Silent Night” (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by the Austrian priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber. In 1819, John Freeman Young (second Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Florida) published the English translation that is most frequently sung today.[1] The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber’s original, which was a sprightly, dance-like tune in 6/8, as opposed to the slow, meditative lullaby version generally sung today. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain.
Secret Santa helper: First lady pitches in with NORAD
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40803123/ns/us_news-life/
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Some kids who call NORAD on Christmas Eve to find out where Santa is hang up as soon as a volunteer answers the phone — probably because they expected a recording and not a real person, veteran Santa trackers say.
There were some especially awed kids Friday, when one of the people answering the phone was first lady Michelle Obama.
A telephone link from Hawaii, where the Obamas are on vacation, allowed her to pitch in with volunteers at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., who were answering phone calls and e-mails for the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa-tracking program.
Ho! Ho! Ho! Watch Santa go
“I was ecstatic because I was talking to the president’s wife,” said Evan Race, 10.
“I was really surprised,” said his 8-year-old sister, Anna. Seven-year-old Colin Race also got to talk with Obama.
The White House said she took calls for 40 minutes and spoke with children from at least a dozen families.
advertisement | ad info . It’s believed to be the first time in the 55-year history of the event that a first lady joined in, said Jamie Graybeal, NORAD’s deputy chief of staff for communications.
Our Flotus rocks!
Christmas Religious Graphics
Guys, I am tired. I’ve been cooking all day long. I’m going to stop now and finish up cooking in the morning. SG2’s energy is gone.
Hawaii’s Governor Takes On ‘Birthers’By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: December 24, 2010
HONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who befriended President Obama’s parents when they were university students here, has been in office for less than three weeks. But he is so incensed over the “birthers” — conspiracy theorists who assert Mr. Obama was born in Kenya and challenge his right to be president — that he is already seeking ways to change Hawaiian law or regulation to allow him to release additional proof that the president was born in a hospital here in 1961.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/25/us/25hawaii.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimes
Bristol Palin Buys House In Maricopa, Arizona For $172k Cash
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/24/bristol-palin-buys-house-_n_801120.html#comments
Bristol Palin, 20-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, has bought a home in Maricopa, an outlying Valley suburb in Pinal County.
Bristol, an uneducated, no-talented, no-dancing, had-a-baby-out-of-wedlock… living high off of white privilege.
Love it!
Truck Driver Races Past Obama’s Kailua Checkpoint: Secret Security Officer Aims Gun
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/24/obama-checkpoint-pickup-truck-_n_801085.html
KAILUA, Hawaii — A man fleeing from local police drove through an outer perimeter checkpoint set up near President Barack Obama’s Hawaii vacation home Friday, the U.S. Secret Service said.
Photographers took pictures of a Secret Service agent sprinting toward the scene and pointing a gun at a vehicle.
The driver wasn’t trying to get near the president or his family and the incident had nothing to do with his Hawaii visit, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said.
“Honolulu police were going to arrest someone they had traffic warrants for. He was able to get away from them, and led them in a high-speed chase which ultimately led to one of our checkpoints,” Donovan said.
The 39-year-old driver, who wasn’t immediately identified, was eventually arrested and didn’t go near a security barricade closer to the Obama vacation home.
The president was playing golf at a nearby Marine base at the time.
Go ahead, mofo, make the SS’s day!
Melissa Harris-Perry on Barbour’s Jim Crow fairy tales
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#40799837
ALRIGHT, FOLKS, CHEERS TO YOU ALL THIS HOLIDAY!!!!
Stay safe, warm and full of joy. Merry Christmas!
Obama says his views on same-sex marriage are ‘evolving’
By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 23, 2010; 2:44 PM
Twice this week, President Obama suggested that he might become the first sitting U.S. president to support gay marriage. He said his views on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry are “evolving” and added that, although he is a longtime supporter of civil unions, “I recognize that from their perspective, it is not enough.”
But none of this means that the White House is about to launch a national legalize-gay-marriage campaign.
