Verne's vocabulary is much easier to read, and translate, than Shakespeare's. In fact, Verne expresses himself with a simplicity and clarity that makes him remarkably easy to read in French, even for a not-very-proficient student.

"Ruh-roh, Shaggy," Said the Ticktockman.

I'm with you. It's like there's this great amusement park right next to my house, and I can't figure out how any of the rides work.

For what it's worth, I almost never advise girls to fake their own death. So much for Shakespeare as a student of human nature, huh?

Anything with Julie Newmar. Runners-up: the "King Tut" episodes with Victor Buono. Sheer entertainment genius.

Yeah. In the episode "Tomorrow Knights," the Wayne family visits the new Batman museum, and little Damian runs off to explore the "Hall of Holies." Selina admits its corny, but classic.

Actually, if the quality of the system is measured by the lives it saves, Canada's is three times as good as the US's, at least where this disease is concerned. And if the reason it saves more lives is in fact that emergency room visits cost nothing out of pocket (a big "if," but let's follow the logic), then the…

"... should dialogue cease or a rapid change in the chain of command within the United States Executive Office occur." I had to read that phrase a few times to appreciate it.

Captain Video. I'm thinking a combination of "Battlestar Galactica"-style grim military drama and "Max Headroom"-style media satire (because of the name).

The tough question, artistically, is whether I'd want the Rangers in modern day BDUs or Korean-war-era olive drab, and follow that with a dieselpunk set design.

"Journeyman." I'd use the same actors, writers and set, but call it a "reboot" to excite the dimwitted studio executives.

I am SOOOO sorry.

Really? I'm a huge Anna Torv fan, based only on Fringe. Compare her shut-down (I'd say depressed) Olivia to her bouncy, ballsy, sardonic Fauxlivia. And yet neither character is one-note; watch them closely, and they each have a range of emotions specific to themselves.

As a man who spends a fair amount of time reading in airports, I can more or less guarantee that, no matter what a guy is reading, he'll put it down in heartbeat if you'd prefer a ... dalliance. Also, if he's not reading, same deal.

Yeah, I'm pretty familiar with the "Kane" criticism. And I really like the movie. But, as I said, I think its buzz:quality ratio is a little out of whack. It's a great movie, just not quite as great as its rep. (Meanwhile, for comparison, I think "The Third Man" gets underrated to the same degree.)

Star Wars. I know, you all hate me.

So. Ichabod (van Winkle?), slaying the Four Horsemen. Next up: Huckleberry Finn joining Fight Club, and Hester Prynne's urban romance with a vampire.

I still treasure my memories of peppermint-ball ice cream cones at the HoJo's in North Chatham, Mass. It was second only to soft-serve with a cherry dip a the Surf 'N Turf.

My mom actually took me to see it late in its first run. I must have been 6 or 7. And no, the opening sequence struck me as confusing, but not particularly frightening or violent. (Pretty much like the rest of the movie — I sure wish I'd had a placemat to help me appreciate it.)

I thought that was a reflection, as if somebody were watching him through a window or on a screen. He seems to walk past/through it, doesn't he?

I saw this comment just in time for vespers. So, as we say in the business: Please God, no!