Holy Guacamole

So you call yourself #2 huh?

Let it be known that I am the 2nd best guacamole maker in the world. I am making some today for the #superbowl

Then come on then Mr. Nichols spill it! Share your secrets.

Now someone in your house may have to pull out the Molcajete - proper tools for the authenticity of the dish, of course bet you're more like this (well with maybe a different choice in tequila)


And when did you become such a whiz in the kitchen?


Have you been sous'ing a chef?

And speaking of home cooking, someone trying their hand at some southern classics? That the reason for all those trips to TN?

Maybe Austin's time in NC has giving inspiration in all rooms of the house.

You want me to what?

Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight was an anti-apartheid, gay rights and AIDS activist in South Africa
As the founder of South Africa's black gay movement, which he linked with the anti-apartheid fight of the time. His prominent profile in the campaign for freedom for the black citizens and his association with anti-apartheid's leaders were instrumental in gaining recognition for gay rights in his country. As an AIDS educator and organizer of South Africa's pride celebrations, he worked to unite black and white gay communities in a common cause across the country. Today's Out Spotlight is Tseko Simon Nkoli.

Tseko Simon Nkoli was born in Soweto (outside of Johannesburg) on November 26, 1957. At that time South Africa was under apartheid law which which control and imposed severe limitations on his family's and other black South African's lives. He told the story, that at age nine, he locked his parents in a wardrobe/cabinet so they could escape detection from police enforcing the pass laws, which restricted where blacks could live. The experience left a powerful impression that he used later on as a metaphor for living a closeted life.

Nkoli spent much of his childhood with his grandparents, low-income tenant farmers on a white-owned estate. He craved education and, against the resistance of the landowner and his grandfather who needed his labor, snuck away whenever he could to attend the rural schools. Eventually he rejoined his mother and stepfather in the Sebokeng township to continue his education.

As a teenager he recognized he had feelings for other men. Identifying as a gay man was confusing because the seSotho word for homosexual is sitabane, which implies hermaphrodite. At 18 he came out to his mother, who took him to a priest and a series of local healers or sangomas who attempted, unsuccessfully, to argue him out of it. At 19 he met his first lover, a white bus driver named Andre, through a pen pal magazine.

Both mothers of both opposed the relationship, Nkoli's because it was a same sex relationship and Andre's because it was biracial. Simon's mother arranged for him to see a psychologist, who turned out to be gay and assured him that his orientation was perfectly natural. Matters came to a head when the lovers made a suicide pact if they couldn't be together. Nkoli's mother learned of it and intervened. They were able to live together once they became college students in Johannesburg. Even then, however, to conform to enforced segregation, he had to pose as Andre's domestic worker.

Nkoli's anti-apartheid activism began when he was arrested four times in the student rebellions of 1976. In 1979 he joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and became secretary for the Transvaal region. When his homosexuality became known, it was debated among his fellows within the organization whether he should be allowed to remain his post in the organization. They voted yes.

After his relationship with Andre ended, he found few resources for gay people of color. Most gay venues, excepting a few cruising areas, were in districts reserved for whites. In 1983 his allegiances in racial and sexual identity politics intersected: he came out in an interview in the City Press, a black newspaper an joined the virtually all-white Gay Association of South Africa (GASA), which maintained an apolitical distance from the apartheid struggle. Getting little support within GASA for advocating that they relocate their social activities away from whites-only facilities, in May of 1984 he started The Saturday Group, South Africa's first gay black organization. It was short-lived, however, because Nkoli's political life soon took a dramatic turn.

In the 80s his student activism resulted in his joining the African National Congress and the United Democratic Front. In 1984 he helped establish the Vaal Civic Association to undertake tenant organizing in the Delmas township. He and 21 others from the UDF were arrested after a march protesting government-imposed rent hikes and charged with "subversion, conspiracy, and treason," crimes subject to the death penalty.

