USC fired head football coach Lane Kiffin early Sunday morning following the Trojans’ 62-41 loss to Arizona State on Saturday, the team announced.
USC athletic director Pat Haden informed Kiffin of his termination after the team’s flight back to Los Angeles from Tempe, Ariz. In his afternoon press conference, Haden announced that former Ole Miss coach and current USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has been named the interim coach.
The Trojans’ loss to the Sun Devils on Saturday tied the mark for most points given up by the program in a loss (62 points). The result dropped the Trojans to 3-2 on the year, with both losses coming against Pac-12 foes. In all, USC has lost seven of its last 11 games under Kiffin, including four against ranked opponents. Kiffin’s overall record in four seasons at USC was 28-15.
Kiffin arrived at USC in 2010 after two short stints with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Volunteers. The Trojans were hit with NCAA sanctions stemming from the previous era under Pete Carroll, which included the loss of 30 scholarships over three years and a two-year postseason ban. Nevertheless, Kiffin finished 8-5 in his first season at the helm, jumped to 10-2 in 2011 — a mark that included a win over No. 4 Oregon — and headed into the 2012 campaign with the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Poll.
The 2012 season didn’t pan out as expected. After a 6-1 start, USC dropped five of its final six games, including a loss to crosstown rival UCLA for the first time in five years, to finish 7-6. The Trojans capped their 2012 effort with a 21-7 Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech.
Heading into 2013, pressured on Kiffin mounted. Still, just before the season, Haden released a video statement in which he reiterated that Kiffin was not on the hot seat.
I anticipate the media will ask me if our football coach is on the hot seat this year. Here is my answer, and it will be my answer whenever I’m asked: He is not. I’m behind Lane Kiffin 100 percent. I have great confidence in him. He’s a very hard-working, detail-oriented coach. He’s a dynamic play-caller in my estimation, and he’s an exceptional recruiter. He knows USC and he knows what it takes to be successful here.
After USC’s Week 2 loss to Washington State, reports surfaced that the Trojans held a players-only meeting, a report which Kiffin denied. USC wide receiver Marqise Lee told reporters that the meeting did happen, saying, “Kiffin didn’t know.”
To many, the 2013 season was to be Kiffin’s true test of adversity as a head coach. The son of NFL coaching legend Monte Kiffin, the younger Kiffin rose in the coaching profession at a meteoric pace, something often attributed to his family name. After six seasons as an assistant at USC under Carroll, Kiffin became an NFL head coach with the Raiders at 31, a head coach in the SEC with Tennessee at 33 and the headman at USC at 34.
The question now is where USC goes from here. The Trojans’ job is regarded as one of the most coveted positions in the country, and many names have popped up as potential candidates for the job, including Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, Washington coach Steve Sarkisian — a former USC assistant — and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald
_________________ Back in January of 2013 I posted this: ___________________ Lane Kiffin is not so bright after all. I have written about Kiffin several times before, and I predicted that his team would flop this year and that the arrogant Kiffin that we saw at Tennessee would be coming back and sure enough he didn’t […]
It is true that USC’s Lane Kiffin has had two great recruiting classes at USC, but that was because he signed 25 players both in 2010 and 2011. He delayed “Judgement Day” by getting permission to avoid the 15 scholarship limits (imposed for 3 years) while the school appealed the NCAA’s decision. Therefore, all these […]
By David Daniels in his Bleacher Report noted today: Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow & more articlesNext Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesLane Kiffin Gets What He Deserves As NCAA Rejects USC Football AppealTennessee Volunteer fans all over the nation are smiling. It could be a “I love life” smile or a “I’m having such […]
What should we make from USC’s shocking 21-14 loss to Stanford? Lou Holtz rightly said concerning USC, “They were not number 2 in the country.The writers voted them there and they made a mistake. They were not the number two team.” Earlier I mentioned that Kiffin looked silly for implying that USC had overcome the […]
Southern California head coach Lane Kiffin gestures during NCAA college football practice in Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 17, 2012. Grant Hindsley, Associated Press ________________________ When I opened my newspaper recently I saw this headline, “USC brushes off sanctions to be No. 1 in AP Top 25.” My first thought was Kiffin has brushed off nothing yet. USC […]
__________ Last year I got to go to the Kentucky at Arkansas basketball game and I loved every minute of our 73-60 victory in March of 2013. Marshawn Powell had 15 points and B.J.Young added 13 and Archie Goodwin who I saw play in high school for Sylvan Hills had 14 points for Kentucky. My […]
It is hard to figure out this New Zealand newcomer and her Christian roots but I am going to attempt to in this series of posts. Check out this video interview:
Lorde Full Interview – Splendour In The Grass 2013 – Channel [V]
Published on Sep 9, 2013
Channel [V]’s Marty Smiley chats with Lorde at Splendour In the Grass 2013
Coldplay Max Masters – Part 1 of 7 Uploaded on May 6, 2009 The ASTRA Award winning music documentary – Max Masters Coldplay – was voted MOST OUTSTANDING MUSIC PROGRAM for 2009. Sarah Linton Productions and The Post Box produced the Max Masters documentary to coincide with the album release of ‘Viva la Vida’. __________ […]
The Killers – Human The Killers – Read My Mind The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done The Killers – Spaceman I have really enjoyed the music of The Killers band. The Killers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not to be confused with The Kills. For other uses, see […]
Skillet – Awake and Alive Uploaded on Sep 27, 2010 I really have enjoyed reading about this band from Memphis. Skillet (band) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Skillet Skillet performing at a promotional acoustic show in Denton, TX in 2006 Background information Origin Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Genres Rock,[1] Christian rock/metal,[2][3] alternative […]
To me this song below sums up Keith Green’s life best. 2nd Chapter of Acts – Make My Life A Prayer to You Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to No empty words and no white lies No token prayers, no compromise I want to shine […]
Keith Green – Easter Song (live) Uploaded by monum on May 25, 2008 Keith Green performing “Easter Song” live from The Daisy Club — LA (1982) ____________________________ Keith Green was a great song writer and performer. Here is his story below: The Lord had taken Keith from concerts of 20 or less — to stadiums […]
It is hard to figure out this New Zealand newcomer and her Christian roots but I am going to attempt to in this series of posts. Here an article that may shed more light on this:
Since the release of The Love ClubEP eight months ago, this 16-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand has been deservedly blowing up the scene, and now Fader has a great interview up in which Lorde seems preternaturally savvy about the project she entered herself into after getting signed at age 12 (“I’ve always been very into cleanliness—there aren’t many photos of me online, and I do all my social networks and everything is very much the way I want it to be seen”) and just pretty cool in general:
“Royals” pokes fun at canned images of luxury. If not gowns and diamonds, what luxuries do you actually crave? A big luxury for me at the moment has been time, because I’ve been so busy always. Just being able to go to a house party or eat dinner at home, those sorts of things I’m definitely understanding the value of… But I’m gonna buy a double bed, I’m just gonna do that. Even now spending more than $50 on something I’m like, Ohhh, I don’t know. Money is like, weird.What’s the appropriate response to a subtweet? I don’t know man. You should do the sassy, passive aggressive, slightly ambiguous thing. Tweeting is funny—you should just reply, anything. It doesn’t matter what you say, because they’ll know that you know.
