Republican Bob Turner shocked the Democrats in New York and won the 9th district of the House of Representatives seat and it will be the first time since 1922 that a Republican has held that seat.
Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times Blog commented, “It is also a district that will disappear in a year.” (Arkansas Times Blog, Sept 14, 2011). Here Max misses the point. Remember Scott Brown’s shocking upset and the result in the 2010 elections that followed. The same probably is true here.
Another point that I differ with Brantley on is the fact that this seat will go back to the Democrats so soon. Do you think the Democrats will defeat Turner and Brown in 2012 when the unpopular Democratic president is on the ticket too?
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) – which sent more than 87,000 phone calls into targeted households throughout New York’s 9th Congressional District over the last four days, urging a vote for Republican Bob Turner in today’s special election – congratulates Turner for his victory over Democrat David Weprin.
“The victory in New York demonstrates that Americans of all political affiliations increasingly recognize that the big government policies advanced by this Administration and Democrats in Congress are damaging the economy and weakening our country,” said IWV CEO Heather R. Higgins. “Rep. Turner will join the ranks of those committed to ending government’s assault on private business, repealing ObamaCare, and cutting the wasteful spending that is burying our country in debt. He’ll represent New York well, and we’re pleased to have been able to play a part in his victory.”
In this overwhelmingly Democratic district – registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by almost 3-to-1 – Independent Women’s Voice ran a sophisticated phone operation to identify Democrats and Independents who were open to persuasion, then followed up with targeted messages to them, including calls touting former Democratic Mayor Ed Koch’s endorsement of Turner, and a call from Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who crossed party lines to endorse Turner last week.
“When we looked at the registration figures,” said Higgins, “it became clear that turning out all the Republicans in the district wouldn’t be enough. So we worked to identify Democrats and Independents who were open to persuasion, then communicated to them about the importance of using their vote to send a message.
“Former Mayor Koch’s endorsement played a big role, and so did Assemblyman Hikind’s,” Higgins continued. “All we did was take their messages – and, in the case of Assemblyman Hikind, the messenger himself – and send them directly into the households of targeted voters, via phone calls.
“IWV is proud to have played a role in educating New York voters about the stakes in this race,” Higgins concluded. “We firmly believe that Independents and moderate and conservative Democrats are open to messages about the destructive impact of government over-reach, and Bob Turner’s success in this overwhelming Democratic district confirms that.”
The Bible maintains several characteristics that prove it is from God. One of those is the fact that the Bible is accurate in every one of its details. The field of archaeology brings to light this amazing accuracy.
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I want to make two points today. 1. There is no way for an atheist to achieve last meaning. 2. The atheist can not come up with any intellectual basis for the “Golden Rule.” In a world of time and chance the survival of the fittest is the best he can come with. (Woody Allen’s movie makes that point very well with his reference to “might makes right.”)
Atheists understand that life is wonderful because we only have one. It’s not about having a purpose in life as much as it’s about living life to the fullest extent while trying to make the world a happy place for ALL. The latter part of that statement is why Atheists advertise and proselytize – because religion often gives a person a sense of superiority over others from different faiths and the non-religious, and that often leads to prejudice, division, and violence.
I am an Atheist, yet I believe whole-heartedly in the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you’d have others do unto you. It’s the core belief in over 20 of the largest world religions, believe it or not. .. The fact is this, if you truly follow that rule then you won’t kill or steal or lie or covet thy neighbors anything because you would never want someone doing that to you. It’s common sense, it’s simple human morality, nothing implanted by gods.
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Christians have a basis for their morality because the infinite personal God of the Bible has spoken in the Bible to them. The Bible was written in a space time setting and many of the passages of the Bible have been verified as historically accurate.
On the other hand, many of the passages of the Book of Mormon has been disproved (For instance, use of horses and chariots in the USA 2000 years ago). Jesus said that he was the only way to God (John 14:6) and that he was the truth and the light. Those who do not have revealed truth are left in the dark when it comes to morals. Let me give you a perfect example concerning the “Golden Rule.”
Earlier I took a look at the Woody Allen film “Crimes and Misdemeanors.” In that film Judah has his troublesome mistress killed because she was about to destroy him by revealing his past illegal activities. Judah is told by his agnostic to not be troubled by guilt and that he is home free. She noted that Hitler proved that might makes right. (Martin Landau played the part of Judah and he revealed that several men had confided to him that they wished they had done the same deed as Judah because they would have been happier.)
The basic question Woody Allen is presenting to his own agnostic humanistic worldview is: If you really believe there is no God there to punish you in an afterlife, then why not murder if you can get away with it? The secular humanist worldview that modern man has adopted does not work in the real world that God has created. God “has planted eternity in the human heart…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This is a direct result of our God-given conscience. The apostle Paul said it best in Romans 1:19, “For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God has shown it to them” (Amplified Version).
It’s no wonder, then, that one of Allen’s fellow humanists would comment, “Certain moral truths — such as do not kill, do not steal, and do not lie — do have a special status of being not just ‘mere opinion’ but bulwarks of humanitarian action. I have no intention of saying, ‘I think Hitler was wrong.’ Hitler WAS wrong.” (Gloria Leitner, “A Perspective on Belief,” The Humanist, May/June 1997, pp.38-39). Here Leitner is reasoning from her God-given conscience and not from humanist philosophy. It wasn’t long before she received criticism.
