Glow in the Dark Tour book.

The 288-page book provides a look at on stage performances, behind-the-scenes shots, conceptual sketches by West, costume designs, and stage models. It also includes an audio CD featuring the previously unreleased live instrumentals for “Hey Mama”, “Touch the Sky”, “Jesus Walks”, and “I Wonder”, as well as an interview with video and film director Spike Jonze.

Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Although many critics may say that he is being awarded prematurely,I beg to differ. It's clear that Obama has made the biggest effort to bring more people together this year than maybe any other political figure could. Although many of his effort have barely begun to bear fruit he is clearly on the right path to change, peace doesn't happen over night.

Mr. Obama is also the third sitting American president to win the prize; the others were Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Mr. Carter won more than 20 years after he left office.

The full citation read: “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

“Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the United States is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.”

source: NYtimes