The YMCA, has long been known as the Young Men’s Christian Association, and is internationally known, with a worldwide movement of 45 million members.

Founded in London, England in 1844, by George Williams, the aim of the organization was to allow it’s members to put principles into practice, by attaining development in a healthy spirit, mind and body.

These days, the YMCA’s are open to all faith’s social class, ages or gender.

The organization, has even had a hit song written and performed about it, with the Village People releasing it in 1978, and gaining a Number One in the UK, and a Number Two in the US with the single.

The clubs around the USA have been dealing with some dramatic events of late, with the YMCA in Mountain Lakes, being hit by fire recently, the Downtown Albany closing, and a sexual assault rocking the Litchfield chapter, when a Torrington man was charged with raping a woman back in 2009.

The clubs which are normally a staple in ever big city, have had their ups and downs over the years, but have normally come out on top.

This could well be just a sign of the times, but hopefully the clubs will continue on in strength, as they have always been a great thing for anyone in need of a safe, inexpensive place to stay.

Glenn Beck who is an award winning radio and Cable TV host, has been trying to promote people to read the book, the 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed The World.

There are views that the United States, has for years now, been progressively drifting away from our Founding Fathers, initial formula for success.

Recapturing these formulas, and reviewing history and the development of America, will bring an awareness to the brilliant precepts, which had made Americans, the first free people in modern times.

This book focuses on 28 Principles of Freedom, which the Founding Fathers, had said must be comprehended and put into action by all wanting peace, prosperity and freedom.

Sticking to those beliefs over the last 2000 years, has brought more progress than in the previous 5000 years.

This has also brought about Becks, 912 project. The project  focuses on 9, principles and 12 values, that Beck’s policy emphasizes have been lost in the USA today.

In a time of greed and corruption, Glenn Beck’s core values, are he says essential to a strong country. According to Beck, these 12 values must be restored, before things can ever improve.

Values such as Honesty, Reverence, Hope, Thrift, Humility, Charity, Sincerity, Moderation, Hard Work, Courage, Personal Responsibility and Gratitude, Beck says are needed to be focused on.

There are also nine principles that Beck is also asking Americans to live by, such as, America is good, I believe in God and he is the center of my life, I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday, The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government. If you break the law you pay the penalty.

Justice is blind and no one is above it, I have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results, I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion, and the Government works for me, I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

The book is published by National Center for Constitutional Studies, which is a  non-profit organization.

For people who are wondering about the 912 Project , it is a new movement in the United States. Started mainly in response to the economic crisis, and it is headed by Glenn Beck.

It focuses on 9, principles and 12 values, that Beck’s policy emphasizes have been lost in the USA today.

In a time of greed and corruption, Glenn Beck’s core values, are he says essential to a strong country. According to Beck, these 12 values must be restored, before things can ever improve.

Values such as Honesty, Reverence, Hope, Thrift, Humility, Charity, Sincerity, Moderation, Hard Work, Courage, Personal Responsibility and Gratitude, Beck says are needed to be focused on.

There are also nine principles that Beck is also asking Americans to live by, such as, America is good, I believe in God and he is the center of my life, I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday, The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government. If you break the law you pay the penalty.

Justice is blind and no one is above it, I have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results, I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion, and the Government works for me, I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

 While many people may disagree, or agree with his beliefs, they sure make some valid points. And with these points, the changes they could make if followed, especially for the youth of the USA, could be beneficial.

The Project has many websites regarding it, even a fan based one. So for more reading about the project, or to find out exactly who Glenn Beck is, you can find them on the Internet right now.

Laurie Berkner, is one of the most popular musicians for children in the world.

As a featured musician on Nick Jr. Jack’s Big Music Show, she is the also lead singer for the Laurie Berkner Band. Berkner who also writes children’s books, also gives her time to raise awareness for charity, and one of her favourites is an organization called the Pajama Program.