Humanist Abigail Ann Martin responded, “Neither am I an advocate of Hitler; however, by whose criteria is he evil?” (The Humanist, September/October 1997, p. 2.). Humanists don’t really have an intellectual basis for saying that Hitler was wrong, but their God-given conscience tells them that they are wrong on this issue AND THEY HAVE NO BASIS FOR DEFENDING THE GOLDEN RULE. ABOVE WE READ mudfishin say “It’s common sense, it’s simple human morality…” BUT I KNEW Gloria Leitner WOULD BE CHALLENGED BY A FELLOW HUMANIST WHO THOUGHT THROUGH THEIR WORLDVIEW WITH A LOGICAL MIND, AND SURE ENOUGH IT HAPPENED.
Solomon showed us in the first 11 chapters of Ecclesiastes what the world “under the sun” without God in the picture looks like and it forces one to embrace nihilism.(See previous post on this about Solomon’s search.) However, the atheist has to live in the world that God made with the conscience that God gave him. This creates a tension. The agnostic Carl Sagan felt the tension too.
What does Dr. Sagan have Dr. Arroway say at the end of the movie Contact when she is testifying before Congress about the alien that communicated with her? See if you can pick out the one illogical word in her statement: “I was given a vision how tiny, insignificant, rare and precious we all are. We belong to something that is greater than ourselves and none of us are alone.”
Dr Sagan deep down knew that we are special so he could not avoid putting the word “precious” in there. Francis Schaeffer said unbelievers are put in a place of tension when they have to live in the world that God has made because deep down they know they are special because God has put that knowledge in their hearts.We are not the result of survival of the fittest and headed back to the dirt forevermore. WOODY ALLEN REALIZES THAT IF GOD DOES NOT EXIST THEN WE ARE NOT PRECIOUS AND ALL IS MEANINGLESS!!!
I would love to hear from any atheist that would present a case for lasting meaning in life apart from God. It seems to me that the British humanist H. J. Blackham was right in his accessment of the predictament that atheists face:
On humanist assumptions [the assumption that there is no God and life has evolved by time and chance alone], life leads to nothing, and every pretense that it does notis a deceit. If there is a bridge over a gorge which spans only half the distance andends in mid-air, and if the bridge is crowded with human beings pressing on, oneafter another they fall into the abyss. The bridge leads to nowhere, and those who are pressing forward to cross it are going nowhere. . . It does not matter where they think they are going, what preparations for the journey they may have made, how much they may be enjoying it all . . . such a situation is a model of futility (H. J. Blackham et al., Objections to Humanism (Riverside, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1967).)
Woody Allen’s film does a great job of showing the need for the “enforcement factor.” One reviewer made it sound like the movie was unrealistic and Judah could have smoothtalked his way out of this. However, Woody Allen anticipated this objection and that is why he threw in the illegal financial dealings of Judah that his former girlfriend knew about. Now instead of just losing his marriage he may have to go to jail.
Nick is Gene and Shannon’s son and he appears often on Gene Simmons Family Jewels show.
Gene Simmons has been guilty of having affairs while on tour for years. On July 19th episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels he told his tour manager that he was not going to the after party. Then he said it was like “being in a bakery but not being able to eat any bread.”
Commitment is the key word. When we start off a relationship it is exciting but commitment is what is important to make it a lasting and satisfying relationship. In this short film below Jack is excited while declaring his love, but the real test is always in the depth of one’s commitment.
The thought jumped into my mind while watching this 61 yr old man say this. I wonder if he will ever settle down? The article below makes it clear that even if you have been married for 30 yrs, you still have to watch out for the possibility of a moral failing.
“How could you?” Susan asked, staring at her husband, John, in unbelief. He and a co-worker had been “just friends” until a few months ago. Today the truth came out.
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Peter closed the blinds in his living room, turned off the lights, stood in the darkness, and started weeping. He’s never felt so alone in his life. It was bad enough the last time he discovered his wife, Jessica, was having an affair. This time, Jessica simply left a terse note saying she had had enough and was moving in with her new boyfriend.
Do these scenarios sound familiar? If you’ve dealt with infidelity in your own marriage, you know firsthand how devastating it can be. Infidelity is not a simple problem and it cannot be fixed with a simple cure, though that is what we most often desire. This series of articles is designed to provide insight, encouragement and practical advice to anyone whose marriage has been undermined by an act of infidelity.
Maybe it’s happened to you. You’re fed up with your spouse, so you start chatting with that attractive person of the opposite sex in the next cubicle. You’ve known him for years, and it’s so easy to talk. He just listens. Pretty soon you’re sharing intimate problems, and now the co-worker is telling you how hard you have it. Maybe you should just leave your spouse … and maybe the two of you should go out to lunch to talk more about it all.
With this person, you’re finding what you need and want: a sympathetic ear, someone who understands you and all you’re going through, maybe even the first meaningful physical touch you’ve had for months.
Obviously, while not all office relationships lead to affairs, and not all affairs start at work, this scene demonstrates in an overly simplified and time-compressed way how some people start down the path of cheating on their spouse.
No Immunization for Affairs
Whether you’ve been married for 30 days or 30 years, you’re never really immune to an extramarital affair. So, how many married people are cheating on their spouses?
Well, definitive numbers are hard to come by, but most polls and estimates typically report that more than one-third of men and about one-quarter of women admit to having had at least one extramarital sexual act. If you factor in cases of “emotional infidelity” — where a spouse engages in an intimate (yet not sexual) friendship with a member of the opposite sex — the numbers are much higher, probably greater than 50 percent.
