California's Drought Divide _ Rainy North, Dry South

By DONNA EDWARDS It’s holiday season, but that doesn’t have to mean waiting in long lines for big sales to buy the hottest toy or newest game system. Whether you’re a parent, relative, teacher, librarian or just a friend to a young person, consider a book that you can enjoy together. Preschool — “I Like Your Chutzpah And Other Yiddish Words You’ll Like” Sweet, funny and infinitely readable, this board book contains 12 Yiddish words and their meanings, each accompanied by a simple, colorful illustration that will inspire fun reading voices.

By LINDSEY BAHR Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s Cinematrix game every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to Turner Classic Movies all day and make a point of organizing Oscar polls at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile. But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the “Juror No.

By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all.

“Gladiator II” asks the question: Are you not moderately entertained for roughly 60% of this sequel? Truly, this is a movie dependent on managed expectations and a forgiving attitude toward its tendency to overserve. More of a thrash-and-burn schlock epic than the comparatively restrained 2000 “Gladiator,” also directed by Ridley Scott, the new one recycles a fair bit of the old one’s narrative cries for freedom while tossing in some digital sharks for the flooded Colosseum and a bout of deadly sea-battle theatrics.

With Thanksgiving and the holiday feasting season on the horizon, you may have already made a few grocery runs to pick up the basics for your cooking spree. But there’s still time to pick up the perfect beer pairings for your seasonal feast. Perhaps you’re wondering why you might want to find the ideal beer for your holiday meal.

This flavor-packed sweet potato dish is for those who like to veer from the traditionalThanksgiving dishes and leave a lasting impression. Sweet potatoes coated with tahini,cumin and lemon adorn a billowy bed of Greek yogurt and feta. Studded with crimson pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs, it’s a colorful, flavorful winner. Whether served as a side for a holiday meal or as a satisfying main for a vegetarian feast, this easy dish is one that will be remembered. I like to use a variety of sweet potatoes — yams, Japanese sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes — to showcase different colors and textures.