The way she offers her talents is by a song for the cause. The love note comes by form of a free down-loadable song called Open Your Heart, in which was written to raise awareness to the Pajama Program.

With her melodic, clear voice, and just a guitar, Open Your Heart, is a song for parents, to remind them, that their little one’s who seem so “I do it myself.” need their parents support, more than they will ever show.

The charity which offers supplies such as warm pajamas and story books to children who live in group homes, homeless shelters and orphanages.

When Rosey Grier, heard that his former teammate and close friend,  Merlin Olsen had lost his fight with cancer, he cried.

Grier had planned to visit Olsen in hospital in Los Angeles, but Olsen’s brother Phil, had told him it would probably be best to wait until Friday. Grier said, “So Phil put the phone to his ear and we were able to talk,”  “He sounded sick but the thing was, he still sounded like Merlin.”

 Grier than added, ”I loved that man,” he added. “I really loved him,” while holding back tears.

 Olsen died of complications relating to malignant Mesothelioma aged 69, the disease in which he was diagnosed with only last year, erodes the protective lining surrounding the lungs.

As part of the Los Angeles Rams’ Fearsome Foursome in the 1960’s, along with Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy, Grier and Olsen were part of a unit considered to be one of the best defensive fronts in NFL history.

Later in 1982, he was elected to the Pro Ball Hall of Fame and was also selected to play in 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, which began his rookie season in 1962.

 After retirement, Olsen started a successful career as an actor in the iconic television show “Little House on the Prairie,” starring Michael Landon, and also as a football commentator. He also later starred in his own show, as “Father Murphy.”

 Grier spoke about Olsen’s charitable causes, ”Merlin was always doing good work to help other people have a meaningful life,” ”He was always there for you, no matter what.”

Gil Brandt, a former  personnel director for the Dallas Cowboy’s said with Olsen, there had never been a better defensive tackle to play the game, “We played them a lot but we also scrimmaged them a lot, and Merlin never took a play off, no matter what kind of game it was,” Brandt added. “He obviously was one of the greatest players of all time. You can look at it like this — when he played in the 60s and 70s, he was on a par with the present-day player as far as speed, strength and skill.”

 The Romney Stadium, it was announced back in December by Utah State, would be renamed Merlin Olsen field.

A woman in Pennsylvania who called herself  ”Jihad Jane,” was found to be tied to an alleged assassination plot of a cartoonist, who had once drawn a picture of Mohammed atop of the body of a dog.

Federal prosecutors, accused Colleen R. LaRose, in an unsealed indictment, who is an American from Philadelphia of making links through the Internet with militants overseas, finally coming to an alleged ploy to murder, in order to scare non-Muslims.

LaRose, 46, was arrested in October, although the case against her remains under seal. The indictment itself does not focus on a target, although a law enforcement official spoke about her case, saying her arrest was linked to another seven Muslims being arrested on Tuesday, in Ireland with connection to a plot to kill cartoonist, Lars Vilks.

There was a $100,000 bounty put on his head for his cartoon, by an Al Qaeda linked group, who had deemed the cartoon a blasphemous insult to Islam.

Irish police arrested four men and three women in Cork and Waterford, according to European news reports.

Ms. LaRose has not been confirmed as part of the Irish assassination plot, as yet, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.

Michael L. Levy, a United States attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania, spoke regarding La Rose, saying she was only one of a handful of women to be charged with terrorism in the United States. And how today’s terrorists could blend in with every day Americans saying,  “It shatters any lingering thought that we can spot a terrorist based on appearance.” 

Ms. LaRose who is white, with blond hair and green eyes, according to a law enforcement official, who reportedly is not authorized to divulge details of the case and would speak only in anonymity. They added that  Ms. LaRose was born in Michigan, and also lived  in Texas and Montgomery County, Pa.

LaRose, according to the indictment, in 2008, began using the aliases “JihadJane” and “Fatima LaRose,” and began posting messages on YouTube and other sites, about helping Muslims. In 2009 she was exchanging emails, with unidentified co-conspirators in Asia and Europe, and had mentioned that she also had a desire to become a martyr for an Islamist cause, according to court papers.

