The Christmas carols !

A music teacher claimed that Christmas carols are being rewritten to make them politically correct, Nic Robinson was surprised to find the words to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing had been changed to be ‘gender-inclusive’ by removing the words ‘man’, ‘men’ and ‘sons’.
Attending a carol service at his 13-year-old daughter Hannah’s school, he noticed that in verse two, the line ‘Pleased as man with man to dwell’ was changed to ‘Pleased with us in flesh to dwell’ on the printed sheet. In the next verse, the lines ‘Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of Earth, Born to give them second birth’ were changed to ‘Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth’.
Mr Robinson age 45, of Little over, Derby, said: ‘It’s completely unnecessary. I don’t know any women who feel belittled by the use of the word ‘man’ or ‘son’. ‘Nowadays, there is a section of society that says everything has to conform to this bizarre gender-inclusive business.
‘It’s such a shame that things which are so well established are being changed for no reason at all. It makes me angry because I love the traditions around Christmas and the Church.
‘Some people only go to church at Christmas and if they find the words have been mucked about with, they will feel more disenfranchised than usual.’ Mr Robinson said he did not know who changed the words, or which book of carols they were taken from. A survey carried out by satirical Christian website Ship of Fools found that many churches now sing ‘Glory to the Christ child, bring’ rather than ‘Glory to the newborn King’ in the same carol.
And some churches have changed/replaced the words to Once In Royal David’s City, removing a reference to children ‘all in white’ and replacing it with ‘bright-like stars’.

Shane Sparks arrested!

Shane Sparks, a judge on MTV's famous Dance competition show "America's Best Dance Crew," was arrested this morning on suspicion of felony child molestation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Sparks was taken into custody at his North Hollywood home at 8 a.m., said Officer Gregory Baek. He is being held in lieu of $590,000 bail.
Authorities released few details but said the alleged crime occurred in the 1990s and that authorities only recently learned about it. More details are expected to be released later today.
[Updated at 6:30 p.m.: The Los Angeles district attorney’s office filed an eight-count felony complaint today against Sparks, alleging multiple lewd acts upon a child, starting in 1994. It identified the victim as a girl who was younger than 14 years old when the incidents began.]
Sparks is a hip-hop choreographer who snagged an Emmy nomination for choreography work on ”So You Think You Can Dance.”
Police resources say he is 40 years old now.

Vinny Cerrato resigned?

Vinny Cerrato, the well known Washington Redskins executive vice-president of football operations, resigned this morning, nearly two years after becoming the organization's de facto general manager. Fans in D.C. are treating the news as an early Christmas present.

To understand Cerrato's bizarre role in D.C., one would have to understand the bond between he and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, something I'm not sure anyone has been able to do. The two were friends, we know that, but how did the obviously-in-over-his-head Cerrato maintain his job status with an owner known for his fondness for making sweeping personnel moves at the drop of a pass? There were always jokes that Vinny had "something" on Danny, but that was probably closer to the truth than we realized. Not in a "I'm holding this over your head" way, but in a "look what I can provide" way.

Cerrato's presence allowed Snyder to still pull the strings, all while providing a front and a lightning rod for criticism. Who else could do that? Cerrato gave Snyder all the appearances of a GM, while providing all the benefits of a yes man.

Unlike other infamous owners like Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner, Snyder largely stays out of the limelight, declining interviews and not parading around on the sidelines. Thus, for a while, most of the criticism of the team's personnel moves went to Cerrato even though he was, at most, a partner in these decisions with Snyder, not the guy who pulled the trigger. He couldn't sneeze without Snyder's approval it seemed.

His departure doesn't necessarily mean things are going to get better in Washington, since Snyder has been the problem all along. But it is a sign that things are going in the right direction for the first time since Joe Gibbs retired two years ago. Snyder is finally shedding the dead weight and realizing that something -- anything -- needs to change.