As a young woman, have you felt it necessary to call attention to the control you’ve taken over things? Or to remind people that you’re both a writer and singer? Absolutely. I think a lot of women in this industry maybe aren’t doing so well for the girls. I’ve read interviews where certain big female stars are like, “I’m not a feminist.” I’m like, That’s not what it’s about. She’s great, but I listened to that Lana Del Rey record and the whole time I was just thinking it’s so unhealthy for young girls to be listening to, you know: “I’m nothing without you.” This sort of shirt-tugging, desperate, don’t leave me stuff. That’s not a good thing for young girls, even young people, to hear.
Your mother is a poet. Did she put a lot of importance on writing well? I’ve always written short fiction and read short fiction. Short fiction is like the most difficult thing to do, because everything’s got to be short and clear and potent because you’ve got like 15 pages to create this amazing thing that people will remember. So I guess that stuck with me in writing songs. I guess in general, if you can say something in five words rather than 20, and it’s still cool, you should.
The reign of our Lorde is only going to get more bountiful; I sneaked a listen to a future single off her debut album, out September 30th, and it’s even better than anything she’d done so far.
Coldplay Max Masters – Part 1 of 7 Uploaded on May 6, 2009 The ASTRA Award winning music documentary – Max Masters Coldplay – was voted MOST OUTSTANDING MUSIC PROGRAM for 2009. Sarah Linton Productions and The Post Box produced the Max Masters documentary to coincide with the album release of ‘Viva la Vida’. __________ […]
The Killers – Human The Killers – Read My Mind The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done The Killers – Spaceman I have really enjoyed the music of The Killers band. The Killers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not to be confused with The Kills. For other uses, see […]
Skillet – Awake and Alive Uploaded on Sep 27, 2010 I really have enjoyed reading about this band from Memphis. Skillet (band) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Skillet Skillet performing at a promotional acoustic show in Denton, TX in 2006 Background information Origin Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Genres Rock,[1] Christian rock/metal,[2][3] alternative […]
To me this song below sums up Keith Green’s life best. 2nd Chapter of Acts – Make My Life A Prayer to You Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to No empty words and no white lies No token prayers, no compromise I want to shine […]
Keith Green – Easter Song (live) Uploaded by monum on May 25, 2008 Keith Green performing “Easter Song” live from The Daisy Club — LA (1982) ____________________________ Keith Green was a great song writer and performer. Here is his story below: The Lord had taken Keith from concerts of 20 or less — to stadiums […]
This year a new artist came on to the mainstream scene, although I wouldn’t call her full fledged mainstream just yet. Nevertheless this artist, who goes by the name “Lorde” has received extensive radio play, especially for her song “Royals.”
Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, is a 16 year old singer-songwriter who combines unique musical style with incisive lyrics. Her lyrics are a sort of social commentary on the life of high schoolers. But this is no Justin Bieber. What she writes about is just as complex as the Arcade Fire’s commentary on suburban life in “The Suburbs.”
Lorde has been called a prodigy, and she might very well be. 16 year olds are usually writing music (if we can even call it that) about crushes, having fun on Friday, and the mall. Not so with Lorde. For this reason, and because I work with people from her generation, I wanted to take the next few days to write about her music.
This blog series “Thoughts on The Love Club” will examine a few of Lorde’s songs from a Christian perspective, with the hope of bringing to light how the gospel addresses the needs/hopes/and desires of millennial.
Today we will take a look at the first song of The Love Club EP: “Bravado.”
———————————————————————————–
All my life
I’ve been fighting a war
I can’t talk to you or your friends
It’s not only you
My heart jumps around when I’m alluded to
This will not do
Cause I was raised up
To be admired to be noticed
But when you’re withdrawn it’s the closest thing
To assault when all eyes are on you
This will not do
I’m faking glory
Lick my lips toss my hair
And send a smile over
And the stories brand new
But I can take it from here
I’ll find my own bravado
It’s a switch flipped
It’s a pill tipped back, it’s a moon eclipsed, whoa
And I can tell you that when the lights come on I’ll be ready for this
It’s in your blood stream
A collision of atoms that happens before your eyes
It’s a marathon run or a mountain you scale without thinking of size
I was frightened of every little thing that I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me
But I learnt not to want
The quiet of the room with no one around to find me out
I want the applause the approval the things that make me go
At first glance it seems to be a typical high school singer-songwriter song. Its about a crush. Its about a girl’s desire to get the crush to notice her. Its about how the girl feels when the crush doesn’t notice her. It’s a typical relationship song. A lot right Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” right? Well not exactly. This song is less about relationships and more about Lorde’s desire to be noticed, adored, and loved. Whereas Taylor Swift keeps it surface level, “she feels crappy because her crush doesn’t notice her,” Lorde takes it down to another level. Lorde asks herself “why do I feel crappy when I am not noticed.” If I were to preach on this I would break it up into two categories:
Crushes as idols
Our need to be adored as a heart idol
Notice some of the key lines in this song:
Cause I was raised up
To be admired to be noticed
But when you’re withdrawn it’s the closest thing
To assault
She was raised up to be admired and noticed. When she doesn’t receive that admiration and approval its like being crushed, its like being assaulted. The desire to be admired and noticed is rooted into our human nature. But moreso than that early on we are taught that we ought to be admired that we ought to be noticed. Think of your early days in school, maybe pre-school or kindergarten. The “good kids” the ones who were well behaved or who got good grades were always awarded. This builds into us the notion that our value is inextricably linked to what we do. Or think of how people gravitate towards cute babies and children. These children are being accustomed to getting attention for their looks or their behavior. So we are raised up to be admired and noticed, this is usually not intentional, but its they way life really goes.
Notice what else she says:
I’m faking glory Lick my lips toss my hair And send a smile over
She is faking glory, and her glory is in her looks. Her glory is in how she kicks her lips, or tosses her hair, or its in the allure of her smile. As human beings we are drawn to glorious things. Its how we are built. We are designed to seek after God’s glory. We are designed to receive pleasure from God’s glory. As Piper would say, we are created to be Christian Hedonists. But sin blinds us. We don’t see God’s glory. So we look for glory in other places. This search for glory often results in seeking to make ourselves glorious. We make our selves glorious through our achievements, through our power, through our money, or possessions. We create a counterfeit glory with the hope that others will notice and worship us. We hope that others will see us as glorious and give us the admiration and approval we desire. Its really ironic though, that we receive the admiration and approval we seek when we submit to the glory of God himself.
