Washington, Jan 8 : A Prince George''s County teacher is so inspired by Barack Obama that he has gone ahead and wrote a book of word searches and puzzles based on the President-elect and his family.

The Rev. Eugene Williams Sr., of Clinton has self-published "Words, Cross & Across: Word Searches on Barack Obama" inspired by Obama's rhetoric and his family.

Washington, Jan 8 : President-elect Barack Obama has said that he rarely reads favorable press coverage, and chooses instead to focus on negative stories.

"I think it's important not to live in the bubble. You've got to be open to outside information, particularly criticism," Obama told CNBC.

"I very rarely read good press," the president-elect added.

Melbourne, Jan 8 : US bloggers have declared war against ex-Australian Prime Minister John Howard for kicking US president-elect Barack Obama out of a bed at Washington''s Blair House in the lead-up to the inauguration.

Last month, the Obama family asked the Bush administration if they could move into Blair House - the security home near the White House - a fortnight early to get their daughters settled at their new schools, reports the Daily Telegraph.

However, they were refused saying that it was not possible because foreign dignitaries had been booked in.

Now, it has come to light that the only dignitary staying overnight on January 12 is Howard.

Washington, January 8 : Bruce Springsteen is drawing up plans to perform a free gig at US President-elect Barack Obama's Inaugural ball, according to the Washington Post newspaper.

The heartland rocker, amongst Obama''s biggest celebrity supporters, will take to the microphone on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the National Mall on January 18.

The singer had previously taken to the stage a couple of times to support Obama's benefit shows during the Democrat''s election campaign last year, reports Contactmusic.

The 59-year-old had also joined the first African-American to be elected President of the United States at a campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio.

Washington, Jan. 8 : US President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to scrap the way President Bush oversaw domestic security in the White House and name a former Central Intelligence Agency official to coordinate future counter-terrorism efforts.

Quoting people close to the Obama transition team, the New York Times said that a plan is being discussed to eliminate the independent homeland security adviser's office and assign those duties to the National Security Council to streamline overlapping functions.

Washington, Jan 8 : The US Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies have released a bulletin reminding local law enforcement that the inauguration could present an enticing target for potential terrorists.

But the bulletin states that there is currently no credible threat information related to President elect Barck Obama's oath taking ceremony on January 20, CBS News reported.

The DHS has no plans to adjust any of the national threat levels, but is reminding the public to remain vigilant.