It's been obvious to fans for years that the biggest problem with the Redskins isn't Jim Zorn or Jason Campbell(notes) or a confusing offensive playcalling system or missed tackling, it's the disorganized, incompetent front office that drafts three pass catchers in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, all while ignoring the aging offensive line ... the front office that goes after Albert Haynesworth(notes) (not a bad decision) but incorrectly assumes that he's the missing piece to the puzzle ... the front office that played footsie with two quarterbacks in the off-season and then had to tuck its tail between its legs and stay stuck with the supremely-adequate Campbell ... the front office that ignores special teams players right up until they actually cost the team a game, rather than contribute to it ... the front office that hired its seventh choice to be head coach. We could go on for thousands of words.

The timing of the resignation is strange, but what else would you expect from the Redskins front office? It likely means that Snyder has a beat on Mike Holmgren or Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan and wants to strike now while he still can. Dragging his feet is only going to lead to getting a guy he doesn't really want, sort of like what happened two years ago when he was forced to hire Jim Zorn against his will.

What this means for Zorn is anyone's guess. Cerrato hired him so you'd figure this would be it for him, but if Holmgren comes to D.C., could he play Parcells to Zorn's Tony Sparano?

Those are all questions for later though. For now, all Redskins fans need to care about the fact that Vinny Cerrato is finally resigned.

BEN FOLDS is Judge on "The Sing-Off," A Competition for Cappella?

You can find just something interesting about collegiate a cappella. If you’ve never got the chance to experience it , now its your chance, "The Sing-Off" is a four night special holiday event that had its premiere tonight on NBC. It is American Idol-esque show, except instead of individuals, there are groups, and instead of singing with accompaniment, they doo-wop and be-bop their way through the songs without instruments. Criticized by some as being too corny for TV, or too corny, period--a cappella is just so darn catchy it’s easy to love…or at least easy to be entertained by for an hour or two. It’s also hard not to smile at a group of clean-cut, khaki-clad college boys, like the Beezlebubs from Tufts University in Boston, singing their hearts out while performing a rendition of a Kelly Clarkson song, or Flo Rida’s Right Round.

Director Sam Wiesman is the producer of the show, and former 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey is the host.One judge who has helped the show catch a lot of attention is singer-songwriter Ben Folds, who released an album earlier this year of college a cappella groups covering his songs. We also have on the panel Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men, and Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls.
However there are many shows out there looking for talent or the next musical sensation, “The Sing-Off” offers something different. People may not realize that singing a cappella requires a lot of talent. Being able to harmonize with others without musical accompaniment--and actually sound good doing it--is not something that everyone can do. It’s also fun to hear the instrumental or percussive sounds of songs you know and love mimicked by voices. Also, students in thousands of colleges across the U.S partake in this tradition. Ben Folds said of his “University a cappella” album: “Music education has been atrophying. And yet, at any given school, any number of a cappella groups are getting together a few times a week to rehearse and perform. What’s more is they’re really good…it must be amazing to sing in them. I wanted to capture that magic.”

The show airs on NBC for the next two nights at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the finale airing live on Monday, December 21st. The winning group will receive $100,000 and a major-label record contract. Tune in and you will be find yourself singing along in no time.

Obama's Nobel Pace Prize!

The President of United States Barack.H.Obama says,
"war is sometimes necessary and justified"

even as he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize
The president Obama acknowledged on Thursday that many people feel he has not done enough to deserve the prize that he received in Oslo. He also noted that he recently ordered another 30,000 U.S. troops to fight in Afghanistan.

But Obama said in his acceptance speech that people must accept "the hard truth" that violence cannot be eradicated and nations sometimes must wage war to protect their citizens from evil regimes or terrorist groups.

Obama says a nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies and negotiations cannot persuade al-Qaida's leaders to disarm. He says accepting that is not a call to cynicism but a recognition of man's imperfections.
Oslo.
President Barack.H.Obama says the nonviolence practiced by such leaders as Gandhi and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. should be a guiding force.

In a speech Thursday as he formally accepts his Nobel Peace Prize, the president says their pacifism may not have been practical or even possible in every circumstance. But he says the love they showed and their faith in human progress must always be a guiding force.

The White House released excerpts of Obama's speech shortly before he was to speak at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at city hall in Oslo, Norway.

The Nobel committee announced this in October 2009.

slimfast recall?