Notice how she ends the song though:
I was frightened of every little thing that I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me
But I learnt not to want
The quiet of the room with no one around to find me out
I want the applause the approval the things that make me go
Putting your glory out there and not getting approved is heartwrenching. Rejection shakes us at our core. What do we do when we have experienced constant, ongoing rejection? We shut off our desire to be approved of and valued. Lorde says that she has taught herself not to desire approval. She has withdrawn into the “quiet room.” Rejection kills our ability to be intimate with others. Yet, despite her withdrawal, she can never get away from the desire for “the applause” or the “approval” that drives her. The truth is that we can try to numb ourselves to our feelings when we get rejected. We can shut ourselves down when people fail to recognize our “glory.” However doing this doesn’t solve our problem.
The first step to solve our “approval/glory deficit” is to admit the fact that there is a problem. In our hearts we desire to be made much of, to be glorified, in essence to be worshiped. Lorde points this out very clearly. We need to confess that this is a problem for many of us. Having done this, we need to recognize that there is only one who is worthy of glory, God himself. Once we recognize that God is the most glorious being in the universe, our desire to be glorified slowly begins to fade away (we call this sanctification). Only then, once we desire God’s glory above all else, will we experience the approval and value we so desperately desire. Because then we will realize that God, the glorious king of the universe, the one deserving of all glory, the one we call Father, loves us deeply. He loves us enough to send his son to die for our sins so that we might be reconciled to him.
Coldplay Max Masters – Part 1 of 7 Uploaded on May 6, 2009 The ASTRA Award winning music documentary – Max Masters Coldplay – was voted MOST OUTSTANDING MUSIC PROGRAM for 2009. Sarah Linton Productions and The Post Box produced the Max Masters documentary to coincide with the album release of ‘Viva la Vida’. __________ […]
The Killers – Human The Killers – Read My Mind The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done The Killers – Spaceman I have really enjoyed the music of The Killers band. The Killers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not to be confused with The Kills. For other uses, see […]
Skillet – Awake and Alive Uploaded on Sep 27, 2010 I really have enjoyed reading about this band from Memphis. Skillet (band) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Skillet Skillet performing at a promotional acoustic show in Denton, TX in 2006 Background information Origin Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Genres Rock,[1] Christian rock/metal,[2][3] alternative […]
To me this song below sums up Keith Green’s life best. 2nd Chapter of Acts – Make My Life A Prayer to You Make my life a prayer to You I want to do what You want me to No empty words and no white lies No token prayers, no compromise I want to shine […]
Keith Green – Easter Song (live) Uploaded by monum on May 25, 2008 Keith Green performing “Easter Song” live from The Daisy Club — LA (1982) ____________________________ Keith Green was a great song writer and performer. Here is his story below: The Lord had taken Keith from concerts of 20 or less — to stadiums […]
Little Rock Touchdown Club has Rex Nelson do the stats for the games played that week. Rex does a lot of impersonations of different people but I like his Houston Nutt the best. Video by Popeye Video – Mrpopeyevideo
______________________I got to hear Houston Nutt speak on 9-23-13 at the Little Rock Touchdown Club and he did a great job. He was asked about the biggest accomplishments at Arkansas and he said the “second Tennessee was but not the first.” I disagree. I think the team played much better in the first game in Knoxville and had the game practically won until the Hogs fumbled with less than 2 minutes to go.
Former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt greets fans after his address of the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday afternoon.
When former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt was asked at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday when fans would see him back on the sidelines, he seemed hesitant to answer.
But before he could, a fan in the crowd did so for him.
“Texas is looking!” the fan yelled, referring to the program embroiled in rumors that its coach, Mack Brown, may be on his way out.
The remark led to a chorus of laughter from Nutt and nearly 400 people packed into the Little Rock Embassy Suites ballroom, which required extra seating for the event. It was one of several moments that defined Nutt’s first public speaking appearance in his hometown since he left the Razorbacks six years ago after coaching the team for 10 seasons.
Nutt said that he hasn’t given much thought to coaching again — he said he needed a break after spending 14 consecutive years in the SEC — but noted if he did return to the profession, the situation would have to be right.
Rising tensions between Nutt, the University of Arkansas administration and the Razorback fan base led him to resign as coach of the Razorbacks in 2007, at which point he accepted a contract buyout and took the head coaching job at Ole Miss. Nutt went 24-26 in four seasons as coach of the Rebels before moving to Santa Fe, N.M. and serving as an analyst for CBS Sports.
Nutt said he doesn’t regret his time at Arkansas, but he does wish his tenure in Fayetteville had lasted longer.
“I wanted to be like [former Arkansas coach and athletic director] coach [Frank] Broyles,” he said, “I wanted to be there a long, long time.”
In his 30-minute address, Nutt talked at length about his recruitment as a player to Arkansas, his relationship with Broyles and how his parents coaching and teaching at Arkansas School for the Deaf affected the way he dealt with people on a daily basis.
Nutt’s mother, Emogene, and brothers Danny and Dennis attended the event.
Prior to his speech, it was announced that Nutt had his speaking fee donated to recovery efforts for Bennie Fuller, the deaf Arkansas prep basketball great who lost nearly all his possessions May 20 in the Moore, Okla. tornado. Fuller played for Nutt’s father, Houston Nutt Sr.
A majority of the event focused on Nutt Jr.’s tenure at Arkansas, when he went 75-48 and appeared in seven bowl games. Nutt said he felt he was a long-shot among the 14 candidates to get the job in 1998, when he was in his first and only season as head coach at Boise State.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the job because my resume wasn’t as thick [as other candidates],” Nutt said. “But I knew I wanted this job. I knew it.”
In all, Nutt said he was nervous prior to speaking to the crowd, but described them as “good butterflies.” While finishing his address, Nutt showed that while the ending to his Arkansas coaching tenure was full of controversy, he enjoyed his decade with the team.
“I had the privilege to be the coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks,” Nutt said. “There’s nothing like it.”
