Happy 5769!

L'Shanah Tovah!



Shana Tova Umetukah For a good and sweet year!

As Jake and others around the world celebrate Year 5769, we wish Jake, Austin and their families and their friends a good and sweet year ahead.

The past year has brought some bitter with the sweet, may the coming year bring more sweetness than sadness.

While we all don't celebrate this holiday we can benefit from its reflection and it's hope for the future year. What is it that you want for 5769? Are there things that you want cast off from the past year?



The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, but actually Rosh Hashanah has a fourfold meaning - It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgment, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

* It is the Day of Judgment
As Jews worldwide examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins

* It is the Day of Shofar Blowing
As the Shofar (the rams horn) is blown in temple to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days

* It is the Day of Remembrance
As Jews review the history of their people and pray for Israel

* And of course it is New Year's Day
Celebrated with it's holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and sweet foods (to ensure sweetness in the New Year)


On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, after the afternoon services, Jews visit a body of water or pond, containing live fish*, to symbolically "cast away" their sins into the river.

*The fish's dependence on water symbolizes the Jews dependence on G-d, as a fish's eyes never close, G-d's watchful eyes never cease.

On Rosh Hashanah it is customary for families to gather together for the holiday meal. Traditional foods sweetened with honey, apples and carrots are served, symbolizing sweetness, blessings, abundance and the hope for a sweet year ahead.

The first night's meal begins with apple dipped in honey. Challah, the bread usually eaten on the Sabbath (not braided as at regular meals but instead baked in a circle - a wish that the coming year will roll around smoothly without unhappiness or sorrow) is also dipped in honey before eating.

Sight of Hand

March 10, 2005

Mere days ago, while everyone was hooting and complaining about this gown and that host from the Oscars, Tile was right out in the open holding hands with his man in a West Hollywood restaurant--which shall remain nameless...because I love going there and they probably won't serve me anymore if I start outing their customers, ca-friggin'-peesh?

Not that I'd be outting anybody, anyway. Mr. Tile took care of that himself. Covertly, but he did it.

It was late in the afternoon; everybody had cleared out. Save Tile and his man-amigo, who extended his hands flat on the marble table (yes, that's a hint) until they were intertwined with Tile's. Massive smiles then appeared on both daring dudes.

Too sweet! And such a departure for this debauched department, doncha think? Don't worry, as sure as Tile's famous ex knew, deep down, way below her doable dimples, what Tile really wanted (hence, the breakup), next week, we'll be right back on salacious patrol, damn sure.


Hands can tell a lot about a person, and in Hollywood is it the one thing they have perfect hiding peoples age. Sure the face looks 35 but the hands are saying 50 loud and clear. Hands show emotions or secrets that are not supposed to be given away. They're expressive, comforting, loving, sometimes angry or stressed, or excited or nervous. People talk with their hands, fight with them, create with them, convey with them.

Jakes long delicate fingers are quite deceiving, they don't look like the hands of a woodworker, gardener or chef. Fine and graceful they don't show the battle scars of cooking, or woodworking, or the grit of gardening. But as refined as they are there is strength in those hands. Who would have thought he could palm a basketball. Jake uses his hands to talk and tell stories they are a part of how he communicates. He also knows his hands can give him away, let people know if he is current mood and demeanor. He often has something in his hands to hold or has them in his pocket.

Austin's hands are broad and more rugged, and looking closely you can see couple of those fingers have spent time in splits for crack bones. He relied on strong hands to each time he waterskied. That was his point of connection. Everything comes down to holding on to the tow rope in waterskiing, if you let go, you're in the drink, so you success came down to your hands. He knows the key to some of his roles has come down to the slight gesture of his hands. But just as Jake, his are equally deceptive, because they become quite gentle in situations, not what you would expect. And while Jake tries to tuck his hands away, Austin oftens puts his out on display, maybe to show what he really wants to say.

They say opposites attract, maybe they do with hands too, because it seems like they have found the perfect fit in each others.


October 18, 2007
Jake Gyllenhaal sure as hell lives to get the gossies in gonzo overdrive. Why, just this week, right after J.G. did Letterman, all shy 'n’ stuff, he pulls the same don’t-look-at me routine down in the Village—almost.