According to The Associated Press, all canned Slim-Fast drinks have been recalled by Unilever PLC’s U.S. subsidiary because of the possibility of bacterial contamination like Bacilus cereus that could cause,

i)Diarrhea ii) Nausea and vomiting.

Of course, that might speed up your weight loss, but it sounds rather unpleasant. Luckily, Unilever PLC says that the probability of serious health problems is remote.

The products were sold across the United States and Canada, so check your cabinets and fridge. The affected drinks came in cartons of 4, 6 or 12 steel cans, 11 ounces in size, and were also sold individually. The recall was issued Thursday. No other Slim-Fast products, such as meal and snack bars or powdered shakes, are involved in the recall,

CBS News reported,

U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Rita Chappelle said the recall affects 10 million cans distributed in the United States. Unilever said on Friday that they have halted production and are trying to find what caused the contamination at the company’s production facility in Covington, Tennessee. For more on the recall, visit the FDA website. In the meantime, if you need a replacement, I have always been a big fan of Atkins protein shakes in Mocha and Chocolate. Lots of protein without all the sugar!

Two blasts in Lahore killed more than 30

Lahore, Dec 7 (PTI) Two powerful blasts ripped through a crowded commercial hub in this eastern Pakistani city today, killing at least 30 persons and injuring nearly 100. The blasts occurred at "Moon Market in Allama Iqbal Town" area of Lahore shortly after 8.45 pm. One explosion occurred within the market while the other occurred on its outer perimeter. The blasts went off within a minute of each other, witnesses said.

Officials at Sheikh Zayed Hospital said they had received three bodies, including that of a woman, and over 40 injured people. Six women were among the wounded and two of them were in a serious condition. Three bodies and 28 injured people were taken to Jinnah Hospital. Six children and 12 women were among the injured, officials said.

The explosions sparked a massive fire that engulfed several shops and a bank. Rescue workers rushed to the area, which was cordoned off by security forces. An emergency was declared at the hospitals, which were thronged by people looking for their loved ones. A large number of people, including women and children, were present at the time of the blasts in Moon Market, which is popular for its eateries. The explosions caused widespread panic across Lahore.

Tiger woods mistress count?

Now "Tiger Woods" mistress count is on the rise. It is difficult to say who tells a story and who is a real contender to the title. Arriving at the alleged Mindy Lawton, Tiger Woods hookup, her unflattering rhetoric could make this out to be an early seven-year itch.


Mindy Lawton Ups Alleged Tiger Woods Mistresses Tally to 10 Of Mindy Lawton, Tiger Woods, Cori Rist, Jamie Jungers and Others

When Rachel Uchitel was dragged into the spotlight, there was an undeniable interest in the potential of a Tiger Woods mistress. Jaimee Grubbs started a veritable feeding frenzy, but when Kalika Moquin, Cori Rist and Jamie Jungers were mentioned, the mistress count rose too rapidly to keep track.

The Mindy Lawton-Tiger Woods mention ( reported by Fox News) is "credited" with putting Woods' cheating heart in the cross hairs of the National Enquirer. Mindy Lawton was soon replaced by Holly Sampson and three - as of yet - unnamed but likely testing the media waters other potential mistresses. It is unclear how many of these stories are true, but if there is even only partial credence to the stories, could this be an early instant of the seven-year itch?

The Reality of the Seven-Year Itch

Not just a play by George Axel rod, a famous movie role for the inimitable Marilyn Monroe or a live album by Goth Punk queen Siouxie & the Banshees, the seven-year itch is actually a measurable psychological phenomenon. Psychologist Lawrence Kurdek, Ph.D. of Wright State University published results of his research into the seven-year itch in an American Psychological Association 1999 release.

By the numbers, the first 10 years of a marriage are the roughest. What may spell success or failure for the relationship is a premarital understanding of the declining effect marriage will have on a relationship. Dr. Kurdek notes two separate plateaus of relationship decline: one very early on in the marriage (dubbed the "honeymoon is over" stage) and one right around year eight (the "seven-year itch"). Interestingly, a couple's children play a large role in the decline of the marriage's quality.