Read more about this story in tomorrow’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Tom Osborne at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 1 The Currens Story Uploaded on Feb 4, 2010 Tom Osborne speaks about his grandfather who was mentored by a traveling minister who was spent four months with his grandfather. The minister encouraged his grandfather to pursue college ________ 1998 Orange Bowl – The Nebraska Cornhuskers […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 4 Mike Singletary: Christ Means Everything – CBN.com Uploaded on Aug 25, 2010 Shawn Brown talks to the tough-as-nails coach of the San Francisco 49ers about how he wins in life and in football… The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN http://www.cbn.com __________________________ No one has more respect […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 3 Before Dan Hampton got to speak at the touchdown club this week, Rex Nelson got up and spoke and when he talked about Bobby Petrino taking his Western Kentucky team into Knoxville, he asked, “How many of you think Petrino will get a victory in […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPWDMKzVs4 Dan Hampton told about the year with the Chicago Bears when they took on the Vikings and they sacked Archie Manning 11 times. In October on 1984 the Bears beat the Vikings but in the process Dan Hampton got to play against one of […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 1 Dan Hampton I really enjoyed the Little Rock Touchdown Club today when Dan Hampton was our speaker. Hampton said that Jimmy Johnson was a great defensive coordinator for him to learn under when he played for Frank Broyles in 1975. Then when Lou Holtz came […]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SYwFPm2lQ I never thought Bobby Petrino was a good speaker but probably his finest speech was two years ago when he spoke to the Little Rock Touchdown Club. I should know since I was there and was very impressed with the talk. Today Brett Bielema also fired up the Hog faithful but we don’t […]
Rex Nelson impersonates Houston Nutt at LRTC 08 27 12 Published on Oct 2, 2012 Little Rock Touchdown Club has Rex Nelson do the stats for the games played that week. Rex does a lot of impersonations of different people but I like his Houston Nutt the best. Video by Popeye Video – Mrpopeyevideo I have […]
I have written about my past visits to the Little Rock Touchdown Club many times and I have been amazed at the quality of the speakers. Frank Broyles was one of my favorites but Phillip Fulmer, Paul Finebaum, Mike Slive, Willie Roaf, Randy White, Howard Schnellenberger, John Robinson, Mark May, Gene Stallings, Bobby Bowden, Lloyd […]
I have written about my past visits to the Little Rock Touchdown Club many times and I have been amazed at the quality of the speakers. (Yesterday I talked about Phillip Fulmer.)Frank Broyles was one of my favorites but Phillip Fulmer, Paul Finebaum, Mike Slive, Willie Roaf, Randy White, Howard Schnellenberger, John Robinson, Mark May, […]
Rex Nelson impersonates Houston Nutt at LRTC 08 27 12 Published on Oct 2, 2012 Little Rock Touchdown Club has Rex Nelson do the stats for the games played that week. Rex does a lot of impersonations of different people but I like his Houston Nutt the best. Video by Popeye Video – Mrpopeyevideo ______________ I […]
I really enjoyed hearing Gus Malzahn speak at the final Little Rock Touchdown meeting on Nov 19, 2012. He covered several subjects that he covered a few days earlier at a touchdown club in Huntsville. Here are some of his comments from that meeting: But reports that he could be the next coach at Auburn, […]
Gov. Beebe, Shane Broadway, Steve Sullivan, Jeff Hankins and all the notable ASU grads were in the audience today at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. This was the second time I got to see Gus Malzahn speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. Two years ago he was skyped in since tornadoes made it impossible […]
Arkansas is hoping for a top notch recruiter for the next coach. Will we get one? Jim Harris: Recruiting Expert Lemming Says Right Choice For Hogs Can Land Impact Players <!– 23 –> by Jim Harris 10/29/2012 at 3:45pm As much as recruiting seems to excite every college football fan base, including Arkansas’, one would […]
Please explain to me if you ever do plan to balance the budget while you are President? I have written these things below about you and I really do think that you don’t want to cut spending in order to balance the budget. It seems you ever are daring the Congress to stop you from spending more.
“The credit of the United States ‘is not a bargaining chip,’ Obama said on 1-14-13. However, President Obama keeps getting our country’s credit rating downgraded as he raises the debt ceiling higher and higher!!!!
Washington Could Learn a Lot from a Drug Addict
Just spend more, don’t know how to cut!!! Really!!! That is not living in the real world is it?
Making more dependent on government is not the way to go!!
Why is our government in over 16 trillion dollars in debt? There are many reasons for this but the biggest reason is people say “Let’s spend someone else’s money to solve our problems.” Liberals like Max Brantley have talked this way for years. Brantley will say that conservatives are being harsh when they don’t want the government out encouraging people to be dependent on the government. The Obama adminstration has even promoted a plan for young people to follow like Julia the Moocher.
Imagine standing a baby carrot up next to the 25-story Stephens building in Little Rock. That gives you a picture of the impact on the national debt that federal spending in Arkansas on Medicaid expansion would have, while here at home expansion would give coverage to more than 200,000 of our neediest citizens, create jobs, and save money for the state.
Here’s the thing: while more than a billion dollars a year in federal spending would represent a big-time stimulus for Arkansas, it’s not even a drop in the bucket when it comes to the national debt.
Currently, the national debt is around $16.4 trillion. In fiscal year 2015, the federal government would spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 billion to fund Medicaid expansion in Arkansas if we say yes. That’s about 1/13,700th of the debt.
It’s hard to get a handle on numbers that big, so to put that in perspective, let’s get back to the baby carrot. Imagine that the height of the Stephens building (365 feet) is the $16 trillion national debt. That $1.2 billion would be the length of a ladybug. Of course, we’re not just talking about one year if we expand. Between now and 2021, the federal government projects to contribute around $10 billion. The federal debt is projected to be around $25 trillion by then, so we’re talking about 1/2,500th of the debt. Compared to the Stephens building? That’s a baby carrot.
______________
Here is how it will all end if everyone feels they should be allowed to have their “baby carrot.”
How sad it is that liberals just don’t get this reality.
While living in Europe in the 1760s, Franklin observed: “in different countries … the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”
Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee(15 October 1747 – 5 January 1813) was a Scottish lawyer, writer, and professor. Tytler was also a historian, and he noted, “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy.”
[Jefferson affirms that the main purpose of society is to enable human beings to keep the fruits of their labor.— TGW]
To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, “the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, and the fruits acquired by it.” If the overgrown wealth of an individual be deemed dangerous to the State, the best corrective is the law of equal inheritance to all in equal degree; and the better, as this enforces a law of nature, while extra taxation violates it.
[From Writings of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Albert E. Bergh (Washington: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), 14:466.]
_______
Jefferson pointed out that to take from the rich and give to the poor through government is just wrong. Franklin knew the poor would have a better path upward without government welfare coming their way. Milton Friedman’s negative income tax is the best method for doing that and by taking away all welfare programs and letting them go to the churches for charity.
_____________
_________
Thank you so much for your time. I know how valuable it is. I also appreciate the fine family that you have and your commitment as a father and a husband.
