I’m at JFK waiting for a flight to Heathrow. The annual pilgrimage to London, Leeds and Denmark has begun. I hope you all have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday.

Every year the White House releases a Christmas video starring the President’s Scottish Terrier, Barney. This year a certain former British Prime Minister makes an embarrassing cameo appearance. Oh dear.

All this for just $2. It’s no wonder the MTA is considering raising prices. (Full story here.)

There’s a profile of me over at Normblog today.

A thought-provoking exchange between Martin Amis and John Snow on Channel Four News.

Part One

Part Two

(Via A Brooklyn Lad, who had a very interesting visit to a dance fitness class in Chelsea recently.)

The other week I played the Scrabble game to end all Scrabble games. Before you jump out of your chair and whoop for joy, I apologize profusely for this blatantly egotistical, and somewhat geeky, post. But if you like playing Scrabble, and judging by the number of friends who have challenged me to a game on Scrabulous lately that’s an awful lot of people, then you will understand.

As you can see above, I scored 627 points. That includes four bingos (when you use all seven tiles and score a bonus 50 points) and a triple triple (an eight-letter word that covers two triple word scores and scores 3 x 3 plus 50). And the best thing of all, it was against a more than worthy opponent—my best Scrabble buddy William.

My play of the game was HAPPIEST across the “P” in William’s PRONATES that scored 202 points. But there were other highlights, such as bingos DEBUTING, LINGERIES, LEAKILY, and my penultimate 42-pointer GRIFT.

I’m losing my current game with William, so it looks like my Scrabble roll is coming to an end. But at least this screen grab allows me to relive my 627-pointer…again and again and again. Your move, William.

Today in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

It’s December 1, the start of one month of feasting, candle lighting, ice skating and present giving. For insecure Jewish parents fretting over teaching their kids how to light the Chanukah candles this year, your days of worry are over. The genius that is the Jewish Robot has created a handy animation, the first in a series, that will set everyone’s mind at rest. EiNY is proud to present, the adventures of Todd and God. And even prouder to disclose that he had a very small hand in the theme tune. Enjoy. And Happy Holidays!