Shin and Gimel

Jake

Don't think you get a free pass because its your birthday, you have to deal with some blonde chick, Austin just celebrates Christmas, or you are like some prince or something, you got some work to do mister.

Who else is going to show your goy boy what the Festival of Lights is all about? Teach him all about the Maccabees? Who's going to explain what Nes Gadol Haya Sham—"A great miracle happened there" has to do with the dreidel? Who's going to make latkes, or at least explain the nuisances of sour cream vs. apple sauce? You. That's who. So get your Hannukah on. Since there's only so many ways to sing Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel, why not do some music. By the way no fixed dreidels! This is not all Gimel (take all) there's got to be some Shin too (put in).

Should you go with the classic - like Sol Zim, Yeah, he does have that Children's Chanukah cd, that could work. But how about something a little back in the day? Like the Joy of Chanukah, how can you go wrong with Sol? He's the descendant of five generations of cantors, and self proclaimed America's Best Loved Jewish Singer. You just may have to both work on your Hebrew to sing along.

Or go with something retro, like Ray Brenner and Barry E. Blitzer, Have a Jewish Christmas…?, 1967. This classic album includes such seasonal favorites as “Tanta and the Tree,” Christmas Machers” and called “Shut Up, Irving.” It's kind of a bridge to the blending wouldn't you say?


Then you've gotta give a gift at least for the first night. Sure you could give some really nice cashmere socks (Hanukkah Harry approved) or slacks (another good HH gift) but you know you going to be using them yourself. "Hey they were in the drawer, on the hanger, in my bag."

But Christmas is his biggie so hopefully you already picked the big stuff up in all your travels these past few months - London, Paris, Morocco, but just in case you need some stocking stuffers, (cause you know he's got yours):

You love your Disco Duck shirt he got you, so give back the love with "Say Yes to Michigan" tee or "Sparky the Sun Devil".

How about something smooth and seductive? Maybe the Ray Barbee Meets Mattson 2 CD? Mattson 2 creates some lush jazz and teamed up with Ray Barbee in Japan to make an incredible album. Definitely one to put on and unwind with a nice bottle of wine, no phone, no paps, just some serious private time.

You know accessories make the man - especially yours so how about some, maybe Horny cuff links (made from fallen deer antlers) or Nickels ones, or maybe gold handsewn tie with a rounded off end something a little different for your golden guy (Better living through chemistry - periodically speaking of course).

Or just a reminder of a sleepy but smirky morning with a baby owl pendant?


No doubt you'll cook, as you fatten up from all these lean months, but don't forget Austin loves a good taco truck, maybe give him a little adventure as you try to track down from twitter where the Kogi BBQ truck is going to be. Hey getting there and back is half the fun.

Don't forget he's got a birthday in the Spring, maybe book the loft now at the new Ace Hotel in NY. A little rocker vibe like the one in Portland, but with a serious nod to NYC. You know all the cool kids will want to stay there and you could get a little jump ... on it and ....

Ok leaving the Festivus stuff for you to figure out. The pole, the airing of grievances, and the feats of strength - just remember Festivus isn't over until someone gets pinned.

OMG Season of Sharing

Water for People

Founded in 1991, Water For People (WFP) helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs. Their vision is a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation; a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease. Water For People works with highly trained and reputable local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in many of its programs including the Peace Corps, CARE, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Rotary International to name a few. In addition to these groups, Water For People considers municipalities, the community members themselves and donors as vital partners in facilitating sustainable water programs.

Want to say thanks again Hjulia for the interview -- check it out on her site Austin Media or at the OTH section on MyFanbase. Big Gold star for you girl!

Shop till you Drop

Hey Austin -

You have less than 5 days, and you have to get Jake a birthday gift, then's there Hanukkah starting on Sunday and then you've got Christmas a week from Thursday. And you have get presents from not just from you anymore. So many gifts so little time. And whaddya got so far- what? some gelt, the Lifesavers candy story, a book of NY Times crosswords puzzles and an "I got crabs" t-shirt from Wilmington? You've gotta lot of work to do. And we know you can't just throw a party or send of over an autographed picture of you and your Oscar signed To Jake Jillenhall - Sincerely Reese Witherspoon, with a Type A Productions post it attached to saying "By the Way - 360 says, I'm still your Girlfriend. Happy Holidays, LJRW/eg" and two passes to Four Christmases.

So OMG here's to help you with some ideas:


Lakers Tickets - Christmas Day - Lakers vs. the Celtics - at the TD BankNorth "Gahden"
LA has the best record in the Western Conference and Boston well, Boston the reigning champs and have one of their best starts in 25 years. Hey its close to the Vineyard, close to NY, close to Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont for snow skiing and you could get a white Christmas out it. And nobody will make a big deal courtside or up in one of the suites.


Then there's always Cook Books

The Food Life (Ecco; $29.95), NYC's Fairway's master buyer Steven Jenkins tells his and the store’s story with recipes by Fairway Café chef Mitchel London. Totally for the food lovers' food lover.

Urban Italian (Bloomsbury; $35), Andrew Carmellini did what no New York chef has ever done: He started cooking in his tiny apartment kitchen.What came out of it were great recipes and a terrific series of vignettes.

Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient With Recipes (Ten Speed Press; $32.50), Jennifer McLagan sets out to prove what our ancestors instinctively knew: that fat is good for you (not to mention delicious), and offers some science and history to back it up

or

Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin (Knopf; $24.95), the dyspeptic fry cook reveals all, including why cooking is like sex


You could go with clothes. How about two, two, two in looks in one?

Kinda a LumberJake meets PoP Locks

How about a flannel hoodie by Obesity and Speed, for $115 special order at Seven New York, (Mercer St., nr. Spring St). It covers him and his hair - however he cuts it when he gets home, and the dark hoodie comes in handy when ducking in and out when he doesn't want really be seen.

Or accessories he got to wear all that fun stuff on PoP, he might miss it and need some new stuff.

Maybe something for that chain? Like a 24 karat Texas charm, and with a diamond in its capital. Where is that? Austin? and isn't diamond its the birthstone for April?

Or maybe another ring - something subtle - like numbers instead of letters - like 512?












Of course you could just name it and claim it and make sure everyone knows what's what and who's who's with this Austin Nichols Belt Buckle.



Then again you could just buy a bow and you got it all taken care of.



OMG Season of Sharing

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. They work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. With more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and they coordinate support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.

Begun in 1961, British lawyer Peter Benenson launched a worldwide campaign, ‘Appeal for Amnesty 1961’ with the publication of a prominent article, ‘The Forgotten Prisoners’, in The Observer newspaper. The imprisonment of two Portuguese students, who had raised their wine glasses in a toast to freedom, moved Benenson to write the article. His appeal was reprinted in other papers across the world and turned out to be the genesis of Amnesty International.

This year Amnesty celebrated Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th.