Sincerely,
Everette Hatcher III, 13900 Cottontail Lane, Alexander, AR 72002, ph 501-920-5733, lowcostsqueegees@yahoo.com
We got to act fast and get off this path of socialism. Morning Bell: Welfare Spending Shattering All-Time Highs Robert Rector and Amy Payne October 18, 2012 at 9:03 am It’s been a pretty big year for welfare—and a new report shows welfare is bigger than ever. The Obama Administration turned a giant spotlight […]
We need to cut Food Stamp program and not extend it. However, it seems that people tell the taxpayers back home they are going to Washington and cut government spending but once they get up there they just fall in line with everyone else that keeps spending our money. I am glad that at least […]
Government Must Cut Spending Uploaded by HeritageFoundation on Dec 2, 2010 The government can cut roughly $343 billion from the federal budget and they can do so immediately. __________ Liberals argue that the poor need more welfare programs, but I have always argued that these programs enslave the poor to the government. Food Stamps Growth […]
Milton Friedman – The Negative Income Tax Published on May 11, 2012 by LibertyPen In this 1968 interview, Milton Friedman explained the negative income tax, a proposal that at minimum would save taxpayers the 72 percent of our current welfare budget spent on administration. http://www.LibertyPen.com Source: Firing Line with William F Buckley Jr. ________________ Milton […]
Dan Mitchell Commenting on Obama’s Failure to Propose a Fiscal Plan Published on Aug 16, 2012 by danmitchellcato No description available. ___________ After the Welfare State Posted by David Boaz Cato senior fellow Tom G. Palmer, who is lecturing about freedom in Slovenia and Tbilisi this week, asked me to post this announcement of his […]
Is President Obama gutting the welfare reform that Bill Clinton signed into law? Morning Bell: Obama Denies Gutting Welfare Reform Amy Payne August 8, 2012 at 9:15 am The Obama Administration came out swinging against its critics on welfare reform yesterday, with Press Secretary Jay Carney saying the charge that the Administration gutted the successful […]
Thomas Sowell – Welfare Welfare reform was working so good. Why did we have to abandon it? Look at this article from 2003. The Continuing Good News About Welfare Reform By Robert Rector and Patrick Fagan, Ph.D. February 6, 2003 Six years ago, President Bill Clinton signed legislation overhauling part of the nation’s welfare system. […]
Uploaded by ForaTv on May 29, 2009 Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/05/18/James_Bartholomew_The_Welfare_State_Were_In Author James Bartholomew argues that welfare benefits actually increase government handouts by ‘ruining’ ambition. He compares welfare to a humane mousetrap. —– Welfare reform was working so good. Why did we have to abandon it? Look at this article from 2003. In the controversial […]
Thomas Sowell If the welfare reform law was successful then why change it? Wasn’t Bill Clinton the president that signed into law? Obama Guts Welfare Reform Robert Rector and Kiki Bradley July 12, 2012 at 4:10 pm Today, the Obama Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an official policy directive rewriting the welfare […]
I have been writing President Obama letters and have not received a personal response yet. (He reads 10 letters a day personally and responds to each of them.) However, I did receive a form letter in the form of an email on July 10, 2012. I don’t know which letter of mine generated this response so I have […]
On 9-23-13 I got to hear Houston Nutt speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club and he pointed out that one of the most proud accomplishments of his Arkansas Coaching span was a great record in overtime games. You got to respect a lot of the results that Houston Nutt got while he was the Hog football coach. He won or tied for the SEC West 3 out of 10 years and he had us in the national title conversation in 1998 and 2006 as late as Novemeber. (Petrino did the same in 2011.)
However, Nutt was right that one of the most impressive things Nutt did is go 6-1 in overtime games. The only loss being to Tennessee. I was driving from Little Rock to Orlando that night and I caught it on the radio in the fourth quarter. Little did I realize that I would get to see the last two overtime periods on tv at the hotel with my relatives about 1 hour later. What was amazing to me was the horrible field goal kick that Tennessee made in the second overtime. It cleared the goal post about 3 inches. Then our kicker had a chance to win it in the 3rd overtime with a 38 yard kick and he missed that!!! Here are some of the details of the game from Sports Illustrated:
Posted: Sunday October 06, 2002 12:35 AM Updated: Sunday October 06, 2002 1:56 AM
Tennessee’s Rashad Moore (58) and Omari Hand (91) rest during a timeout in the sixth OT of the Vols’ 41-38 win. AP
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said a lack of discipline and youthful mistakes were keeping the No. 10 Volunteers from playing their best. He had nothing to complain about Saturday night.
Jason Witten caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Casey Clausen in the sixth overtime to give Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) an exhausting 41-38 win over Arkansas.
“This is the type of game that jells a football team. I am excited about the way we played,” he said. “We had the heart and the guts to take it to them.”
For the Razorbacks (2-2, 0-2), who beat Mississippi 58-57 in a record-setting seven-overtime game last season, it was a heart-wrenching loss.
They pushed into the final overtime but had to settle for a 47-yard field goal by David Carlton in the sixth OT before the Vols got their last chance.
“When it went into overtime, I said, ‘This is our game. We’re ready,”‘ Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “This was bitter, bitter. There were a lot of times we outplayed them.”
The teams kicked field goals in the first two overtimes and were held scoreless in the third.
Arkansas finally scored a touchdown in the next OT, on Matt Jones’ run, but the Razorbacks couldn’t get the 2-point conversion. Under NCAA rules, teams must go for 2 points after touchdowns starting with the third overtime.
Tennessee scored a touchdown on Clausen’s 25-yard pass to Tony Brown, but the Vols also failed on the 2-point conversion.
Jabari Davis, who scored two TDs in regulation, ran from 12 yards out to start the fifth overtime. He fumbled, but the ball was recovered in the end zone by Troy Fleming. Clausen was then stopped on the conversion attempt. De’Arrius Howard scored a TD for Arkansas, whose pass attempt was intercepted by Tennessee’s Julian Battle at the goal line.
Arkansas scored two touchdowns in a 41/2-minute span of regulation to tie the game at 17 with 3:30 to go.
The Razorbacks trailed 17-3 after Davis scored on a 58-yard touchdown run a minute into the fourth quarter. Arkansas got the ball back, drove 60 yards and scored when Howard ran 10 yards.
The Vols were pushed back, penalized and had to punt on fourth-and-17.
Standing at his own 8, Jones passed to Richard Smith at the 40, and Smith ran down the sideline untouched to the end zone for a 92-yard touchdown to tie it.
“The coaches have told us never to quit, and we were down seven at our own 8, I kept thinking about that,” Jones said.
Clausen completed 19 of 28 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones, who couldn’t find many open receivers, ran 21 times for 66 yards. Arkansas’ leading rusher, Cedric Cobbs, left the game in the third quarter with a twisted left ankle.
The Razorbacks, who have lost five straight games in Knoxville since 1992, continued to rely heavily on the run but couldn’t score a touchdown until Howard’s 10-yard run cut Tennessee’s lead to 17-10 with 6:56 remaining.
Tennessee came into the game averaging 129.5 yards on the ground — 10th out of 12 SEC teams — and was determined to improve despite its leading rusher, Cedric Houston, sitting out with a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The Vols pounded away at Arkansas’ defense with Davis, starting in place of Houston, carrying 25 times for 135 yards. Tennessee finished with 162 yards on 47 attempts.
Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones appeared too laid-back to some fans, but his stamina during septuple overtime games was hard to deny.
This football season marks the 21st for the Razorbacks as members of the SEC. Having completed two decades in the league it seemed worth reflecting on how far the program has come. Which victories over the last 20 years were the sweetest? Were there losses that hurt more than others? What coaching decisions still have folks scratching their heads? ArkansasSports360.com assembled a panel aimed at answering these questions. We have our list and we’d love to hear yours.
No. 8 on our moments you love to remember…
Going Overtime
When It Happened: Nov. 3, 2001 Who We Remember: Matt Jones, Eli Manning, Jermaine Petty, Jason Peters, Houston Nutt and David Cutcliffe. Why We Remember: An NCAA game had never before gone seven overtimes, and by the fifth one the fans for both sides in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (and maybe those watching on ESPN2) were wishing for someone, anyone, to win this Arkansas-Ole Miss matchup. Ole Miss was favored behind future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning, but regulation play ended 17-all, and then it really got wild.