Still, nearly 80 percent of Americans say adultery is always wrong and only physical abuse does more harm to a marriage. Indeed, the discovery of an affair more often than not leads to divorce.1
Influence of the Internet
If anything, the growing influence and availability of the Internet has only made things worse, with as many as one in 10 Internet users reporting that they are addicted to cybersex or other online temptations.
After all, online sexual encounters offer the thrill of a make-believe romance along with the added benefit of anonymity. And because many online affairs don’t involve actual physical contact, participants can convince themselves that cybersex isn’t really adulterous, that they aren’t really cheating on their spouse.
The truth is, however, that even a “virtual” affair can wreak havoc on a marriage or a serious dating relationship.
Why Affairs Happen
Affairs don’t only happen for sex. Some reasons people get trapped in an affair:
To give a conscious or subconscious “wake-up call” to the spouse. This might happen if your spouse has a different kind of “lover” outside of your marriage, such as a consuming career or hobby.
To inflate a bruised ego. You might want to get back at your spouse for something he or she did that hurt you rather than offering forgiveness and dealing with the root issue.
A friendship gets out of control. Whether or not you think it’s healthy to have friendships with members of the opposite sex, take extra care in those relationships.
Your spouse doesn’t live up to your expectations anymore. Remember that you know your spouse’s good and bad qualities, while you may only see someone else’s good side because you don’t know him or her well enough to see warts yet. That’s known as “romanticizing” a relationship.
TALLAHASSEE – According to USA Today, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is expected to tell ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning that he had prostate cancerwhile he was coaching in 2007, and that he kept his medical condition a secret out of fear of dirty recruiting tactics.In its editions that hit newsstands and Gannett Company newspapers Tuesday morning, Bowden told the USA Today that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer early in 2007, and that a former player treated him that spring. Since undergoing the low-dose radioactive procedure, he has been cancer-free.
“I did not understand the significance of prostate cancer back then,” Bowden said in an interview with USA Today. “What I knew was when something like that happens to a coach and your opponents find out about it, the first thing they say is ‘Don’t go to Florida State. Coach Bowden is about to die.’
“If I knew then what I know now, I would have considered it my moral duty to bring it out in the open.”
Bowden, 81, will sit down with “Good Morning America” around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday morning. Part of his appearance is to help promote On The Line, a national prostate cancer education initiative of which he has become a spokesman.
On Monday night, news of his “GMA” appearance was first reported by a Tallahassee television news anchor.
According to WTXL’s Anne Imanuel’s @AnneImanuel Twitter account, Bowden was “scheduled to make an ‘emotional’ announcement on @GMA (Tuesday) morning.” A second tweet read: “Just spoke to an @GMA producer. The Bobby Bowden ‘emotional announcement’ won’t be released until (Tuesday) AM but it concerns his health.”
In an email to the Sentinel shortly after midnight Tuesday morning, Bowden’s publicist, Kimberly Shiff, said the information on Bowden was supposed to be embargoed until Tuesday morning.
While the news caused an uproar on Twitter, FSU fans chimed in with their concerns that something was wrong with Bowden. Some members of the FSU media tried to calm their fears, saying that the announcement had nothing to do with Bowden’s current health, but that it was important.
Bowden told USA Today that urologist Joe Camps, a captain from his first FSU team in 1976, performed the procedure.
“Bobby is not real big on sharing things that are wrong with him; he doesn’t want to admit he isn’t perfect,” his wife, Ann, told USA Today. She lost her father and a sister to cancer, the USA Today said.
“Bobby has always been so healthy and active,” she continued. “This was not expected.”
When he learned of his diagnosis in Jan. 2007, Bowden’s first thoughts settled on his FSU family.
“My mind was on two things,” Bowden told USA Today. “The press will have you on the front page about to die, and opponents will say ‘Bobby is already 77 years old and he has cancer.’”
In order to pull off the procedure in secret, Camps told USA Today the group made up a fictitious name for Bowden and snuck him into a secure part of the hospital around midnight the night the procedure was performed.
The retired coach has been busy lately.
According to ArkansasSports360.com, Bowden was in Little Rock, Ark. on Monday to speak to the Little Rock Touchdown Club. While there, it was announced that he had just been named to the coaches advisory committee for the Frank Broyles Award, the website reported. Broyles apparently invited him out there for the engagement.
The award goes to the nation’s top assistant coach every year. Bowden’s former defensive coordinator, Mickey Andrews, won the first Broyles Award.
Bowden has found himself in the news recently for other reasons.
In addition to an autograph session at a landmark Tallahassee store last Friday ahead of the Seminoles’ second game of the season against Charleston Southern, he was in Gainesville the previous Saturday to announce the creation of a new college football all-star game.
Bowden was attending Florida’s season-opener against Florida Atlantic to hold a news conference about a game he and fellow coaching icon Howard Schnellenberger were heading. Schnellenberger is in his final season at FAU, but he originally made a name for himself as Miami‘s head coach in the 1980s, when his Hurricanes and Bowden’s Seminoles had their share of epic rivalry games.
There was an uproar about Bowden’s appearance there, too, as some FSU fans questioned why he was in Gainesville for a rival’s opening game, instead of at FSU at the field that bears his name. He has said since stepping away from the sport in Jan. 2010 that he wishes to build a buffer between he and FSU, and that he doesn’t want to get in the way of current coach Jimbo Fisher.
Bowden spent 34 seasons coaching the Seminoles before an emotional, rocky and rather dramatic exit from football following the 2009 season. Since being replaced by Fisher, Bowden has spent his time traveling the world giving speeches and promoting a book.
In 1993 and ’99, Bowden led the Seminoles to their only national titles.
