W hen you think unusual and extravagant holiday gifts, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue automatically comes to mind. In conjunction with the publication of the retailer’s commemorative book, “Over the Top: Fifty Years of Fantasy Gifts from the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book,” JInsider asked comedian Marvin Silbermintz to compile a list of essential fantasy gifts for Chanukah.

Batting Practice
with Sandy Koufax

A hot Wall Street concept and media buzzword these days is the “Black Swan Theory” developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. According to Taleb, almost all major scientific discoveries, artistic accomplishments and historically significant events are “black swans” — undirected and unpredicted. The Internet, the personal computer, World War I and the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks are examples he gives of Black Swan events.