New Words Born This Decade

TIME Video: New Words Born This Decade

Locavore? Staycation? TIME Editor-at-Large Belinda Luscombe looks at common terms that didn't exist 10 years ago. 

Thanks to The English Blog for sharing this with its readers!

Check out the words and phrases that became part of our collective consciousness this decade: Hear the words of the decade

Are Ugly Christmas Sweaters in Fashion?

Have you ever been offered a bright, showy holiday sweater as a gift from your Mom or Aunt? Maybe your Grandmother knitted you something "festive"? Well, don't despair! It seems that this holiday season, the hideous Christmas sweaters are gaining more and more fans!

 Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Check TRANSCRIPT here

Apparently many people have started appreciating the bright colours and flashy pictures on their sweaters: snow flakes, reindeers, snowmen, Santas and bells in appliqué, yarn and sequins... If the ensemble practically outshines the Christmas tree, the better!

So, if you have an old Christmas sweater or two hidden in your closet, don't let it miss another excuse-filled holiday! Or, if you're feeling obligated to wear that sweater you got as a gift, show it off! The "ugly Christmas sweaters" are quickly becoming the newest trend, bringing conversation and laughs to parties.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) 

 by John Lennon



So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS - Because Life is made of moments of sublime happiness...

MOMENTS is a Portuguese short-film written and directed by Nuno Rocha for LG Portugal. The concept, "Life's good" was the main purpose of this work. For a moment, stop everything you are doing and feel how good LIFE is...

MOMENTS - Because Life is made of moments of sublime happiness...

On a regular night, with the past erased from his memory, a man finds, in the place he now calls home, memories of a life he lived before.

These are fragments of pure happiness and sublime moments of sharing, which emerge as instants of hope...

May your Christmas be filled with Hope and Joy!

An Eleven Million Dollar Christmas Tree??

An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel set up an $11 million Christmas tree, decorated with real gold, diamonds, pearls, and sapphires.

A hotel in the United Arab Emirates has unveiled what it says is the world's most expensive Christmas tree.

The 13-meter artificial tree at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel includes diamonds, pearls and sapphires -- 181 precious stones in all. Most of the stones are in necklaces and earrings provided by a local jeweler.

Standing 43 feet high, the tree - itself worth $10,000 - has necklaces, bracelets and watches draped over its branches among traditional baubles and lights. The total value of the tree is $11m.

What do you think about this extravagance?

12 Days of Christmas - Indian style! ;-)

Listen to this funny version of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas".
This video clip was re-worked Indian style. It is performed by animated popstar, Boymongoose and Indian boyband.

Merry Xmas everyone!

Snow Globes - Coca-Cola 2010 Christmas Commercial

Have you seen Coca-Cola's latest Holiday commercial? 
The 2010 Christmas commercial features Train's "Shake Up Christmas".

Merry Christmas!

THE DIGITAL CHRISTMAS STORY!

There is an English version after all! :-)

HISTÓRIA DO NATAL DIGITAL - DIGITAL CHRISTMAS STORY!

Sorry, this is in Portuguese... But it is a very interesting version of Christmas history... Enjoy it!



Fantastic version of the story of Jesus's birth, don't you think? 

All I Want For Christmas Is You... ;-)

Christmas is in the air... 

Watch Mariah Carey singing her well-known Xmas song "All I Want For Christmas Is You". 

Lyrics:

(Source: www.lyrics007.com )

Do you like singing karaoke? Then try this link! All I Want For Christmas Is You KARAOKE

TAKE A LOOK! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! ;-)

Runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in the 2010 Santa Dash in Liverpool, England, on December 5, 2010. The annual race sees thousands of competitors run the 5km course through the streets of the city center. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

This is the last week of the term and Christmas is just around the corner. Can you see it around you?

In many places around the world, it is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Santas are making appearances from Beijing to Beirut, and the traditions of the season can be seen all over - the trees, the lights, the shoppers, the devout and more. Collected here are a handful of recent photographs of people enjoying and celebrating this year's Christmas Season as it hits full swing. (Source: The Big Picture)

Check out the Xmas photo collection here, published by The Big Picture.

EURO: Is it terminally ill?

´

Cartoon by Paul Thomas from The Daily Express

This cartoon portrays the condition of the Euro following the bailouts* of Greece and Ireland, and predictions that Spain and Portugal will be the next countries to need rescuing.

The cartoon shows the Euro sign as a terminally ill patient at the doctor's. It asks: "How long have I got?"                                                   (adapted from The English Blog)

*BAILOUT -  when someone helps a person or organization that is in difficulty, usually by giving or lending them money

What do you think? Is the Euro terminally ill? 

Could this current crisis kill the Euro?