This is the easiest way you can give to a variety of Haitian Earthquake relief organizations.

Donate by text in the United States (these may work for international users as well).

• Red Cross: text the word Haiti to 90999 to donate 10$US instantly.
• Clinton Foundation’s Haiti Relief Fund: text HAITI to 20222 to donate 10$US instantly
• YELE:  text the word YELE to 501501 to donate 5$US instantly.
• Doctors Without Borders: text the word DOB to donate 5$US instantly.

Well, do not feel so gutted. We’ll be back soon enough with another series of giveaways to keep you all pleased. In the meantime here is the full list of winner from our Twitter Giveaway for Holiday 2009. Congrats to everyone who tweeted their brains out to get this gear. Many many thanks for your support!

The winners.

• Herman Miller Select Walnut Spinning Top – @iwasframed
• Byredo Eau de Parfum Adventure Set – @samarchibald
• Robert Geller for Levi’s Hooded Denim Parka – @jgombz
• PF Flyers Sumfun Hi-top Sneakers – @rocktogon
• MOMA Lace-up Boots – @tprettyman
• Comme Des Garcons Peacoat – @kylethomasadams
• Dry Bones D.Lewis Chambray Shirt -@shizon_g
• EMI Music Pack – @apinion
• Freeman Transport Pouch Set – @rodneyuhler
• Billykirk Flight Bag – @k_mitchell
• Jansport Heritage Series Backpacks – @wingtip_blog, @chris_miller, and @brionjudge

Texas tipple doesn’t get much press. And, in all honesty, it is probably because Shiner Bock is crap. (Note: I had a run in with a much larger lad in San Antonio after uttering that last bit of wisdom).

Shiner, luckily for all with any beer integrity, brews more than just the famed bock. Their Holiday Cheer could easily get an award for best dressed holiday drink. The nostalgic packaging has instant appeal, great type face, and the classic colors of winter celebration.

What’s behind the slick attire? “An old world Duckelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted peacans.” A gentle reminder of Texas’ German heritage (which accounts for fantastic sausages) and Kosmos Spoetzl’s desire to bring Bavarian brewing tradition to the cleanest little City in Texas.

Remarkable, really, that they’ve been going in Shiner since 1909.

While Victory Brewing Company does not explicitly produce a holiday beer, their Old Horizontal seasonal has some of the usual Christmas trappings. With a high ABV (10.5%) and fruity finish, the brew is technically a barley wine (separating it in category from the other seasonals we’ve featured).

Known most for its Golden Monkey and Hop Devil varieties, Victory was founded in 1996 and has grown steadily ever since. Trained in Germany, the guys enjoy “the artistic freedom we have here in the US.”

You can visit them in Downingtown, PA, where Old Horizontal is currently on tap.

The seasonal brew from Troegs, Mad Elf Ale, mixes pilsner, munich, and chocolate malts. The result is a ruby red colored beer, fitting of the holiday spirit, and taking cherry, chocolate, and honey hints. A knock on holiday brews being too sweet could easily apply here, but it gets favorable reviews from the smart people at Beer Advocate (B+).

Troegs Brewing Company is located in Central, PA, and has been brewing beer since 1997. Aside from the Mad Elf, five year round beers and three further seasonal brews are produced. The Mad Elf comes in a remarkable gift box, which can be had for roughly $65.

The first distillery to operate legally in New York state since prohibition, Tuthilltown Spirits has already created a good buzz for itself in “foodie” circles. The aged spirit offerings include the “Government Warning Rye,” made of whole rye and distilled to 92 proof. The “Hudson Bay Bourbon” is the first bourbon ever made in New York, and the “Hudson River Rye” is specially concocted to mix the perfect Manhattan. Several other whiskey’s round out the aged spirit line, including a rum, and there is also a collection of unaged spirits (vodka and corn whiskey) available.

If it strikes your fancy, full barrels can be ordered via the online store.

Come Full Circle is the latest project of T-Michael, the bespoke tailor who also co-design for Norwegian Rain.  As T-Michael tell us, “It’s surrealistic dream-like sequence that pulls you out of your everyday configuration and into a visually mesmerizing state”.

Having thrilled readers with the story of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie earlier in the week, it seems appropriate to introduced another British food with Protected Geographical Indication Status. Grimsby, a seaport town in Lincolnshire, has a long and celebrated tradition of fish smoking. Recognized by the EU only recently, the techniques and heritage of local fish smoking now enjoy the same designation as Champagne and Royal Jersey Potatoes.

What makes their curing process different? While the majority of smoked fish today comes out of mechanical kilns, folks in Grimsby retain the traditional method of curing fish over the smouldering embers of burning wood chips. Firms  like Alfred Enderby produce smoked fish correctly, their towering chimneys producing cod, haddock, and salmon with a perfect balance of color and flavor. Additionally, we should note that Grimsby’s favorable geographic position allowed a cottage industry of fish smoking to develop – never forget the importance of location when asking “how come they do that there?”

Selectism would like to applaud the town of Grimsby for its dedication to heritage food production.

Under European Union law, a selection of foodstuffs are protected by designation of origin. Delicacies you may be familiar with – champagne, parma ham, etc. – fall into this system of warding off the fakes. For the Anglophile, few foods with Protected Geographical Indication are as frequently championed as Melton Mobray Pork Pies. You know its official if the pie has bowed sides, among other notable distinctions outlined by the Melton Mobray Pork Pie Association. The Association formed in 1998 with the express purpose of gaining PGI. Now achieved, 9 manufactures are sanctioned to make Melton Mobray Pork Pies. One is Dickinson & Morris.

Dickinson & Morris was founded in 1848 by John Dickinson to cater to the growing hunger for pork pies on the newly minted Midland Railway line. The Morris name was added in 1901 when apprentice Joseph Morris enters a true partnership with mentor John. In 1986 the firm wowed the world by producing one of the grandest pork pies in history – weighing almost 86 pounds. Most importantly, the firm’s history and heritage have made it the go to bakery for Melton Mobray Pork Pies.

For more information on Melton Mobray Pork Pies, look for The History of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie by Trevor Hickman at your local book seller or Amazon. The fascinating history of the pie is traced from Edward Adcock’s initial move to wholesale the pie in 1831. Riveting history.

Too much is never enough it would seem. Check this Swarovski Christmas Tree Stand available from Exquisit. It’s a stand which is lined and set with a bazillion Swarovski crystal. It is slightly interesting considering that most stand are rarely seen once you lay gifts underneath a tree. Then again, the stand itself may limit your gift giving. Available for 14000$US bangers. #woah (bornrich)

More looks at the Swarovski Christmas Tree Stand after the click.