home by Zico. However, just a nanosecond before Zico’s curls made ball contact Thomas blew for full time, waving away protesting Brazilians with a flourish of his watch.

Don’t think Mr Thomas will ever be welcome in the bars of Rio but he’s a big hero in Stockholm.

Video: Who says referees don’t have a sense of humour?

8 Willie Johnston/Diego Maradona sent home for drugs

After Scotland lurched to a 3-1 defeat to Peru in 1978,  the team were rocked by scandal when West Brom’s Willie Johnston failed a drugs test and was sent home, never to play for his country again.

If his alleged drugs taking had had a de-enhancing effect, the ones Diego Maradona took at the 1994 Finals were the complete opposite.

The Argentinian legend scored against Greece then ran bug-eyed and screaming at the camera. He failed a drugs test soon afterwards and was sent home.

Video: What big eyes you’ve got Diego…

9. The Battle of Santiago (1962)

When 1962 hosts Chile took on the shrinking violets Italy, the BBC’s David Coleman described what happened as ‘the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.’

For the record, Chile won 2-0 but here’s a breakdown of events:-

  • In the lead-up to the match, two Italian journalists were misquoted to whip up Chilean fervour in a country still reeling from a massive earthquake two years. The journos had to leave the country for their own safety.
  • The first foul came after 12 seconds.
  • English referee Ken Aston sent off Italy’s Giorgio Ferrini after 12 minutes for a foul on Honorino Landa.
  • Ferrini refused to leave pitch and had to be dragged off by police
  • Ferrini was then punched by Landa but not sent off.
  • Chile’s Leonel Sanchez then punched Mario David but was not dismissed.
  • David got his own back by booting Sanchez in the head and getting sent off. Sanchez struck David again as he walked off but was not sent off.
  • In the resulting melee, 11 Chileans attempted to lay waste to nine Italians. Sanchez broke Humberto Maschio’s with a neat left hook but again was not sent off.
  • Police had to come and separate players who were by spitting at each other as well as punching and shoving.
  • Police were forced to break up fighting players two more times before the end.

Video: Seconds out, round one – complete with outraged Coleman

10 West Germany 1 Austria 0 (1982)

West Germany had lost to Algeria (England beware)  but needed just a 1-0 win to go through at the Africans’ expense along with Austria. A 2-0 win would see Austria go home.

So happened the Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón (non-aggression pact of Gijon)…Horst Hrubesch put Germany 1-0 after ten minutes and after this neither side even tried to score a goal, resulting in 80 minutes of ‘after you’ football.

Tears were shed by Algeria and FIFA ruled after this that all final group matches must always be played at the same time to avoid a repeat.

Video: Even the Germans were unimpressed

Senator Pryor asks for Spending Cut Suggestions! Here are a few!(Part 59)

Senator Mark Pryor wants our ideas on how to cut federal spending. Take a look at this video clip below:

Senator Pryor has asked us to send our ideas to him at cutspending@pryor.senate.gov and I have done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

On May 11, 2011,  I emailed to this above address and I got this email back from Senator Pryor’s office:

Please note, this is not a monitored email account. Due to the sheer volume of correspondence I receive, I ask that constituents please contact me via my website with any responses or additional concerns. If you would like a specific reply to your message, please visit http://pryor.senate.gov/contact. This system ensures that I will continue to keep Arkansas First by allowing me to better organize the thousands of emails I get from Arkansans each week and ensuring that I have all the information I need to respond to your particular communication in timely manner.  I appreciate you writing. I always welcome your input and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any issue of concern to you in the future.

Therefore, I went to the website and sent this email below:

Here are a few more I just emailed to him myself.

Senator Rand Paul on Feb 7, 2011 wrote the article “A Modest $500 Billion Proposal: My spending cuts would keep 85% of government funding and not touch Social Security,” Wall Street Journal and he observed:

Here are some of his specific suggestions:

Agency/Program Funding Level Savings % Decrease
Misc ——- $43.481 B ——-
Collection of Delinquent Taxes: Saves $3 billion
Page 36 of 37
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes the Federal Employee/Retiree Delinquency Initiative
(FERDI). This summary report shows the amount of civilian, military, and retired federal employees who are
delinquent in their federal income taxes.
In 2008, the FERDI showed $3.04 billion in back taxes owed. The amount has grown to $3.31 billion in 2009.
Federal Pay Freeze: Saves $2 billion
During this recession, while most Americans have been forced to cut back, the amount of spending by the federal
government has drastically increased. Many Americans are without jobs and many more are not receiving pay raises.
Federal employees already receive generous pay and benefits, and President Obama has recently endorsed this
proposal.

Kate Middleton is the new fashion icon

By Andrea Reiher

June 11, 2011 10:17 AM ET

kate-middleton-fashion.jpgThere is no doubt about it – Kate Middleton is a new fashion icon. She appears in public with nary a hair out of place or a fashion faux pas happening. Of course, it helps that she’s incredibly pretty and very thin, but still – lots of actresses show up to red carpets in less-than-stellar ensembles.Since returning from the honeymoon, Kate has been spied out in public in the brown Reiss dress (above, left), which she wore to meet President and First Lady Obama on their trip to the United Kingdom.

Kate has also been seen in a sparkly frock (above, middle), a Jenny Packham creation decorated with Swarovski crystals. She donned this dress for the 10th Annual Absolute Return for Kids Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace. Simply smashing.

Finally, for the annual Trooping of the Colour Parade, Kate donned a white double-breasted jacket and black straw and feather hat (above, right). The Trooping of the Colour, which historians believe dates back to the reign of King Charles II in the 1600s, is used each June to celebrate the official birthday of the reigning Monarch, regardless of when the monarch’s actual birthday falls. The birthday tradition began in 1748.

Other posts with Kate Middleton:

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 51)

Michael Middleton lifts Catherine’s veil Michael Middleton lifts Catherine’s bridal veil at the altar of Westminster Abbey, 29 April 2011 Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would not have divorced if they had lived together before marriage. […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 50)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leave Clarence House for Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011 in London, England. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)   I watched the royal wedding with great interest, and I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly are committed to […]

Pippa Middleton small accident during triathlon

NBC reported today: Pippa Middleton runs triathlon, is bumped by sweaty goof Rick Chandler Jun 7, 2011, 2:24 PM EDT 4 Comments As you know, Pippa Middelton is the sister of the future Queen of England and by far the most interesting feature of the recent William-Kate royal nuptials. She ran in the Blenheim Triathlon in […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 49)

Bridesmaids and page boys Philippa Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey with the bridesmaids and page boys ahead of the wedding service between Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 29 April 2011 Prince William and Kate moved in together about a year ago. In this clip above the commentator suggested that maybe Prince Charles and Princess Diana would […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 48)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales leave Clarence House to travel to Buckingham Palace for the evening celebrations. (John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images) I watched the royal wedding with great interest, and I really do wish Kate and William success in their marriage. I hope they truly […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 47)

[2011] The Royal Wedding – MARRIAGE part 2 The Official Royal Wedding photographs The Royal Wedding Group in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on 29th April 2011 with the Bride and Groom, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the centre. Front row (left to right): Miss Grace van Cutsem, Miss Eliza Lopes, […]

Kate Middleton and Prince William: Marriage made in Heaven? (Part 46)

Britain’s Prince William, center left, and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, center right, pose for a photograph with, clockwise from bottom right, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Eliza Lopes, Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Tom Pettifer, and William Lowther-Pinkerton in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey, London, on Friday, April […]