Mcmackin Slur

Hawaii football coach Greg McMackin must feel like a victim of the old bait-and-switch routine. On Thursday, he apologized for describing one of Notre Dame's traditions with a gay slur during the Western Athletic Conference media preview. He then dropped the slur a couple of more times as he winked at the media, asking them not to publicize his comment, even though in repeating it multiple times he made it obvious he really didn't have a problem tossing the word around.

In his apology, he said he didn't mean any harm, but that he was just trying to be funny, "and it wasn't funny and it's not funny. Even more, it isn't funny to me." What a bunch of crap. Of course he thought it was funny. You can hear him enjoying his own joke on the audio track. But, more tellingly, you can hear the outburst of laughter from some of the media members in the room each time he drops the slur.

McMackin said it was a wrong choice of words, but that's not really genuine either. It was the right choice of words for the audience he was trying to connect with. He might be a second-year head coach at Hawaii, but the man has been coaching football -- college and pro -- for 40 years. He not only has an understanding of the game and the mentality of the players; he has an understanding of the people who cover the sport as well.

So You Think You Can Dance results

"So You Think You Can Dance" results show opened with the top six dancing to "Send In The Clowns," but the song proved to be most meaningful to 29-year-old ballerina Melissa Sandvig and contemporary dancer Ade Obayomi, who the ones eliminated from the competition by the end of the tense hour. As adorable and likeable as the guy is, Broadway-loving Evan does not deserve to advance to the finals. Sorry, Evan fans! He has failed to live up to his promise week to week, even when dancing in his genre.

The fact that the judges have started to inexplicably pimp him (after bashing him throughout the first half of the season) makes me resent his presence even more. Evan's got a massive number of fans who think he can do no wrong (how else to explain his staying power?), which scares me. To think that he could beat out a well-rounded, spectacular dancer like Brandon or Kayla? Hell to the no!

As far as the ladies go, I'm still not over Janette's elimination from last week. (I know, I need therapy.) I was almost as sad to see Melissa go this week. She was this season's real underdog, and her arc on the show proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks. (She also has a sparkling personality and drop-dead gorgeous looks, which didn't hurt.) When I look at the two eliminated contestants, I think about all the memorable routines they've danced this season: "Romeo and Juliet," "The Age of Aquarius," "Breast Cancer" and Ade's gravity-defying flips.

Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja Audio

Varalakshmi Vratham Pooja Audio: Varalakshmi Vratam Festival on 31st July 2009 Today is Varlakshmi Vratham a popular festival of married ladies in the Southern States of India –Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and also Maharashtra. Married females are doing this fast because the name Varalakshmi itself can be interpreted in two ways. In one sense Varalakshmi is one who grant boons. In another,she is the Goddess who is invited into the home and honoured.

The day of the Vratham, make the house very clean and set rangoli on the floors, set up an area about 1 feet in distance across and height and one that place a plate spread the rice in it. On the rice, place a small Silver small pot (or) any other good pot. Decorate the pot applying it with Sandalwood, Kumkum, Flowers and a Coconut smeared with Turmeric powder. Chant the Sri Lakshmi Prayer and finally dedicate sweets towards Sri Lakshmi.

Different types of benefits that will accrue thanks to performing the Varalakshmi puja are “dhan” (money), “dhanyam” (grains or food), “arogyam” (health), “sampath” (property), “sathsanthanam” (virtuous offspring) and “dheerga saumangalyam” (longevity of the husband). After the offerings are made, tie the knotted thread around the neck.After the puja is over, give the Turmeric and Kumkum to everyone and tie the thread around the right hand.