"The Fog" No Stars (out of four): Incoherent mess of a remake is exactly the type of movie for which the zero-star rating was invented. Avoid this one at all costs.

You don't go see a remake of John Carpenter’s mildly-revered 1980 B-movie “The Fog” expecting brilliance, but you at least expect it to deliver the adequate chills and scares. Not this remake. This "Fog" seems to have no interest in entertaining its audience and only a mild concern for coherence. There's not a single moment in the film to recommend. So devoid of creativity is this movie that the fog announces its arrival with four really loud knocking sounds. Screw the little cat's feet, this fog's out for blood.

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Ever wanted to give a personalized Christmas gift, but didn't do it in time? Here's your chance with five unique ways to say Merry Xmas...most with a few weeks lead time.

5) Your own digital cartoon icon. Simple, fun, and fairly inexpensive...maybe a stocking stuffer.
4) These photo bags have been around a while, but women still love them, so I'm still writing about them.
3) A bunch of custom-designed cookies (for Sean Penn, maybe)...cool, right?
2) For your favorite hipster...one-of-a-kind customized vans.
1) And what pet owner wouldn't freak over a custom portrait of the family pooch. Here's one style...here's another.

Time.com has a list of the "100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the present". Amidst some of the usual suspects are some interesting choices (yes that is Watchmen up there). There are also a fair number of newer books like The Corrections and White Teeth.

Along with Amazon.com's Best Books of the Decade So Far these are good lists to hang onto for when you're looking for something to add to your Amazon or Audible wishlists.

Wikipedia has an entry with all the words that were made up on the Simpsons. Included are such expressions as:

"Mmm, (gummi beers, chocolate, floor pie etc.)"

"I, for one, welcome our new (insert word) overlords"

and

"Worst (insert word) Ever"

Good Night, and Good Luck. **** (out of four): Co-writer/director George Clooney's fascinating, intelligent spotlight on the efforts of CBS News, led by Edward R. Murrow, to bring down Sen. Joseph McCarthy. They don’t make 'em like this anymore.

During the closing credits of “Good Night, and Good Luck.” – co-writer/director George Clooney’s spot-on portrait of the war of words between CBS newscaster Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy - an older man, who looked like he could easily have lived through the period in which the film is set, turned to me and said, “Heavy stuff, eh?” This wasn’t meant as a strike against the movie. In fact, I think he was trying to find out how a younger audience member reacted to it. “Good Night” is not your average historical recreation. It doesn’t dumb-down its story or its characters with needless explanation for the benefit of an under-educated audience. The script, written by Mr. Clooney and Grant Heslov, demands attention and, perhaps, a fact-finding trip to the internet after viewing. No, as my co-audience member might have been saying: if you want dumb-down, “Domino” is playing in the next theater.

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