On Saturday, the No. 5 Seminoles, under Fisher’s guidance, are hosting No. 1 Oklahoma in what is being billed as one of the biggest games to ever occur at Doak Campbell Stadium. It is the first time the nation’s current No. 1 team has visited the stadium since Florida did in 1996.
The last team not from Florida to bring a top-5 ranking to Tallahassee was Dan Marino‘s No. 4 Pittsburgh team in 1980. Marino later went on to have a 16-year Hall of Fame career for the Miami Dolphins.
Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden By Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel7:13 a.m. EDT, September 13, 2011 TALLAHASSEE – According to USA Today, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is expected to tell ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning that he had prostate cancerwhile he was coaching in 2007, and that he kept his medical […]
I went to the Little Rock Touchdown Club and heard Bobby Bowden of Florida State speak. It was outstanding. Here is an article below on his visit from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: LITTLE ROCK — Former Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden is familiar with pressure brought on by high expectations. Two years ago, after the Seminoles […]
The Broyles Award Trophy, made out of solid bronze, depicts Broyles (kneeling) and longtime University of Arkansas assistant coach Wilson Matthews (standing), watching over a Razorback football game or practice. Matthews was the coach of Little Rock Central High School before joining Broyles on the Razorback’s staff. ______________ Today at the Little Rock […]
I went to the Little Rock Touchdown Club and heard Bobby Bowden of Florida State speak. It was outstanding. Here is an article below on his visit from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
LITTLE ROCK — Former Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden is familiar with pressure brought on by high expectations.
Two years ago, after the Seminoles finished the season 7-6, Bowden, 81, wanted to coach one more season. But he was not given that opportunity.
Florida State President T.K. Wetherell asked him to step aside as coach and stay with the team in the diminished role of university ambassador — which would have given him little input on the day-to-day operations of the football team.
Bowden declined. He announced his retirement, and Jimbo Fisher, who had been appointed as the school’s coachin-waiting two years earlier, was given the head-coaching position for the 2010 season.
“That’s just the way it is now,” Bowden told members of the media after speaking to the Little Rock Touchdown Club at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock on Monday. “I had wanted to coach one more year and try and get to 400 wins.”
Bowden retired with a career record of 377-129-4 after the NCAA forced Florida State to vacate 12 victories from the 2006-2007 seasons for academic problems with his former players.
“They are paying the head coach so much money now that they demand you to win,” Bowden said. “The thing is, head coaches make so much money now that you can retire. There aren’t going to be a lot of coaches who last as long as Joe [Paterno] and I did.”
Paterno has coached 46 years at Penn State with a 402-136-3 record.
Bowden said he made approximately $40,000 per year when he was hired at Florida State in 1976; he was making $2.5 million when he retired two years ago.
His Florida State team won 10 or more games from 1987-2000, never finished lower than fourth in the final AP poll, and won national championships in 1993 and 1999.
But during his last five seasons as coach, the Seminoles went 38-27 and only won 1 ACC championship.
“Those last few years, we didn’t do a good job evaluating players like we once did,” Bowden said. “We would see a kid we wanted, and he wasn’t as good as advertised.”
Failing to live up to expectations also cost Bowden’s sons, Terry and Tommy, their coaching jobs.
Terry Bowden posted a 47-17-1 record from 1993-1998 at Auburn, but he stepped down in 1998 with the Tigers at 1-5 and his job security up in the air.
Tommy Bowden went 72-45 at Clemson from 1999-2008, but resigned when the Tigers started the season 3-3 after being ranked ninth in the preseason Associated Press poll in 2008.
Terry Bowden is now coaching at NCAA Division II North Alabama, while Tommy Bowden is out of coaching.
Bobby Bowden still cares about Florida State football, despite not being able to retire on his own terms. The Seminoles, 2-0 and ranked fifth in this week’s AP poll, host No. 1 Oklahoma Saturday night.
Bowden also acknowledged many of other changes in college coaching, but he remains a traditionalist:
Bowden does not approve of conference realignment, but said it is inevitable.
“Texas A&M is going to leave the Big 12, and if a bunch of schools from the Big 12 leave, then it’s going to change everything,” Bowden said.
On the lack of a playoff in college football: “I don’t think we’ll have a playoff, and it won’t happen because the presidents don’t want it.”
On the coach-in-waiting concept that Florida State, Texas, Maryland and Oregon have used with mixed results: “I think it’s good for the coach-in-waiting,” Bowden said, acknowledging that the coach-in-waiting usually gets promoted or a pay raise if the school doesn’t promote him by a certain date. “The president and athletic council came up with it, and I went along with it because I was at the end of my career.”
On the value a good college football team brings to a university: “When I first came to Florida State in 1976, when I would go recruiting, the president would say, ‘When you go to Tampa, please visit this girl because she’s a straight-A student and we want her,’” Bowden said. “Four years later, we went undefeated, played in our first major bowl game and were on national television. We would take about 2,500 students every year, but were getting 5,000-6,000 applicants because a successful football team attracts students.”
This article was published today at 4:28 a.m.Sports, Pages 19 on 09/13/2011
This is “Music Monday” and I always look at a band with some of their best music. I am currently looking at Coldplay’s best songs. Here are a few followed by another person’s preference:
Speed of sound takes me back to high school and when i was leaving two a day practices. The album came out on dday june sixth 2005. I listened to the song often and i love how coldplay always uses the drums and piano to compliment each other and it shows it well in this song. Just like in the song clocks from the album, “A rush of blood to the head.” Another reason i love this song is bc of the music video. the digital lighting that they use in the back drop of the set plays well with the rythym of the music and is so simple yet so perfect.