Desk Stealth just followed J.G. and his gorgeous amigo, a dead ringer for Austin Nichols (would just go ahead and say it was A.N. here, but, like, maybe Jakey’s pullin’ a Natalie Portman, choosing to hang with an Austin doppelgänger just to throw us snit-snoops off the mark?) for several blocks. Too fun for the ab-perf tum! D.S. embarked on an intrepid block-by-block Jake-athon, stealing close behind just for us, too kind.

“They could have walked to the ferry, and I still would have followed them,” admits our pavement detective, so refreshingly honest (see, always loved those NY types, this is only one reason why). “All the while, they kept walking close to each other, like they were purposely trying to bump into each other, ya know what I mean?”

We do, you baddie bro, we do! So, do continue:

“At one point they had their heads briefly touching each other,” D.S. practically breathlessly relayed. “A short time after that came the friend's arm around Jake and the whisper to the ear. Then, the whole block before they got to West 12th Street," said the onlooker, J.G. & A.N. did a little digital dance. "Oh so cute!”

Photos: IHJ, Austin Media

Out Spotlight XXXXII

Today's Out Spotlight is Annie Leibovitz. Leibovitz has become on the most famous portrait photographers in the world. Her unique style vision and approach has put her in a class of her own.

Born in 1949 the third child of six to a dance instructor and a U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel, Annie Leibovitz became interested in photography after taking pictures during her time in the Philippines as an Air Force brat where her father was assigned at the time of the Vietnam War. For several years, she continued to develop her photography skills while she worked various jobs, including a stint on a kibbutz in Israel for several months in 1969.

In 1967, there was small magazine beginning in the San Francisco area, called Rolling Stone. After Annie returned to the U.S. in 1970 she began taking pictures for Rolling Stone, and in 1973 was named by publisher Jann Wenner as chief photographer of Rolling Stone. Leibovitz worked for the magazine until 1983, and her intimate photographs of celebrities helped define the Rolling Stone look.

Strongly influence by her mother's background in dance she tried to capture movement in her photographs. Later she reinvented portrait photography by collaborating between her and subjects creating inventive personal person portraits.

Since 1983, Leibovitz has worked as a featured portrait photographer for Vanity Fair.

Leibovitz had relationship with writer Susan Sontag until Sontag's death. Although they never lived to together they had apartment that look into the other's. They never acknowledge what their relation ship was but when Leibovitz was interviewed for her 2006 book A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005, she said the book told a number of stories, and that "with Susan, it was a love story."

Leibovitz acknowledged that she and Sontag were romantically involved. When asked why she used terms like "companion" to describe Sontag, instead of more specific ones like "partner" or "lover," Leibovitz finally said that "lover" was fine with her. She later repeated the assertion in stating to the San Francisco Chronicle: "Call us 'lovers'. I like 'lovers.' You know, 'lovers' sounds romantic. I mean, I want to be perfectly clear. I love Susan.

Leibovitz has three children Sarah Cameron Leibovitz was born in 2001 when Leibovitz was 51 years old and her twins Susan and Samuelle were born to a surrogate mother in May 2005.

While Susan spoke with words, Annie speaks in pictures. Here are the tiniest glimpse of her work over the years.









Annie Leibovitz: American Masters
Annie Leibovitz : NPR
Salon.com article

Happy 1st Anniversary to Austin Nichols Journal and Spooky2th!
Check it out.

Bone to Pick

The Bone

All this talk about fighting it's ridiculous. Come on. Look at me I'm laid back, easy going, rolling with it. I know how to work Hollywood, it's not New York.

Who's gonna pick a fight with Frank Sinatra? I mean who messes with a bulldog name after a guy who says "I've got chunks of guys like you in my stool." No disrespect he's old he's 12 - that's 84 to you guys. Who fights with guys as old as Ed McMahon And he's Ryan's dog. He wanted a bulldog name Frank Sinatra. Ryan's cool, Frank's cool. Everyone's cool

Now Coco Chanel - the French bulldog - wearing pearls? Who does she think she is, and pearls for walks? Who does that?

And damn where's Chi Chi? Cause I haven't seen that Chihuahua around at all.