The "Delmas Trial" lasted four years. While in the Pretoria Central Prison, Nkoli came out to his comrades during discussions of prison sex. This action and the debates it inspired prompted UDF leaders such as co-defendants Popo Molefe and Patrick Lekota to recognize homophobia as a form of oppression.

During the trial, proof of his attendance at a GASA meeting was a crucial point in countering the prosecution, which had tried to place him at the scene of a murder. This defense was also a public coming out and brought the Delmas Trial to the attention of the international gay rights groups. He received letters of support, especially from European activists, were an important demonstration of solidarity. Ironically, GASA had withheld its support during the trial. Acquitted in 1988 and he and the rest of the "Vaal 22" were freed. Now seeing an even greater need, upon his release helped found the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of Witwatersrand (GLOW), the first large black-based GLBTQ organization in South Africa. Beginning in 1990, GLOW organized the country's first three pride marches and became the model for several other gay groups in the black townships.

However, during his imprisonment, he learned that he was HIV positive.

Nkoli continued his participation in the ANC, he met with Nelson Mandela in 1994. His visibility in the anti-apartheid movement is credited in winning the ANC's support for gay rights and that that translated into major milestones once the ANC gained power. In 1996 South Africa became the first nation to include "sexual orientation" in its constitution's anti-discrimination clause. From that came striking down sodomy laws and the recognition of gay relationships.

In 1990 he became one of the first South African activists to publicly acknowledge his HIV-positive status. He co-founded the Township AIDS Project (TAP) and the Gay Men's Health Forum, working to bring AIDS education and counseling to disadvantaged populations. He was also a founding member of both the Positive African Men's Project and the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (now the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project), as well as a board member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association.

Playful and irreverent,he inspired the devotion of South African progressives from all backgrounds and drew an international following. A 1989 speaking tour of Europe, Canada, and the United States raised $35,000 for TAP.

After becoming one of the first publicly HIV-positive African gay men, he initiated the Positive African Men group based in central Johannesburg. He had been infected with HIV for around 12 years, and had been seriously ill, on and off, for the last four. He died of AIDS in a Johannesburg hospital on November 30, 1998.

A memorial at St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral was followed by a funeral in Sebokeng attended by many of the glbtq and anti-apartheid movements' leaders. The September 1999 Pride march was dedicated to him and included a stop at the newly named "Simon Nkoli Corner" at the intersection of Pretoria and Twist Streets in Johannesburg.

There is a Simon Nkoli Street in Amsterdam and a Simon Nkoli Day in San Francisco. He opened the first Gay Games in New York and was made a freeman of that city by mayor David Dinkins. In 1996 Nkoli was given the Stonewall Award in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Canadian filmmaker John Greyson made a short film about Nkoli titled A Moffie Called Simon in 1987. He was the subject of Robert Colman's 2003 play, "Your Loving Simon" and Beverley Ditsie's 2002 film "Simon & I". John Greyson's 2009 film Fig Trees, a hybrid documentary/opera also includes reference to Nkoli's activism

His papers are at the Gay and Lesbian Archives of South Africa include his letters from prison, which became the basis for "Your Loving Simon." and Simon & I provides a loving portrait of his final years.

Simon Nkoli made a difference not to just the GLBTQ community in South Africa, but for all Southe Africans, and for GLBTQ communities around the world.

Cough it up

And you thought it would be turn your head and cough post didn't you.

Landing in NY under the weather Wednesday night he is the poster boy for what not to do when you cough.


Maybe he had too many Rescue Remedy drops on the way over to remember.


Maybe he needs to spend some more time watching his pal Elmo. Or some other tiny Texans might teach him the best way.



Then again Austin may have a twit pic to teach him.

Wait this wasn't supposed to be about turn your head and cough.

Ever the gentleman

As proud as Austin is of his parents, they are equally proud of him. Recently his dad gave an interview about his famous son to the medical journal Advances for Imaging & Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Nichols spoke about his famous son and when Austin went on Kimmel and gave a shout out to his dad at the hospital. It wasn't what Dad expected when he was watching it with his colleagues but took in all in good fun.