Music video by Coldplay performing Speed of Sound. (C) 2005 EMI Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2005 EMI Records Ltd
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Wilson loves this soccer video of the best French footballer:
Coldplay is a British alternative band that has been around since 1998. The band has produced five albums and sold around 50 million albums. The socially active band whose lead singer Chris Martin is married to actress Gwyenth Paltrow has produced some extremely popular songs, but many of the less popular songs deserve high praise as well. This below compilation is my view of the top 10 songs by Coldplay.
1. Yellow-This 2000 song released as a single from the album Parachutes was inspired by the beautiful stars in the sky that the band saw one night during a break from recording. The song begins saying “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do”. Stars have always seemed to inspire poetic beauty and this would especially be a perfect song to serenade your love. After writing the song Martin felt that there was some word missing. While searching for inspiration within the recording studio Martin saw a Yellow Pages book, and the word ‘Yellow’ filled the missing void. ‘Yellow’ helped surge Coldplay into mainstream popularity and set the stage for future hits.
2. In my place- This 2002 song from Coldplay’s second album “A Rush of Blood To the Head” won best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal at the 45thGrammys. The song features a beautiful soothing melody while Martin sings about a man’s unreciprocated love for a woman. ‘In my place’ that is where he will be waiting for his love to come to him if she changes her mind. If ‘Yellow’ is the song you want to serenade your love with, then ‘In my place’ is the song you listen to after a breakup
3. The Scientist- “The Scientist” was another single the band released in 2002 (in the UK) and 2003 in the US from the album “A Rush of Blood to the Head”. The scientist referred to in the rather odd title is not really mentioned in the song but instead it alludes to science “Questions of science, Science and progress, Do not speak as loud as my heart.” This piano ballad shows off Martin’s beautiful voice and nice falsetto. This emotional song also has a very interesting music video implementing reverse narrative and Martin actually had to learn to sing the song backwards. The Scientist won a few MTV VMA awards and received a 2004 Grammy nomination.
4. Clocks- This 2003 song also off the album “A Rush of Blood To The Head” won the 2004 Grammy for Record of the year. However, originally the song was not intended for this album since 10 songs were already on “A Rush of Blood To the Head” and Clocks was left to be included on Album #3. This song, like others from the band, sings about a dysfunctional relationship asking about “Am I a part of the cure/Or am I part of the disease?” But where exactly does the title Clocks come from? In poetry and song clocks have always been associated with time, change, and even death. The lyrics seem to suggest that time is running out with few options “Confusion never stops, Closing walls and ticking clocks”. While the lyrics are great, my favorite part of the song is the piano melody especially at the beginning and when Martin again hits a falsetto for the long “yooooooooooooo ohhhhhh Yoooooooooooo ohhhhhh” that nearly sends chills down your spine
5. Speed of sound-This song released in 2005 is off the album X&Y and won an award for Best British single in 2006. The piano based melody and the beauty of Chris Martin’s voice make this song very soothing and almost hypnotic. Martin stated the lyrics of this song were inspired by a feeling of awe and wonder after the birth of his daughter Apple. The lyrics also allude to faith in what cannot be seen “If you could see it then you’d understand/ah when you see it then you’ll understand.”
6. Viva la Vida- This is one of the more recent song on the list was released in 2008 and reached number 1 on Billboard Hot 100. Viva la Vida which means ‘live the life’ in Spanish also won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 2009. The musical composition of the song is somewhat different because it is more upbeat and implements strings and percussion as opposed to the typical Coldplay songs that use piano or guitar. The rhythm is very catchy and the lyrics are some of the most interesting I have recently heard. I never could actually figure out half of the things that were being said in the song until I researched the lyrics. Basically the song is about a King who once was on top of everything but now ‘sweeps the streets he used to own’. It also includes religious undertones saying “I know St. Peter won’t call my name”. In an interview with Q magazine Martin said the idea of your life being judged once you’re dead was always fascinating to him and it’s a common theme in all religions. Since St. Peter won’t call his name, apparently the King was not so good possibly because he never had as he says ‘an honest word’.
7. Fix you-This song from the X&Y album wasn’t as popular as other Coldplay songs but has some of the most beautiful lyrics. The song was supposedly written for Martin’s wife Paltrow after her father died, but the song is can be very comforting in times of tragedy, hardship or a broken heart. The song uses an organ at the beginning that had been given to Martin by Paltrow’s father, but he didn’t discover how beautiful a sound it made until he played it after his death. However, despite whatever hardship whoever listening may have, there are words of encouragement “Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.”
8. Violet Hill- This song also from the 2008 album X&Y and can be viewed as an anti-war song. The song is from a soldier’s point of view essentially about politics, war, and religious hypocrisy. The soldiers don’t want to be used for a cause that they don’t believe in “I don’t want to be a soldier/ with the captain of some sinking ship.” Violet Hill not only borrows rhythms from The Beatles but the road Violet Hill is actually near Abbey Road. I especially like the decrescendo at the end with only the piano and Martin softly singing. I also suggest everyone see the dancing politician’s version to this song on youtube. Overall though, Beautiful melody, beautiful lyrics…What’s not to love?
9. Gravity- This song was written by Martin and performed live by Coldplay in 2002 but ultimately the song was given to the band Embrace. Coldplay re-recorded this song in 2005 and it makes one wonder why the song was not always kept with them. This song is simple, with mainly the piano and Martin singing for the first five minutes and some drums and background singers added in after that, but the simplicity remains. This song is peaceful and soothing and could definitely put you to sleep, but not out of boredom.