....Wag the dog



The Pick

Has to be Austin City Limits. It brings rock, indie, blues, world/ethnic contemporary and traditional, reggae, eclectic, fusion, electronic, soul, folk/Americana and almost all other music fans for three days, three stages and over a hundred bands. With Dallas, San Antonio and Houston are each within a 3 hour drive of Austin and having no similar events Austin is the place to be. And where else than the "world capital of live music".



Last's year ACL was all kinds of hot. With temps way above the average 88F for late September for Austin, an ignited propane tank that caused an explosion, and of course a shirtless Austin Nichols sighting with ring around his neck and shorts so low they can only be described as limbo (As is in how low do they go?) Do you really need to see that picture again today?

Don't know if this years can compete with that but if you want to check it out, go here for the live webcasts, sounds, pics and blogs from this year's ACL.

Pictures: WDW, Just Jared, Flicker

Abs(olutely) Fabulous

A is for abs. F is for Fabulous. But today it might be a double F kind of day, because on Austin Friday, because "fuckin' fabulous" always work.(Milch, Tedster take note)

The latest Ted points out that the Goose has got some abs that deserved his attention. Didn't need to tell OMG, that attention has been long going. Don't know maybe Ted just wants to see that picture from last years Austin City Limits too.

Inform(er)ation Please

"The time is the early eighties. The characters go to the same schools and eat at the same restaurants. Their voices enfold us as seamlessly as those of DJ's heard over a car radio. They have sex with the same boys and girls and buy from the same dealers. In short, they are connected in the only way people can be in that city." - description of The Informers

As the Stiges Film Festival draws closer - next week! - we are still looking for more news about The Informers.

But it looks like paint and words and books and trailers may have to be the stand in for a little while longer before we get to see it.

"I have just been to the first screening of THE INFORMERS (see previous post).
It's going to be distributed in February in the US but I don't know yet the European dates.
It's good!!! It's dark and portraits the 80's as many of us remember them. Well, I was in Trieste, quite far from cruel Beverly Hills... " Daniel's Blog

Daniel Auber was the a part of the art department for The Informers working on conceptual design and storyboards. (see above) You can see more of his concept designs on his blog.

What does a February release mean all of you savy movie go'ers?
Do you think it's tied into the Mickey Rourke's Oscar buzz?
Or is it going to get that limited release label and find us searching for the DVD late spring and summer?

One more Informers mention, this one on MTV's movie blog, and talking about Billy Bob Thorton and his "sort of" retirement from acting. It mentions that he has a small cameo in The Informers. Now what we know from the book is that he's a A movie producer, he divorces his wife Laura (Kim Bassinger) for TV newsreader Cheryl Laine,(Winona Ryder) only to later become estranged from her as well. As for Austin's connection - well we can see from the trailer he seems to know Laura, a bit. (ahem)

Although Billy Bob and Mickey don't cross paths in Informers, can you imagine Mickey in a scene with Billy Bob and Kim - oh can't go there because it is spiraling into a back water Ozark Sling Blade meets 9 1/2 weeks with some dark Angel Heart - woo that's getting close to crossing into Bret Easton Ellis' mind.

Bush Wacked

What is the old adage? A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush?

Seem like our twosome have the ability to confuse those who are known as Bush or playing them.

First up, Sophia Bush who was linked to Jake at one point, and now the stories are popping up again about her linked with Austin, especially amongst the One Tree Hill fans who are asking how many of her co-stars has she been with.

Of course Sophia put those rumors to rest a long while ago in February 2006 saying "We all met up on a hike and, apparently, I'm with both of them," she says of the tabloid buzz. "If I have to be in the company of men, I'm glad it's those two." Now if they all met up on a hike when was that? Why are there pictures on a beach? Have the twosome's charisma that much that she doesn't know where she's at? Or were the pictures just another day at the beach? ; )

Of course hanging out at the Beatrice Inn during Fashion Week last February doesn't quell the rumors among OTH fans that she an Austin were once an item. What is it about February and Sophia? One thing a lot of the OTH fans don't know is that Sophia and Austin both attended USC around the same time.