And how did Austin get his name? Well according to Papa Nichols it was this:

"He was born on April 24, 1980. Jimmy Carter was president, and he was losing public favor. The night Austin was born, someone let loose a wild turkey on the White House lawn. Also, all the Wild Turkey bourbon bottles say, 'Austin Nichols.' That's the brewery or distilling company. I went to school at the University of Texas, which is in Austin. I had very much enjoyed my time in Austin. We were thinking about the name. We did not know anyone named Austin. So when he was born, the wild turkey was let loose on the White House lawn and we accidentally saw a bottle of Wild Turkey at the same time, it was almost like an omen. I'm not sure how we saw the bottle--we weren't drinking it and we weren't drunk. It was just a few little coincidences that went together. He kind of acted like a wild turkey in the womb, and we decided, 'That's the name!' That's where the name came from. It had NOTHING to do with what he said on 'Kimmel.'"

While Papa Nichols doesn't chat with a lot of patients about his famous son, with employees it's a bit different. And it sounds like Austin stops by dad's office and the hospital to say hi.


"Most of my contact is with hospital employees--and yes, everyone knows that he is an actor. A lot of them follow it fairly closely. I try to keep them informed, because I'm proud of him. I keep pumping the information out, and they seem to legitimately enjoy it as much as I do. Employees will ask for a picture with an autograph--or when Austin comes into town, they ask if I can bring him into work to say, 'Hi.' It's been fun trying to handle those requests, and Austin's always been happy to go along with whatever I threw at him which I'm very proud of."



And what did Mama and Papa Nichols tell Austin before headed to Hollywood?

"As a matter of fact, the one piece of advice we gave to Austin when he said he wanted to go to Hollywood was, 'OK, Austin, that's fine--but the minute you turn weird on us, I'm going to come out there and whoop your you-know-what.' And he's always been a perfect gentleman."


Well weird is relative when it comes to Austin, both the place and the fella. Now the gentleman part? One question. How is the gentlemanly way to moon someone in a moving vehicle Mr. Nichols? Window up or down?

Now that Austin is finished his directorial duties, now it's time to relax and enjoy the Superbowl weekend. Might not have the time to go all the way home to LA, only if there was someone to hang out with on the East Coast this weekend. ....Wait wasn't Jake in NY last night for Three Sisters. Might have to stay indoors and nurse his fella back to good health.
Austin might have to get a jump on the weekend. ; )

Happy Austin Fridays!

... like rabbits?

While Jake is taking meetings in CA, Austin's in charge in NC.

Check him out out in action. Here he is previewing a scene with stand ins through his director's viewfinder. Not to be confused with a Viewmaster. (although OTH on Viewmaster might be more enjoyable)





Hospital, excitement and babies? But who's? Would it be Nathan and Haley's? Or will it be a baby for Julian and BrookeDavis(TM) via the new guest star?

Whoever's baby is on the screen it, it looks like they put the HDIC (Head Dad in Charge) in to take on this episode. Direct what you know .... ?

I'm directing? Having a baby? Can I do it?
Do I know what to do?

Getting some practice and some tips.

You know one of these markers is going home with him even "accidentally" Sure there is space right next to the giant Lego Dastan.

Happy Year of the Rabbit!
May you have a prosperous New Year.

Deja what a view

Can't have a Groundhog Day without a mention about Source Code. For the fact that relieving the same time over and over until you get it right, is right out of Bill Murray's hand book.

Now that Jake has time traveled three times, it is time to move on to changing characters. The word is that talk has resume over the remake of the movie Fletch with one of Murray's fellow Not Ready for Prime Time Players, Chevy Chase, and the article in The Hollywood Reporter mentions they are reimagining it. A Fletch remake has attracted interest in the past from Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, and Joshua Jackson. Jake has talked comedy and is one smooth talker... and Fletch is all that.