10. Trouble- This 2000 song from the “Parachutes” album was written as a result of Martin’s reflection about his own bad behavior. Once again, the song begins with Martin singing and playing the piano. There is something very magical about his voice in this song, almost haunting. If someone asked for an apology through writing and performing this song, how could you not forgive them?
Most Coldplay fans will be familiar with all of these songs. However, for those of you who are just casual listeners of the band, you should definitely add these songs to your Ipod and you may change from a casual to avid fan.
The Broyles Award Trophy, made out of solid bronze, depicts Broyles (kneeling) and longtime University of Arkansas assistant coach Wilson Matthews (standing), watching over a Razorback football game or practice. Matthews was the coach of Little Rock Central High School before joining Broyles on the Razorback’s staff.
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Today at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Luncheon, Bobby Bowden spoke, but before he spoke, David Bazell announced that Bowden is the newest member of the Broyles Award Selection Committee. The committee includes Frank Broyles, Don James, Vince Dooley, Haden Fry, Dick MacPherson, Grant Teaff, and LaVell Edwards.
The Broyles Award is an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football. First awarded in 1996, it was named after former University of Arkansas men’s athletic director Frank Broyles. The award is presented in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Bowden told a funny story about the 1980 victory at Nebraska. He pointed out that Nebraska was ranked #3 and was expected to possibly win the national championship. At that time Florida State had not won a game against a top 5 team yet, and FSU went into the game as big underdogs. In fact, the week before FSU had lost 10-9 in a game where they had been heavily favored because of the 10 fumbles they had because their first and second team centers had season ending injuries.
In practice the next week Bowden got several players together to compete for the starting center position and it was won by a walk-on player. The next game against Nebraska, Florida State had no turnovers while Nebraska had 4 and Florida State came away with a 18-14 victory.
Bowden noted that the walk-on center was horrible at blocking, but he was very dependable at providing good snaps. Bowden uses this illustration when he talks to business people to encourage them to seek dependable employees.
Bowden asserted, “That will always go down in my book not neccessarily my favorite win, but probably the most important win in Florida State’s modern day history.”
Below you will see a clip that discusses that 1980 matchup and you will notice that former Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring is interviewed twice in the 4 minute clip. Herring played on the FSU defense.
In 2006 I went to the Shiloh Christian at Bauxite playoff game in Saline County. It was a cold night, and I noticed Gus Malzahn and several other notable persons at the game. Arkansas had played LSU earlier in the day in Little Rock. During the second half I saw a monster hit by a linebacker from Shiloh, and I exclaimed, “Who was that guy?” The gentleman next to me who was wearing a ski mask responded, “That is my son Adam Herring.” I had been standing next to Reggie Herring for 2 hours and did not even know it.
Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times caught up with Congressman Tim Griffin at the Razorback game. I got a picture of my son Wilson with the Congressman and enjoyed the Chickfila served at the Congressman’s tailgate. I was told that Senator Boozman had a tailgate but I did not run across it.
Since Max showed up briefly to get this picture, I wish I would have a chance to visit with me. Although we are from the opposite sides of the fence politically, it would my pleasure to tell him that he runs the most informative blog in Arkansas. I have talked to many conservatives who have admitted that very thing to me on many occasions.
I welcome the input from those that read my blog. Recently I received some criticism from readers and Jordan is probably more of the most vocal. He wrote today, “I hardly see a ‘tragic’ death as you call it, a morally sound reason to throw in people’s faces what drugs do to people…You know as well as I do that no one is going to go to this website on this post and be looking for a way to help teenagers and young adults quit drugs.”
I do think that people are always reading the news of the day, and many people have a problem with drugs or alcohol or they have a close family member or friend that does. They come to my website to read up on the news and maybe I will have a chance to show them some hope with the obstacles they face in these two areas.
Jordan also has a problem with bringing God into the picture in these matters. Most recoveries from drug and alcohol does involve God. You can look it up yourself and see that is so.
Many who are involved with drugs feel God is mad with them and the last thing they want to do is go to church to seek God. Here is this clip below is the story of a lady who thought that way but when she went to church her whole life turned around.
Earlier some people were critical of me because I brought up the tragic deaths of the members of the “27 club.” However, if you are currently involved with drugs then need to see what the end result may be. Below you will see an another discussion of the “27 club” with an article posted at the end of the post: “What is the purpose of your life?” I wish these members of the “27 Club” had read this article while they were living and maybe their deaths could have been avoided. According to their own writings many of them were actively saying how unhappy they were even though they had riches and fame.
Depending on your preference, The 27s is a pop culture phenomenon, a weird curse, or a statistical anomaly. Excess and tragedy are the stuff of music legend, but it is only with hindsight that deeper patterns emerge. None of these is more striking than the deaths at age 27 of some of the greatest musicians of our time.
More famous musicians have died at the age of 27 than any other age. More than three dozen rockers, from Delta bluesmaster Robert Johnson to Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain.
The 27s also include crooner Jesse Belvin (“Earth Angel,” “Goodnight My Love”), Rudy Lewis of the Drifters, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Malcolm Hale of Spanky And Our Gang, Alan Wilson from Canned Heat, Arlester Christian of Dyke And the Blazers, Jim Morrison, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of the Grateful Dead, Pete Ham of Badfinger, Gary Thain of Uriah Heep and Keef Hartley Band, Roger Lee Durham of Bloodstone, Helmut Köllen of Triumvirat, Chris Bell of Big Star, D. Boon of Minutemen, Pete de Freitas of Echo & the Bunnymen, Mia Zapata of the Gits, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Kristin Pfaff of Hole, Raymond “Freaky Tah” Rogers of Lost Boyz, Sean McCabe of Ink & Dagger, Jeremy Michael Ward of De Facto and The Mars Volta, Bryan Ottoson of American Head Charge, and Valentin Elizalde.