And the second?
Well that would be the former first lady of Texas, well actually the actress who is playing her. Elizabeth Banks, plays Laura Bush in Oliver Stone's new movie "W" You might know her from 40 yr Old Virgin or the Spiderman triology , she is also starring in Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

And this time its Jake's turn.

On her most mortifying moment in Hollywood:

“Oh God, there are a few. But Jake Gyllenhaal once approached me in a valet line, and I thought he thought I was someone else. I was confused and frosty and I’m sure I was very off-putting, and he had to remind me that we had met, that we had done a partial reading of Romeo and Juliet, I don’t have a good memory for names and faces, so my husband now calls it ‘The Gyllenhaal.’ Like if we go to some luncheon and meet new people, he tells me, ‘Don’t Gyllenhaal these people.’”

Somehow ‘The Gyllenhaal’ means something totally different to Jake and Austin.

Wonderfalls

For the first full day of fall:


"I especially love messing with Austin."

"He was always making faces at me, trying to crack me up,"

"It usually worked too. I was trying to be all serious and I'd see him sticking his tongue out and I'd lose it."
"He'll do a take and I'll say, 'you're not really going to do that are you?' "


"There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!"

Percy Bysshe Shelley(1792-1822)

Thanks Spooky and Hjulia for the YM articles. (YM April 2004, YM June 2004)

Shifted Sand?

You know without your wig and a shirt on you kind of look like Bob Hope.
Well with that outfit and the hat in this light you might pass for Bing Crosby.
Damn Disney's make up department does good.
Hey stop. You know you shouldn't. And you need a shave.
What?
I know they're good disguises and you know I love PDA , but .....
I'm not doing anything.
If you're not, then who needs a shave?


Why are we messing with pictures like this when more old pictures of Jake and Austin appeared over the weekend. And some of Austin on his own too. Picture finds of them are like when you pull a jacket out that you haven't worn in a while, put your hand in the pocket and find money. A surprise find that makes your day. (Thanks Spooky and IHJ)





Now it sounds like Jake's gone gone gone and ready to go green. Green screen that is, in Pinewood Studios in England. And PoP is using over six square mile of Pinewood soundstages to recreate 6th century Persia.

The last time Jake did major green screen work it was with a tall Texan in that "small budget/small box office" movie some of you may have heard called The Day After Tomorrow. Jake's imaginination seems to have no bounds, and bet he's tapping that little boy in him as he's saying 'The mystical dagger of time is going to save us all!'.

Now here's a question for you. Will Jake hold Gemma in a clench to save her from swirling sand that compares with the one he used to save Austin from fast moving ice?



PS: All the music this week will be from artists who will be playing at Austin City Limits this weekend. Check it out!

Out Spotlight XXXXI

Tonight are the Emmy awards here in the U.S. and what a perfect day for today's Out Spotlight. Neil Patrick Harris.

NPH has done something that no one, actors, executives, agents and others thought was impossible: an openly gay man playing a skirt chasing womanizer, being a spokesman with major endorsement deals, and being one of the faces of his television network.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 15, 1973, Neil grew up the second son of two lawyers in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and found his way into acting after following his older brother to an audition. His first role? Toto in a school production of the Wizard of Oz.

While many think of his first role is that of young doctor Doogie Howser, in Doogie Houser M.D., his first roles wer in 1988, when he starred in two movies: the film Clara's Heart, a drama with Whoopi Goldberg that won him a Golden Globe nomination, and Purple People Eater, a children's move. It was in 1989 that NPH got the role in Doogie Howser, M.D., for which he was again nominated for a Golden Globe. After Doogie Howser's four-season run ended in 1993.

After Doogie, he took time to do other things, but never left performing. Taking on some guest roles on television series, before taking his first film role as an adult in 1995 in the little-seen shocker Animal Room. Other film included supporting roles in The Next Best Thing, Undercover Brother, Starship Troopers and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, in which he played a drug-crazed, lecherous parody of himself.