Fletch - Lakers Fantasy - watch more funny videos

Harvey (Weinstein) tell Jake he gets to do the dream sequence playing for the Lakers, and you could get him for scale, or better he'd even pay you.

But Fletch was never so handsome as this:

Jake looks every inch the movie star on the cover of Vanity Fair.

Devastating handsome. Smoldering. Does anyone any other man in the shot come close to Jake? Ryan Reynolds might have nabbed People's Sexiest this year, but he got schooled standing next to Jake.

Anyone else notice Jake's fancy footwork?

For a little peek behind the scenes at the photoshoot check this out.



The photoshoot was probably done in Decemeber, but it must have been late December, after his birthday and the holidays, because Jake is sporting that new watch he has proudly shown off since getting it.

Sunday night at the SAG awards, Natalie called Jake “...he’s the Cary Grant of our generation. He’s so charismatic, and so dapper and smart. He’s wonderful.”

So if Jake is Cary, then Austin must be Randy. Well... he does love westerns.
(Cary Grant Randolph Scott: A Love Story)



Jake is back out and about - Meeting in LA yesterday

Throw old shoes and cans... save the rice

From the sublime(yesterday) to the ridiculous...

It's wedding day in Tree Hill. And you know who is tying one on the knot. BrookeDavis(TM) might get a wedding but maybe not the wedding of her dreams but by God she is going make sure all the attention is on her. IT'S HER DAY! SHE DESERVES IT!!! She needs to look better than anyone there, so why not stack the deck. Here's BrookeDavis'(TM) tips for a perfect wedding. Pregnant maid of honor who will make you the bride look skinny. Kid as the best man, so short no one will see him and you don't have deal with your groom having strippers at the bachelor party, heck they won't get a bachelor party. And finally make sure they find the worst fitting tuxedo for your groom. It's your day and you paid enough for your dress, no one else matters.

Psst.. Run Julian, I'll do some stupid kid thing to distract them.

Junebug and Mama,
Salami Free Wedding - and no bees.

And when you say wedding and Tree Hill it means nothing but crazy drama, secrets and twist. So here are the top ten secrets that could be revealed at the wedding.

OMG's Crazy Tree Twists that are more plausible than anything seen on OTH.

10. Millie relapses at the reception and after 12 runs at the tequila shooter ice luge Coyote Ugly's on the head table at the reception.

9. Weddings mean hook ups. Mouth ends up as Chuck's wing man. Chuck scores!.... a flower girl.

8. Taylor Swift's tour bus breaks down in Tree Hill and is the Wedding Singer. "But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts"

7. Julian's evil twin sister Juliana comes to Tree Hill (dual role for Austin) as a rival fashion designer of BrookeDavis(TM). Alexis/Crystal cat fight in the fountain moment.

6.When asked if anyone objects to these two people getting married, Chad Michael Murray shows up as....... Nick Lachey. (Stay out of it Nick Lachey!)

5.MamaDavis and MotherBaker let it slip about their post Thanksgiving get together after a half dozen boxes of Franzia wine.

4.Haley going into labor during the ceremony? no. Quinn. For an episode of "I didn't know I was pregnant". The child is named "BrookeDavis". So touched BrookeDavis(TM) allows it without any trademark infringement.

3. Julian tells BrookeDavis(TM) he's Richie Rich rich, AFTER she signs the prenup for 64 bucks and a slighty used Kia.

2. The stoner dog who ate Dan's heart crashes the wedding and eats the entire buffet, the wedding cake and Julian's pants.

and the number one secret twist for the last OTH wedding:

Great Scott. Maury Povich reveals that Dan Scott is the father! of Julian, that is, from a secret affair. BrookeDavis(TM) has now slept with all the Scott boys.
Toss up do Maury for Crazy Tree:All in the Family, or sign the rights for Lifetime Movie Crazy Tree: Brotherly Love - The BrookeDavis(TM)Story