Singer Amy Winehouse performs during the MTV Europe Awards ceremony in Munich in this November 1, 2007 file photo. Winehouse has been found dead at her home in north London, Sky News reported on July 23, 2011.
Known as the “27 Club”, Winehouse joins rock legends legends Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones, who all died at the age of 27.
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
The lead singer of band Nirvana, Cobain had a well-known addiction to heroin, and battled with depression. He died in 1994, aged 27, when his body was found by an electrician who had come to install a security system at his house.
He was found with a shotgun, and it was ruled he died from a gunshot wound to the head. The death was concluded to be suicide, although a private investigator hired by wife Courtney Love hinted that the death was in fact murder.
Jim Morrison (1943-1971)
The lead singer of rock band The Doors was found dead in his bath in a Paris flat in 1971, aged 27. Medics that first examined Morrison reported the death as heart failure and ruled out foul play. Therefore, no official post-mortem was ever carried out into the death.
Friends of the star, however, have claimed he died of a drug overdose. Others have said he suffered from a respiratory condition that had led to him coughing up blood, which he may have choked on.
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)
Hendrix died in 1970, aged 27. An official post-mortem ruled that he choked on his own vomit. However, recently it was claimed he was murdered. James Wright, a roadie with the Animals, made the murder claim in a book. He wrote that Mike Jeffrey, Hendrix’s manager, had admitted that Hendrix had been killed because he wanted to terminate his management contract. It later emerged that Wright made up the claim to boost book sales.
Brian Jones (1942-1969)
Guitar expert and one of the founding members of The Rolling Stones, Jones died in 1969, again aged 27. He became known for his heavy drug addiction, and was replaced in the bank in 1969 by Mick Taylor. Just weeks later, Jones was found dead in a swimming pool in Sussex, England.
A coroner noted that the rock star’s liver and heart were greatly enlarged at the time of death; indicating heavy drug and alcohol use.
To add controversy to his death, it was later claimed that Jones was killed by his builder, Frank Thorogood because of a debt. Thorogood was said to have confessed the killing just prior to his death in 1993. However, police took no action on the claims.
Like most people, you may have wondered why you are here on Earth. Do you think your existence is an accident or are you here for a reason? Is there some purpose for your life? According to the Bible, you are not a mistake and you were created by God for a reason.
Created For A Reason
The main reason God created you is to make you part of His eternal plan (Romans 8:28-29). God wants us to be in Heaven with Him and to tell people about Him. His plan is for every person to be saved from their sin and Hell and to spend eternity with Him (2 Peter 3:9). Unfortunately, some people choose to live their own way and abandon God’s plan for their life (Proverbs 14:12).
What Are You Living For?
Most people seem to believe that the main purpose of life is enjoyment and personal fulfillment. Are you living for things such as money, fame, success, fun, possessions and power? The wise King Solomon accomplished many great things and had all that anyone could desire, yet described it all as meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:2). How about you? Are you more consumed with the pleasures of life than what happens to your soul when you die? The Bible says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul” (Mark 8:36)?
Life Is Short Compared To Eternity
Hopefully, you would agree that what happens to you eternally is far more important than what happens to you on Earth. Think about the word eternity. That is far beyond trillions and trillions times longer than our earthly life. It is so hard to even comprehend that concept because it never ends. You may have a great life or a terrible life on Earth, but either way it will come to an end someday. Then, you will spend everlasting life in either Heaven or Hell (Matthew 25:46). Please think carefully about where you will go after you die as it can happen any day.
The Problem
Too many people assume they will go to Heaven when they die based on their own concept of God. The reason why everybody can’t spend eternity in Heaven is because sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2). You have rebelled against God and committed a sin every time you broke one of God’s commandments by stealing something, telling a lie, hating somebody, disobeying your parents, having a lustful thought, or countless other things. God hates sin and will severely judge each and every one of your sins. Just being a good person or believing in God won’t erase your sin either. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
The Good News
The good news is that no matter how severe your sins are, God made a way for you to be forgiven and be declared innocent on judgment day. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Being a good person or being religious won’t rescue you from your sin. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) The word grace means “undeserved favor”. Your sin separated you from a perfect and sinless God, but Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and later rose back to life (Matthew 28:5-6) so you can have everlasting life in Heaven. Even though none of us deserve Heaven, God was kind enough to make a way for us.
Receiving Forgiveness
It is not enough to just believe that Jesus died for your sins. You must personally trust in Jesus to save you from the penalty of your sin (Romans 8:1-4). You must also be willing to repent (turn from) your sin (Luke 13:5) and follow Jesus as Lord of your life (Romans 10:9-10). Doing this mends your broken relationship with God and allows you access into Heaven.
Live For God
You were created to know God and to live for Him. That is why you exist. Only then does your life have the meaning and purpose God intended for you. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). To live your life for the glory of God means that you will love, obey, worship, please, and trust Him. This should not be a burden, but a pleasure because of what He means to you.
The Choice Is Yours
You never know how much time you have left on this Earth and nothing is more important than where you spend eternity. Hopefully, you will decide to follow Jesus so your life can be used to glorify God. Please make this choice right away, because after you die it will be too late.