But Broadway had a calling for NPH and he answer that as well. Working on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played Tobias Ragg in 2001 concert performances of Sweeney Todd. In 2002, he performed on Broadway beside Anne Heche in Proof. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in Cabaret, alongside Deborah Gibson and Tom Bosley. As a result of his critically acclaimed performance in Cabaret, Harris was named the top drawing headliner in the role of the Emcee by GuestStarCasting.com, topping fellow celeb stars John Stamos and Alan Cumming. In 2004, he performed a dual role of the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald on Broadway in the controversial musical revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. He also sang the role of Charles (first played by Anthony Perkins) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's Evening Primrose. He has also portrayed Mark Cohen in the musical RENT.

In 2005 went back to weekly television in CBS's ensemble sitcom How I Met Your Mother, playing a serial womanizer Barney Stinson which earned him a 2007 and a 2008 Emmy nomination. Tonight we will see if Emmy nominated Neil Patrick Harris will become Emmy award winner Neil Patrick Harris.

Neil is a great comedian,great guest on talk shows, and competitor on game shows. NPH just seems to love to perform and have fun. He is a regular fill in guest host for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly. He also was the co-host of this years Science and Technical Awards of the Emmy's.

During Neil's career and transition from child to adult actor, he was also growing from boy to man, there were never any child star gone wild moments for him. He is one of handful of child stars in became a well adjusted adult performer with his priorities and outlook solid. But it was not without scandal or what some tried to make into a scandal. In 2006, the website Canada.com ran a story about NPH being gay it was immediately downplayed by his publicist Craig Snyder insisting "He's not of that persuasion. While many in Hollywood would let what their publicist say be their voice, and not say anything, Neil did just the opposite, he wanted to make people knew he was not denying being gay. He came forward and not only negated his publicit statements, but acknowledge that gay rumors and said that he was gay in an exclusive to People magazine.

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships.

"So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

Looking back on the situation in an interview with Ellen De Generes, he said: "There was a little of media scrutiny heading my way. People were starting to ask for stories of other people that may have fooled around with me, and the last thing you want to do is talk about your private life based on scandal. "I'm not a very scandalous person and so I didn't want to have to respond to some story, whether it was lie or truth - so I just made a statement and sort squashed the fires." And since his announcement, Harris has been delighted with the public response, revealing, "For me that is the greatest ending to the story so far - that nothing really has changed at all. "I'm doing nothing different and people aren't behaving differently towards me. ... People heard and they're like 'Yeah, and?' That attitude, I think, was great."

He and his long time partner fellow David Burtka. Neil and David attended the 2007 Emmys together last September as an openly acknowledged gay couple for the first time. Neil and David have been together since 2004. Harris refers to Burtka as "My better half" and an "amazing chef."

Something you might not know about NPH is that he is now one of America's top magicians, after he was voted onto the board of the Illustrious Magic Castle. NPH has been into for years - and now sits with the top tricksters at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, the home of the Academy of Magic Arts. His appointment to the board of directors is very significa - he is the first celebrity to be receive the honor since Cary Grant.

"I’m a magician at heart, so smoke and mirrors is great. The idea of smoke and mirrors tends to suggest suppression and the idea that you don’t want people to know about who you really are, but as an actor you kind of do want people to not know who you really are. I think it was nice to have a bit of a smoke screen in a way."

"(I) am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest."



Neil and David singing Part 2

NPH: Out Magazine (article)

NPH: Live with Regis & Kelly

NPH: Sesame Street Shoe Fairy

NPH: Spoofing Doogie Howser M.D. for Old Spice

NPH: Harold & Kumar (NSFW)

NPH: Barney Stinson - Legendary

OMG's JFC Discussion

Episode 1 : "His Visit: Day One"

In the beginning…..

Introductions, Levitations, Resurrections. "The End is Near." "I don’t know Butchie instead."

John. Who is he? Why is he here? Where did he come from?

First impressions of Mitch, Cissy, Shaun and Butchie, Bill and his birds, Link, Cass, Kai, Vietnam Joe, Ramon, Dickstein, Barry. The Snug Harbor.

Symbolism or influences in the first episode?

What did you think about the story? The actors ? The images?

Don't forget the surfing.

Favorite quotes? Favorite scenes? Favorite Characters?

And hey is anyone keeping track of the swear jar for Ep.1 and the series?

Need to check out something for a JFC reference: Calamity Dan's JFC section a great resource.