#rick clark

[djaqsscarlett]

For your Emmy consideration, “Before the Sky Split in Two”

[filosofablogger]

Good People Doing Good Things -- Little Things Mean A Lot

Today’s ‘good people’ post isn’t about one person doing something big and heroic, but about many average people doing something simple to help someone else … it cements that old saying that “Little things mean a lot.” This first one is from Spokane, Washington, where a mom was struggling to manage her two young children in a restaurant.  Enter good people, server Amber Bryant … Ashley…

Good People Doing Good Things -- Little Things Mean A Lot

[strungoutinheaven]

Rick clark | kickflip 5-0 in Tucson, Arizona as seen in pyramid country's vessel in passing

[bigboxcar]

Mugshot Monday - “Elephant Mug” by Rick Clark of Clay Street Studio with Birchwood Blend by Peace Coffee

Just look at this AMAZING coffee mug. It literally took my breath away when I opened the USPS box it came in. Rick Clark makes some incredible mugs.

I am holding this mug in my hands because of 1 part serendipity and 2 parts generosity. Here’s what happened:

On Father’s Day this year, I posted a Mugshot Monday with my 3 boys, my doggy, and a coffee mug that said “DAD” with a 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special.

It’s one of my favorite mugshots. My kids spotted the mug at a Seward neighborhood rummage sale and said it was PERFECT for me. I’ve never even sat in a cadillac before, but I bought the mug anyway. 

Now, I’d been following ceramic artist Rick Clark on Instagram for a while -- no doubt after finding him through the #MugshotMonday hashtag. 

Rick saw my post and commented:

“My dad's favorite car was his '38 Buick Special! He worked for GM for 44 years. He said it would cruise at 120 purring like a kitten.”

Such an awesome comment. And I instantly knew that Rick should have that Cadillac mug. It sounded like his dad was no longer with us and I visualized Rick pouring himself a cup of coffee in that mug on Father’s Day next year as he remembered his dad. 

My kids agreed so I sent him the mug. Rick sent a message back:

“Wow! I am just really touched by your gift. My dad passed in 2009. He kind of measured his life by the cars he drove. He had said he wanted to live to 111, then he would have been retired for as many years as he worked. He made it to a respectable 96.”

Rick also wrote, “And now I have your address, just sayin’.” He sent me this elephant mug back and I am totally enamored by it.

Let’s talk about Rick’s mugs for a second. He pushes the clay on these hand thrown mugs into elephants, gorillas, whales, dolphins, turtles, bears, deer, bunnies, dogs, and owls. You need to see his Clay Street Studio Instagram or his Etsy shop for a sampling. I can confirm that they are even more amazing in person.

I am blown away by Rick’s mugs. I’m also smitten with the stories of these 2 coffee cups. It seems like that Cadillac mug’s destiny was to travel from my neighborhood in Minnesota to Rick’s cupboard in West Virginia. And now I’ll always remember it when I drink from my elephant mug.

Serendipitous generosity soothes the soul. I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the mug, Rick! Cheers!

See also my 400+ photos from the Mugshot Monday project here: www.MugshotMonday.com – Every Mug Has A Story

[sk9goat]

Broke my foot on this rail, and it was on the least impressive trick out of everyone. Snotjob was worth the trip though. Rick Clark - Boardslide to grind

[theoxfordamerican]

Our music editor Rick Clark is this week's guest on Beale Street Caravan! He'll be spinning all the best tracks from our Tennessee Music issue. Stream it here.  Or, we recommend signing up for their free podcast - BSC is a Memphis institution and they sure know their music. Check them out!

[mylittleblackbook]

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner recently told a group of Republicans that, contrary to President Obama’s executive order, officials should not have lowered flags across the country in honor of Nelson Mandela. His reason? Mandela’s not an American.

“Lowering the flag should be for mourning Americans and not for foreign leaders,” Sensenbrenner said, reportedly to cheers.

Sensenbrenner is not the only one to oppose lowering the flag on Mandela’s behalf. A South Carolina sheriff, Rick Clark, also refused. He, too, argued that the flag should only be lowered for American citizens. “To show a sign of respect for what Nelson Mandela’s done, I have no problem with lowering it in South Africa, in their country,” Clark said. “But in our country, it should be the people, in my opinion, who have sacrificed for our country.”

The Christian Science Monitor reported this week that it is a rare honor for American flags to be flown at half-mast following the death of a foreign dignitary, but Republican and Democratic presidents have issued orders similar to Obama’s in the past. The paper wrote:

“President George W. Bush ordered flags to fly at half-staff at the passing of Pope John Paul II in 2005, President Bill Clinton did so for Yitzhak Rabin (1995) and King Hussein of Jordan (1999), and President Ronald Reagan honored Anwar Sadat in 1981, but the historical precedent most often cited is President Lyndon Johnson’s bestowal of the honor in recognition of the passing of Winston Churchill in 1965.”

h/t: Elias Isquith at Salon.com