The night proved to be Matt Jones’ coming out party, with unbelievable runs and throws during the extra periods. Jones looked like former Ole Miss superstar Archie Manning in running around the Rebels for a 25-yard scoring run, and later he scrambled and somehow found tight end Jason Peters (now an NFL All-Pro tackle) for a key two-point conversion pass.
It was as if Jones was drawing up plays in the dirt, and Ole Miss’ defense had no answer. Of course, Arkansas’ defense was having its own difficult time keeping Eli Manning from reaching the end zone too.
Finally, Hog linebacker Jermaine Petty stopped a tying 2-point play and Arkansas had a 58-56 win, spurring them on to a 7-4 regular-season finish.
The game became an “Instant” ESPN Classic, and KATV, Channel 7, produced videos of the game that were in huge demand.
The game would spark Arkansas to a berth in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma.
Jones and Arkansas would lose a six-OT game at Tennessee the next year and would win another seven-overtime game in 2003 over Kentucky and Jared Lorenzen, 71-63, but by then these games were old hat to Hog fans.
But maybe better than going seven overtimes was Nutt, fittingly, watching his Hogs use three OTs in dispatching eventual national champion LSU 50-48 in 2007 in the coach’s last game as Razorback coach. Darren McFadden and Peyton Hillis were especially dominant that day in Baton Rouge.
Nutt was an amazing 6-1 in overtime games as UA coach.
Tom Osborne at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 1 The Currens Story Uploaded on Feb 4, 2010 Tom Osborne speaks about his grandfather who was mentored by a traveling minister who was spent four months with his grandfather. The minister encouraged his grandfather to pursue college ________ 1998 Orange Bowl – The Nebraska Cornhuskers […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 4 Mike Singletary: Christ Means Everything – CBN.com Uploaded on Aug 25, 2010 Shawn Brown talks to the tough-as-nails coach of the San Francisco 49ers about how he wins in life and in football… The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN http://www.cbn.com __________________________ No one has more respect […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 3 Before Dan Hampton got to speak at the touchdown club this week, Rex Nelson got up and spoke and when he talked about Bobby Petrino taking his Western Kentucky team into Knoxville, he asked, “How many of you think Petrino will get a victory in […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPWDMKzVs4 Dan Hampton told about the year with the Chicago Bears when they took on the Vikings and they sacked Archie Manning 11 times. In October on 1984 the Bears beat the Vikings but in the process Dan Hampton got to play against one of […]
Dan Hampton at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Part 1 Dan Hampton I really enjoyed the Little Rock Touchdown Club today when Dan Hampton was our speaker. Hampton said that Jimmy Johnson was a great defensive coordinator for him to learn under when he played for Frank Broyles in 1975. Then when Lou Holtz came […]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SYwFPm2lQ I never thought Bobby Petrino was a good speaker but probably his finest speech was two years ago when he spoke to the Little Rock Touchdown Club. I should know since I was there and was very impressed with the talk. Today Brett Bielema also fired up the Hog faithful but we don’t […]
Rex Nelson impersonates Houston Nutt at LRTC 08 27 12 Published on Oct 2, 2012 Little Rock Touchdown Club has Rex Nelson do the stats for the games played that week. Rex does a lot of impersonations of different people but I like his Houston Nutt the best. Video by Popeye Video – Mrpopeyevideo I have […]
I have written about my past visits to the Little Rock Touchdown Club many times and I have been amazed at the quality of the speakers. Frank Broyles was one of my favorites but Phillip Fulmer, Paul Finebaum, Mike Slive, Willie Roaf, Randy White, Howard Schnellenberger, John Robinson, Mark May, Gene Stallings, Bobby Bowden, Lloyd […]
I have written about my past visits to the Little Rock Touchdown Club many times and I have been amazed at the quality of the speakers. (Yesterday I talked about Phillip Fulmer.)Frank Broyles was one of my favorites but Phillip Fulmer, Paul Finebaum, Mike Slive, Willie Roaf, Randy White, Howard Schnellenberger, John Robinson, Mark May, […]
Rex Nelson impersonates Houston Nutt at LRTC 08 27 12 Published on Oct 2, 2012 Little Rock Touchdown Club has Rex Nelson do the stats for the games played that week. Rex does a lot of impersonations of different people but I like his Houston Nutt the best. Video by Popeye Video – Mrpopeyevideo ______________ I […]
I really enjoyed hearing Gus Malzahn speak at the final Little Rock Touchdown meeting on Nov 19, 2012. He covered several subjects that he covered a few days earlier at a touchdown club in Huntsville. Here are some of his comments from that meeting: But reports that he could be the next coach at Auburn, […]
Gov. Beebe, Shane Broadway, Steve Sullivan, Jeff Hankins and all the notable ASU grads were in the audience today at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. This was the second time I got to see Gus Malzahn speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. Two years ago he was skyped in since tornadoes made it impossible […]
Arkansas is hoping for a top notch recruiter for the next coach. Will we get one? Jim Harris: Recruiting Expert Lemming Says Right Choice For Hogs Can Land Impact Players <!– 23 –> by Jim Harris 10/29/2012 at 3:45pm As much as recruiting seems to excite every college football fan base, including Arkansas’, one would […]
One of the other major themes that emerges through Coldplay’s latest offer, Viva la Vida, is that of death and judgement. Fascinatingly, it’s a subject that Chris Martin recently spoke on ina recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
In the interview Martin reveals that, although he continues to believe in God, he has apparently rejected the idea of hell existing. He reveals that, in particular, as he grew up as a teenager, he hated the idea that his own sexual morality might affect or determine his eternal fate.
The album track, Yes, seems to be a reflection on this sort of subject, told by someone who is struggling alone in sexual temptation and guilt: ‘Yeah we were dying of frustration / Saying “Lord lead me not into temptation” / But it’s not easy when she turns you on / If you’ll only, if you’ll only say yes / Whether you will’s anybody’s guess / God, only God knows I’m trying my best / But I’m so tired of this loneliness.’
I can’t help feeling sad when I read these lyrics – because I can’t help feeling that Martin has missed the heart of the Christian message. There’s nothing about God’s goodness – even in giving us a blueprint for sexuality – and nothing about grace. It’s awful to think that any person can feel that they’ve blown it forever with God.
That Chris Martin longs for more – indeed, that he longs for something beyond death – is clear. The song 42 may, I think, be a reference to ‘the meaning of life’ in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and asks deep existential questions about death and what it means to be alive: ‘Those who are dead are not dead / They’re just living my head / And since I fell for that spell I am living there as well / Time is so short and I’m sure / There must be something more.’ To airbrush out the existence of death and whatever comes after is foolish, yet Martin adds to be preoccupied with death and whatever comes after is to miss the point of living now. The track reminded me of Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 4: that life now only makes sense – and that we only truly live radically now – once we are convinced that Jesus’ blood has bought us a place with God forever, in the place of solid joys and lasting pleasures.
