10 Years Today

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Brokeback Mountain.

It's hard to believe it has been that long, and at the same time it seems a lifetime ago.  We praised the progress that had been made at that time.  Looking at today we see how far we've come -and much further we need to go.

Brokeback was groundbreaking when it came out, now it is one of  most iconic LGBTQ film of all time. Even those who never saw the movie, know about Brokeback.

At the heart of it, a love story that all can relate to, trapped in a time and place full of prejudice, hatred and non-acceptance of what Ennis and Jack shared.  Today in America, same sex couples have the same rights as all couples.

It was Heath's finest performance, and a performance of Jake's that resonated from his truth.

 It can never be recreated but is capture for the ages.

Brokeback was much more than a movie,  it was moment on the timeline of progress.

 Happy Hanukkah

SURPRISE!

Some people think a new post is as surprising as Jake being spotted in a Walmart in Arizona.

It's a Hanukkah Miracle!

HAPPY HANUKKAH!!

Bzzzzy for Christmas

Don't think OMG Santa has gone out the window.

Of course there will always be the fun gift list for both the boys. And in the spirit of overindulgence it will be three posts at once.  One for the tall Texas tweeter, one Jakey  and one fit for whole crew.

Up first:  The  lad who gets latkes and Christmas lattes.  -

Austin listen up here are some last minute things to grab and put on under the tree or next to the menorrah.

Here's some salt, some Himalayan salt. To cook on.  So Jake can talk about his study of salt from years ago and the background research he did Everest while he makes dinner.

Or he might want to have the whole Spice World with him.  (What Spice Girl wouldn't?)

People of the world
Spice up your life, aahh

Austin you've got no time.  Maybe Mario's got a couple copies of these lying around to personalize for the cookbook collector.

Farm to table,  right up Jake's alley.

And Jake can still have a garden in the city. With gardens in a jar.

And what's a garden without bees,  so for the newest  beekeeper on Broadway, beehives for juice 

and cookies

and of course honey

 Every kind of honey you need.  Including tea.

And with honey comes tea.....

And when does Jake say no to another tea set?

 Even silicone ones.

And to add to the growing collection from years of presents:

 And sometimes you need to go practical:

Like getting Jake a new pair of boots,  and maybe in a kicky color like inky blue this time.

A t-shirt that is something different than plain old grey.

Ok Kale yeah indeed.


And of course Jake needs a sweater, maybe something a little bit gramps, and Mr. Rogers thrown in.  Designer of course. Only the best for your Gooberballs.

You can't have Christmas without something from Texas. And here's something to keep that beard under control.  A  handmade in leather shave rollup from The Lone Star state.

 And of course an artisan My Little Pony.

 Happy Hanukkah!!

Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight was a soldier and activist, and the first person to fight discrimination against gays and lesbians in the U.S. military. Today's Spotlight is Sgt. Leonard Matlovich.

A a self-described "Air Force brat" who wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, an Air Force master sergeant, Leonard Matlovich at 19 enlisted and volunteered for Vietnam. He served three tours of duty, earning the Bronze Star for bravery, the Purple Heart, and an Air Force commendation.

Matlovich was an unlikely champion of gay rights. Religiously and politically conservative, he was brought up in a Catholic family and converted to Mormonism as he attempted to control his homosexual inclinations through strict religious beliefs.

He remained closeted in the gay-excluding military. But in March 1975, the decorated 12-year veteran handed his commanding officer a letter stating that "my sexual preferences are homosexual as opposed to heterosexual" and requesting a waiver of the military's anti-gay policies because of his exemplary service record.

The Office of Special Investigations declared him unfit for military service and recommended that he be discharged. His challenge to the ruling thrust him into the glare of headlines. The New York Times wrote about him, NBC made a television movie, and in 1975, Matlovich became the first openly gay person to be on the cover of Time Magazine.

In 1980, a federal judge ordered the Air Force to reinstate Matlovich with back pay. The Air Force negotiated a settlement with him and the federal court's ruling was vacated when he agreed to drop the case in exchange for a tax-free payment of $160,000.

After his case passed from the headlines, Matlovich became active in gay rights and AIDS organizations. In 1986, he was diagnosed with AIDS. When he died in June 1988, he was buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC with full military honors.

His headstone does not bear his name; it reads simply "A Gay Vietnam Veteran." The words "Never Again" and "Never Forget" are chiseled beneath two triangles. Below them are these words:

"When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."

 Happy Hanukkah!

Snow Men

What would be December without a little snow? Or a lot for that matter.

There is plenty at Everest.

The real Everest, yes.

But what about movie Everest?

From looks of it, it appears Jake and Josh Brolin's teams are both plenty snowed.

Universal Pictures released a first look from ‘Everest,’ which is set to be released in 3D and IMAX 3D on September 18th in the US and October 2nd in the UK. While the snow might not be real, the movie's story is:

Inspired by the incredible events surrounding a treacherous attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, ‘Everest’ documents the journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.

 Happy Hanukkah!!

One two THREE FOUR

Jake - it's the big 34!

While a magic number in physics, it also is connected to a Miracle that happens around this time each year, all about believing.

And just like for Kris Kringle, we believe about you too.

So despite all the different looks this year:

The one that capture us most was the most genuine of grins returning

The delight of those dimples

And the hope of things to come.

We wish you a yearful of miracles, and hope for a future that lets you show off that genuine you that still shines when you let it.

Happy Birthday Jakey!!!

Don't worry Birthday Boy - we know it's Hanukkah too.

 

So for OMG's special fella a combo  Hanukkah Birthday Gift