The indictment bases around e-mails in which a conspirator, citing just how Ms. LaRose’s appearance and American passport could make it easier for her to go undetected, and had allegedly directed her in 2009, to travel to Sweden to help carry out the murder.

The beautiful two year old girl Layla Grace, who grabbed attention and the hearts of a massive amount of Twitter users, has passed away.

Layla passed this morning, after her battle with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. Her parents who set up her Twitter account @LaylaGrace, gave her fans progress, of her strong fight against the cancer.

This morning they shared on the social networking site the sad comment,  “Layla went to play with the angels early this morning. Rest in peace precious Layla. 11/26/2007 – 3/9/2010.”

With her 42,000 avid fans, and her own parents, the passing of Layla was not a shock, her health had recently taken a turn for the worst, and her parents were often updating her well wishes with the toddlers progress such as, ”Layla hasn’t woken up at all today,” which was tweeted on Sunday by her mother. “She slept through diaper & clothes changes, books, & me reading sweet cards that have been sent to her.” Another tweet yesterday gave more news, ”Layla is still sleeping. Occasionally she makes noises that indicate she’s in pain, but she hasn’t woken up in a few days.” And finally when it looked like the little girls fight was coming to an end, “Please continue 2 pray for peace for Layla. Her dad is in her room right now talking to her & comforting her. She is not doing well at all.”

It is a sad ending to such a young person’s life, but this little Texan girl put up a brave fight, while her parents support, love and dedication was unwavering. Many people who followed Layla on Twitter, were moved by the page and story of Layla. In her legacy she even takes out the number 3 top trending topics on Twitter.

The MTV show, “My Life As Liz”, focuses around a high school girl, Liz Lee.

The series is a look through her eyes, of life at high school. Liz is an over forward, witty, and sometimes sarcastic girl, who is spending her teen years in a very conservative Texan town.

The humorous show, goes about telling the story of Liz, trying her hardest to make the best time of her senior year, while always the outsider, amongst her counterparts.

Her view of her time, is funny yet poignant, and viewers see her go through relationships, the prom, and many other circumstances that most teens have to face.

Her off the wall outlook, and comedic attitude, make the series of self discovery very humorous.

The show that includes popular music, and a great ensemble within the cast, has grabbed attention of many.

With eight episodes, many are wondering if the show will continue with another season. The show which debuted in Jan 2010, uses editing and camera work, to give it a reality type feel.

The LA Times calls it quasi- reality, so a little bit of reality and a little fantasy.

The show which stars Elizabeth Lee, has been deemed by an MTV executive, ”We don’t look at it as just a reality show — that doesn’t capture it. We weren’t going to call it a sitcom, because it’s not.”

 Whatever it is, it has a lot of people wanting a second series.

Quarterback Seneca Wallace, has been traded by the Seattle Seahawks, to the Cleveland Browns, in an unmentioned draft choice for 2011.

This will mean that Wallace, will once again join Brown’s new general manager, Mike Holmgren, who actually drafted Wallace, and help to develop him with the Seahawks.

John Schneider the new Seahawks general manager said, “This will give Seneca a chance for a fresh start,”  “The Browns front office’s familiarity with his abilities will give him an opportunity to compete for playing time. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Wallace 29,  was originally drafted in the fourth round, back in 2003.

During a time when he stepped in for an injured Matt Hasselbeck, Wallace performed well, as a fill in starter, during the 2008 season, although in his two starts last year, struggled a little in new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp’s system.

The terms of the deal have not been reported, though this draft pick will initiate how much Wallace will play next season in Cleveland.

Wallace who had started 14 games, within in his seven seasons in Seattle, completed 333 of 556 passes, for 3,547 yards, including 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

In the Seahawks NFC Championship game in 2005, he made a great catch, and played wide receiver well.