The final track, Death and All His Friends, dreamily reflects on the brevity of life. It shows a desire to make the most of our time now, yet also seems to convey how we feel that like is too short. AsEcclesiastes puts it, we sometimes feel that eternity has been set in our hearts. Death feels like a disruption.
And for all of his dislike of institutional religion and the violence done in the name of Christianity, the song Reign of Love seems to reflect a longing for a kingdom of pure goodness – possibly even a reference to what Jesus called the Kingdom of God, where God’s rule is perfectly manifest. Perhaps that’s what Chris Martin hopes for above all: in all of the messiness, he hopes for redemption. As a powerful lyric fromLovers in Japan puts it, ‘But I have no doubt / One day the sun will come out ‘
Up to this point many people may be saying that this is all based on some pretty flimsy evidence. However, one of the most revealing things came out when Chris wrote the song “Viva La Vida.” He had previously said he left Christianity because of the biblical view of eternal damnation but what does Chris do with the evil king in the song “Viva La Vida?” Q Magazine asked Chris Martin about the lyric in this song “I know Saint Peter won’t call my name.” Martin said, “It’s about…You’re not on the list… Its always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it…That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know it. It’s mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious.”
Maybe we have heard the last of this journey from Chris?
Chris Martin
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Ecclesiastes 1
Published on Sep 4, 2012
Calvary Chapel Spring Valley | Sunday Evening | September 2, 2012 | Pastor Derek Neider
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Ecclesiastes 2-3
Published on Sep 19, 2012
Calvary Chapel Spring Valley | Sunday Evening | September 16, 2012 | Derek Neider
Coldplay 6-22-12 Dallas, TX Best Opening.MOV Published on Jun 23, 2012 by jaimenolga 1 of Don’t miss the second song of this clip!! It was incredible! (One eye watching you song was great.) Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News […]
Coldplay Live in Dallas – Lover’s in Japan Ball Drop Published on Jun 23, 2012 by TheRyanj64 Live From the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas June 22, 2012 Coldplay – Lover’s in Japan Ball Drop Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show […]
Coldplay – Yellow (Live) @ American Airlines Center Published on Jun 23, 2012 by Crwdickerson Coldplay Performing Yellow @ American Airlines Center Dallas June 22, 2012 Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles Comments (0) 3/11 Chris […]
Coldplay “paradise” Dallas Texas 6/22/12 ( Floor View ) Published on Jun 23, 2012 by ccam cher Awesome concert Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles Comments (0) 9/11 Chris Martin was brought up as an […]
Coldplay – In My Place (Live in Dallas) June 22 2012 Published on Jun 24, 2012 by maimiaa Coldplay performing at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles Comments (0) […]
Viva La Vida Published on Jun 23, 2012 by TheRyanj64 Coldplay’s Viva La Vida at American Airlines Center in Dallas on June 22, 2012 __________ Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles Comments (0) 5/11 Chris […]
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto/Hurts Like Heaven (Live) @ American Airlines Center Coldplay brought confetti, lights and thousands of fans to the American Airlines Center; see photos from their colorful show Photo Gallery News Sports Lifestyles Comments (0) 2/11 Published on Jun 24, 2012 by Crwdickerson Coldplay Performing Mylo Xyloto/Hurts Like Heaven @ […]
Coldplay-DALLAS-2012-”Opening, Mylo Xyloto, and Hurts like Heaven!” Published on Jun 24, 2012 by ColdplayDALLAS2012 1:10 is where the concert starts! Sorry for the shaking and sound audio! It was really loud! AND AWESOME! Please THUMB UP and COMMENT if u went to this coldplay concert! And I also hope that this will get a few […]
As far as I know they have never done an interview together. Therefore, I have included separate interviews that they have done below and I have some links to past posts I have done on them too. Shane Warne – Chris Martin Interview (Part 1) Uploaded by HandyAndy136 on Nov 24, 2010 Originally broadcast on […]
As far as I know they have never done an interview together. Therefore, I have included separate interviews that they have done below and I have some links to past posts I have done on them too. Ellen Catches Up with Gwyneth Paltrow Uploaded by TheEllenShow on Oct 14, 2010 It’s been several years since […]
As far as I know they have never done an interview together. Therefore, I have included separate interviews that they have done below and I have some links to past posts I have done on them too. Gwyneth Paltrow & Robert Downey Jr. on Jonathan Ross 2010.04.23 (Part 1) Coldplay: Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland […]
The Arab Israeli Conflict – part 5 : Suez Crisis 1956 & Tripartite attack on Egypt I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is […]
As far as I know they have never done an interview together. Therefore, I have included separate interviews that they have done below and I have some links to past posts I have done on them too. Ellen Catches Up with Gwyneth Paltrow Uploaded by TheEllenShow on Oct 14, 2010 It’s been several years since […]
The Arab Israeli Conflict – part 4: Egyptian Revolution 1952 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: […]
The Arab Israeli Conflict – part 3 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing on […]
The 6 Day War Of 1967 Part 1 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
… The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 8/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 7/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 6/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 5/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 4/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 3/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 2/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
The Birth Of Israel (2008) – Part 1/8 I have posted before about the religious views of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Now it appears they have rejected their agnostic statements of the past and have decided to raise their children in the Jewish faith. Here is a post from the Huffington Post: After appearing […]
I couldn’t be more proud of my good friend Melvin Pickens tonight. He showed how people with handicaps can overcome huge odds and work hard with a positive attitude and do amazing things in their life. At age 81 Melvin is still working hard. Not many people know that he is a cancer survivor too. He always had a great politeness about him but he is persistent too and I think that came through in the interview tonight.
On the Road: 81-year-old salesman sweeps customers off their feet
Published on Sep 20, 2013
As part of our continuing series “On the Road,” Steve Hartman meets an 81-year-old salesman who’s been in business for over six decades selling one simple product that everyone needs.
(CBS News) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Do you need a new broom? A lot of folks who don’t think they do wind up buying one anyway from the man we met…”on the road.”
“Yeah, I’m doing real good this morning,” said Melvin Pickens, who, at 81, doesn’t need to work. Being legally blind, he never had to work much.
But Melvin still works — as a traveling salesman. “I just can’t sit around and not do nothing,” he explained.
According to family, Melvin Pickens, now 81, started selling brooms around 1950 — worked six days a week to support his wife and their four children at the time.
/ CBS News
With the help of a caretaker friend, Melvin goes around to businesses in Little Rock, Arkansas, asking the owners and their customers to buy one of his brooms. That’s basically all he sells — $10 brooms.
“I’d say about 20-25 years,” said Melvin of the number of years he’s been doing this. “Well, I’m just estimating.
However, it may be that Melvin is estimating way off because we heard he’s been doing this 63 years. “It’s hard to say,” said Melvin. “I’ve been doing it so long.”
According to family, Melvin started selling brooms around 1950 and worked six days a week to support his wife and their four children. His wife has since died and the kids are grown, but that work ethic just will not go away.
In fact, some people say he’s the best salesman they’ve ever seen. “He’s got a special magic about him,” said one customer.
Melvin Pickens,
One of Melvin Pickens’ customers.