First of all, marriage laws are largely written by individual states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont allow gay marriage, as does the District).
Second, any attempt by the administration to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act – which Obama told the gay and lesbian magazine the Advocate he would like to do – would face strong opposition that will only intensify when Republicans take over the House of Representatives in January.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/23/AR2010122301859.html
On President Obama’s Hawaiian Reading List: Book on President Reagan
by Kimberly Schwandt | December 23, 2010
The White House says that President Obama plans on spending some of his Hawaiian vacation reading, and among the books on his list is one about President Reagan.
Obama will be digging into Lou Cannon’s biography, “President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime.”
The president has been reading up on books about other presidents in the past few months. Most recently before the midterm elections, he was reading “The Clinton TAPES” by Taylor Branch, among others.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a briefing Wednesday that reading will be part of Obama’s vacation plans, “He’ll read a good amount of stuff. He’ll have, obviously, his daily intelligence briefing, as well as probably a novel or two.”
The first family has spend their last few Christmases in Hawaii, renting out a property on Kailua beach. The president arrived late Wednesday night after delaying his trip due to legislative business on Capitol Hill. First lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia arrived last weekend.
The president is expected to be in Hawaii into the New Year.
He’ll also be spending time with friends and family and as an avid golfer, will likely hit a golf course or two.
http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/12/23/president-obamas-hawaiian-reading-list-book-president-reagan
TODAY’S MARKETSDECEMBER 23, 2010.Dow Edges Up to New High SInce 2008 .
By DONNA KARDOS YESALAVICH
NEW YORK—The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up to a fresh two-year closing high Thursday while other measures slipped following a mixed bag of economic data that left investors with little reason to make major position changes ahead of the holiday.
The Dow rose 14 points, or 0.12%, to 11573.49, its highest closing level since August 2008
Alcoa led its climb with a rise of 20 cents, or 1.3%, to $15.34. Chevron was also strong, up 76 cents, or 0.9%, to 90.68, and Exxon Mobil added 40 cents, or 0.6%, to 73.20, boosted by a climb in crude-oil futures to fresh two-year highs above $91 a barrel.
Limiting the Dow’s ascent, Bank of America fell 32 cents, or 2.4%, to 13.06. Walt Disney was also weak, off 25 cents, or 0.7%, to 37.70, while Travelers slipped 37 cents, or 0.7%, to 55.48.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704278404576037292743897076.html
Donovan McNabb’s agent says quarterback undermined by Redskins’ Kyle Shanahan
By Jason Reid and Rick Maese
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 24, 2010; 12:59 AM
Donovan McNabb’s agent blasted Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in a formal statement Thursday, contending that the coach had undermined McNabb throughout the season.
“I believe there is tension between Donovan and Kyle that’s rooted in the fact that Donovan has suggested modifications to Kyle’s offense based on intricacies Donovan has learned in his NFL career,” McNabb’s agent, Fletcher Smith III, wrote in the statement to Redskins beat reporters and national NFL writers. “For example, Donovan has asked all year that the team run more screen passes to help manage the pass rush more effectively. Ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan’s suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/23/AR2010122305826.html?wpisrc=nl_headline
Morning everyone! Merry Christmas!
Christmas Graphics
Good Morning, SG2, Friends & LURKERS!! :-)
****wipes eyes, yawns, and pours 2 cups of this****
http://www.theluxuryspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/cup-of-coffee.jpg
Morning, Ametia! Thanks! I need a wake me upper. I’ve got a long day ahead of me with all that cooking.
Christmas Graphics
Hey there, SG2. Whatcha cookin’? It’s movie day around here. Snow, snow, everywhere! :-)
Well, I’m getting ready to make my potato salad in a minute and then I’ll bake a Strawberry cake with cream cheese icing and sliced strawberrries on top. After that, my cornbread for the dressing, broccoli and rice casserole. I’ll put the Turkey in the oven around 3’oclock and get it over it. Whew lawd, pray for me!
Yummy! What time’s dinner tomorrow? :-)
Dinner will be served around 3 ish. Come & enjoy! :)