I welcome the input from those that read my blog. Recently I received some criticism from readers and Jordan is probably more of the most vocal. He wrote today, “I hardly see a ‘tragic’ death as you call it, a morally sound reason to throw in people’s faces what drugs do to people…You know as […]
In today’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Linda Caillouet wrote: LITTLE ROCK — When news broke of the death of Dexter Williams over the Labor Day weekend at a Maumelle home visited by then-KARK meteorologist Brett Cummins, most local news media reported details from the police report. This newspaper, KATV and KTHV reported that police said the body of […]
What started out on Sunday night September 4 as a local story now has grabbed national attention through both CNN and Fox News. Brett Cummins, 33, is seen in a photo on the website of Little Rock station KARK-TV. Cummins works as a meteorologist for the station. Police Probe Death of Arkansas Man Found in […]
KATV reported: Ark. weatherman quits after found with body in tub Posted: Sep 09, 2011 5:45 PM CDTUpdated: Sep 09, 2011 6:00 PM CDT By JEANNIE NUSS Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for an Arkansas meteorologist who was found in a hot tub with a dead body earlier this week says his client […]
I have mentioned before that I thought it was sad that KARK ignored the fact that Brett Cummins was snorting coke with the young man, Dexter Williams, on Sunday night and that Williams died as a result. Now at least the other stations in the Little Rock Market have been covering the story. Rival Stations […]
KARK’s website includes these words: Thursday afternoon, Brett Cummins released the following statement to CNN through his attorney: Brett Cummins is devastated by the tragic death of his friend Dexter Williams and extends his sincere condolences to Dexter’s family. They remain foremost in his thoughts and prayers. Mr. Cummins deeply regrets the grief this incident […]
Today’s THV channel 11 in Little Rock reported: MAUMELLE, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for a local meteorologist says no foul play was involved in the death of a 24-year-old Mountain Pine man. Little Rock-based lawyer Mark Hampton said Thursday that KARK meteorologist Brett Cummins is innocent. Authorities say Cummins and the body of 24-year-old […]
Drugs and alcohol have always been a pitfall that many of the wealthy fall into. We see rock bands that become famous have lots of temptations thrown their way and many fall into these traps. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Barry McGuire fell into these traps. One joined the “27 Club” and the other left the […]
The recent events in Little Rock concerning KARK TV’s top weatherman Brett Cummins and his experience of drinking alcohol and snorting coke has left a lot of people asking questions. Since the evening ended in the tragic death of one of Brett’s friends, Dexter Williams, many questions have centered on the use of illegal drugs. […]
These are some pictures of Dexter Williams. Unfortunately his life was cut short while drinking and snorting coke with KARK weatherman Brett Cummins. (Cummins has resigned as of Friday.) Dexter Williams (Photo from family) Dexter Paul Williams (facebook photo) Related posts: Why won’t KARK cover Brett Cummins story better? September 9, 2011 – 10:01 am I […]
LITTLE ROCK — Desperate for anything substantive about Arkansas, the upcoming game against Troy is actually anticipated.
Embracing the contest with the Trojans results from watching Arkansas overwhelm inferior New Mexico on Saturday and Missouri State in the season opener, knowing that Troy is a consistent winner, albeit in the Sun Belt Conference. Missouri State spotted the Razorbacks 22 scholarship players in the opener; on Saturday night, the Lobos and Razorbacks were equal only in the number of scholarships.
The Razorbacks were so superior that they led 31-3 at the half although one possession ended with a missed field goal and another with an interception. Production from the running backs was minuscule until the game was out of hand and quarterback Tyler Wilson was pressured more than expected.
After two games, Arkansas’ running attack remains a mystery. At intermission, Wilson was the leading rusher with 48 yards. Next was wide receiver Joe Adams with 33. De’Anthony Curtis and Ronnie Wingo Jr. had five carries each for a total of 23 yards.
A week earlier, Bobby Petrino admitted he did not have the patience to run the ball when the Bears were conceding the pass. Arkansas was credited with 18 running plays and 26 pass plays in the first half against the Lobos, but a couple of the runs were scrambles by Wilson.
Unlike Missouri State and New Mexico, Troy has a recent history of winning, recording eight or more Ws each of the past five years. Troy quarterback Corey Robinson is recognizable, maybe because he beat Sun Belt opponent Arkansas State University with a TD pass in the last minute in 2010.
Arkansas is the only team in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference to start the season with two pushovers. The other five teams in the division played either a conference game or Penn State or Oregon or Brigham Young.
Barely 10 minutes deep in Saturday’s game, Arkansas led by 11. After a fake field goal was stuffed by the Razorbacks early in the second quarter, the gap widened to a final of 52-3.
On this particular weekend, the patriotic pig in the middle of the field and the alternating sections of red and white, plus the students clad in blue, reminded that there are life-and-death issues that rise far above football.
Petrino showed off a couple of wrinkles early, plays that upcoming opponents will see and heed. Right out of the box, wide receiver Adams lined up at tailback, took a pitch, and made 15 yards. Next, the flow went left and Tyler Wilson netted 30 on a naked bootleg.
On the other side, the offense’s uneven performance will provide Petrino with some points of emphasis.
Very proficient on no-stress passes in the opener, Wilson forced some throws while on the move against the Lobos. With a first down at the New Mexico 5, his pass was deflected by one of several defenders in the area.
Two plays later, he started forward, but slowed and chose to challenge the three defenders between him and his target, Adams. Prior to that series, Wilson threw an interception and had his fumble recovered by center Travis Swanson.
PR Newswire – 9 hrs ago
The Daily Hatch 