/ CBS News
“You just can hardly turn him down,” said another.
Not that people don’t try to say no — they just rarely get away with it.
“I don’t need one today because I’ve already got one,” Mary Clare Brierley told Melvin. “But I may need one next week.”
“You know what, you ought to just buy today,” Melvin told her. “I might not see you next week.”
Sale closed.
“I don’t think you can approach him and not buy one,” Brierley later told us.
She got one and so did another person. At this point, Little Rock has got to be the best swept city in America or maybe just one the kindest.
Or maybe people here simply like having him around as a living example.
“You can’t quit,” said Melvin. “A quitter never wins and a winner never quits, you know.”
To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, e-mail us.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Melvin “The Broom Man” Pickens has been getting some extra attention these days. While business owners and visitors to The Heights and Hillcrest areas of Little Rock have been loyal customers for many years, local and national media attention over the last couple of months has put his locally-famous brooms in much higher demand.
Now, for folks who can’t make it to The Heights and Hillcrest, there are options for you to get your hands on a Broom Man broom.
Shipmates Postal in Little Rock has agreed to sell and brooms and mops for The Broom Man. Folks can stop by and purchase them from the store or arrange for them to be shipped.
I couldn’t be more proud of my good friend Melvin Pickens tonight. He showed how people with handicaps can overcome huge odds and work hard with a positive attitude and do amazing things in their life. At age 81 Melvin is still working hard. Not many people know that he is a cancer survivor too. […]
Lots of people across the USA are wondering what red handle broom Melvin Pickens sells in Little Rock and it is the Airlight made by Little Rock Broom Works! There is a website, http://www.theairlightbroom.com that tells all about the Airlight Broom. Melvin’s family has set up an email for Melvin for those who want brooms […]
Melvin Pickens was featured on CBS EVENING NEWS tonight and he did a great job. Lots of people across the USA are wondering what red handle broom Melvin Pickens sells in Little Rock and it is the Airlight made by Little Rock Broom Works! There is a website, http://www.theairlightbroom.com that tells all about the Airlight […]
Another article on Melvin Pickens the Little Rock Broom Man: Broom Man Talk Business Quarterly 2nd Quarter 2009 By eric Francis TBQ Contributing Writer His name is Melvin Pickins. Many of his most loyal customers don’t even know that. To them he’s the Broom Man. Or the Broom Guy. Or Mister B. “They call me […]
Here is a picture that appeared in Ark Times today: Brian Chilson ON THE JOB: Melvin Pickens strolls Kavanaugh in a 2011 photo. Melvin Pickens has shown up at Little Rock Broom Works almost every afternoon for about 60 years to purchase brooms and then a few months ago he went into the hospital. I […]
Grady Fish Fry Published on Aug 15, 2013 We visit the annual fish fry at Hardin Farms in Grady, Ark., where the hushpuppies are popping, the Cummins band is playing and the politicians are plentiful. We have brief chat with Arkansas House District 16 candidate Ken Ferguson. ____________________ I had a good visit down at the […]
We have written about our friend Melvin Pickens several times before and this article below shows how positive Melvin is. He has gone through so many challenges but he has always looked for the sunny day. Here is a story from channel 11 in Little Rock: Finding the Broom Man; where is he […]
42 Interview – Chadwick Boseman (2013) – Jackie Robinson Movie HD 42 Trailer 42 Interview – Harrison Ford (2013) Jackie Robinson Movie HD 42 Official Trailer #2 You can find more movies and pictures from this link: http://42movie.warnerbros.com/ ’42′ Jackie Robinson Movie Releases New Images Posted on March 22, 2013 by Shawn S. Lealos Great […]
Rice 27 BYU 14 (1997 2nd half) Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012 When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big […]
This is the pregame broadcast of the Arkansas-Texas game at Razorback Stadium in 1985. It features both the Razorback and Lonhorn bands and the 1964 punt return by Ken Hatfield. I got to hear former Arkansas Razorback Football Coach Ken Hatfield speak and it was very encouraging and enjoyable. The “Zone Luncheon” is held the […]
On the Road: 81-year-old salesman sweeps customers off their feet
Published on Sep 20, 2013
As part of our continuing series “On the Road,” Steve Hartman meets an 81-year-old salesman who’s been in business for over six decades selling one simple product that everyone needs.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – Melvin “The Broom Man” Pickens has been getting some extra attention these days. While business owners and visitors to The Heights and Hillcrest areas of Little Rock have been loyal customers for many years, local and national media attention over the last couple of months has put his locally-famous brooms in much higher demand.
Now, for folks who can’t make it to The Heights and Hillcrest, there are options for you to get your hands on a Broom Man broom.
Shipmates Postal in Little Rock has agreed to sell and brooms and mops for The Broom Man. Folks can stop by and purchase them from the store or arrange for them to be shipped.
Another article on Melvin Pickens the Little Rock Broom Man: Broom Man Talk Business Quarterly 2nd Quarter 2009 By eric Francis TBQ Contributing Writer His name is Melvin Pickins. Many of his most loyal customers don’t even know that. To them he’s the Broom Man. Or the Broom Guy. Or Mister B. “They call me […]
Here is a picture that appeared in Ark Times today: Brian Chilson ON THE JOB: Melvin Pickens strolls Kavanaugh in a 2011 photo. Melvin Pickens has shown up at Little Rock Broom Works almost every afternoon for about 60 years to purchase brooms and then a few months ago he went into the hospital. I […]
Grady Fish Fry Published on Aug 15, 2013 We visit the annual fish fry at Hardin Farms in Grady, Ark., where the hushpuppies are popping, the Cummins band is playing and the politicians are plentiful. We have brief chat with Arkansas House District 16 candidate Ken Ferguson. ____________________ I had a good visit down at the […]
We have written about our friend Melvin Pickens several times before and this article below shows how positive Melvin is. He has gone through so many challenges but he has always looked for the sunny day. Here is a story from channel 11 in Little Rock: Finding the Broom Man; where is he […]
42 Interview – Chadwick Boseman (2013) – Jackie Robinson Movie HD 42 Trailer 42 Interview – Harrison Ford (2013) Jackie Robinson Movie HD 42 Official Trailer #2 You can find more movies and pictures from this link: http://42movie.warnerbros.com/ ’42′ Jackie Robinson Movie Releases New Images Posted on March 22, 2013 by Shawn S. Lealos Great […]
Rice 27 BYU 14 (1997 2nd half) Here is a list of the top football stadiums in the country. Power Ranking All 124 College Football Stadiums By Alex Callos (Featured Columnist) on April 19, 2012 When it comes to college football stadiums, for some teams, it is simply not fair. Home-field advantage is a big […]
This is the pregame broadcast of the Arkansas-Texas game at Razorback Stadium in 1985. It features both the Razorback and Lonhorn bands and the 1964 punt return by Ken Hatfield. I got to hear former Arkansas Razorback Football Coach Ken Hatfield speak and it was very encouraging and enjoyable. The “Zone Luncheon” is held the […]
Melvin Pickens,
The Daily Hatch 