Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Here's a nifty new book for the Audrey Hepburn fans on your Christmas list: AUDREY HEPBURN: INTERNATIONAL COVER GIRL. It was just published by Chronicle Books.

...Another Audrey book, which came out earlier this year, is CHARMED BY AUDREY: LIFE ON THE SET OF SABRINA. Since I just saw the movie, that sounds like a fun book. The photos come from 60 rolls of film shot by Life photographer Mark Shaw, which were misplaced for over half a century.

...NPR lists their choices for the 10 Best Cookbooks of 2009... The New York Times reviewed fall releases earlier this month, including THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS.

...Here's a YouTube video of the Gatlin Bros. singing "Americans, That's Who" on Fox News Channel. That's their longtime guitarist Steve Smith backing them up. The song is on their new album.

...A "LauraPalooza," celebrating all things Laura Ingalls Wilder, is scheduled for next July in Mankato, Minnesota. Mankato is also the home of the Betsy-Tacy books.

...Speaking of Little House, Melissa Gilbert has a Twitter account she uses to share news about the tour of the LITTLE HOUSE musical. It's kind of amusing that she keeps in touch via this method with her TV show costars Dean Butler (Almanzo) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie).

...For the baker on your Christmas list: ALL CAKES CONSIDERED by Melissa Gray of NPR. It's from Chronicle Books.

...Never too late for good food: Here's links for recipes for the Ultimate Thanksgiving Dinner from the late, lamented Gourmet magazine. I've got to try making cider-glazed turkey sometime.

...Jack Cashill of American Thinker contrasts the lives of Sarah Palin and Barack Obama, as told in their autobiographies. It's illuminating.

...Looking for an inexpensive holiday movie to add to your DVD shelf? As I write, CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT (1945) is just $5.79 at Amazon. It comes with the highly regarded short STAR IN THE NIGHT (1945), directed by Don Siegel.

...Don't forget the excellent TV-movies ONE SPECIAL NIGHT (1999) and THE CHRISTMAS CARD (2006) this Christmas. Both are available on DVD.

...Mini political roundup: Cal Thomas on "U.S.S.A."... The trio of Michael Barone, John Hinderaker, and Byron York discuss why the Democrats won't give up their disastrous healthcare plan: it's not about healthcare, it's about permanently swelling the size and power of government.

...Victor Davis Hanson writes "Where Has the Thrill Gone?" and concludes "I think not merely the thrill is gone, but a righteous anger about an Obama trifecta — of serial apologies and bows abroad, massive borrowing and deficit spending, and government take-overs of private spheres of life — is swelling up in the electorate. I haven’t seen in my lifetime anything quite like it. And this furor of being had has the potential not just to take Obama down, but also his ideology and supporters along with him for a generation."

...Most TV networks are attempting to ignore ClimateGate -- the exception being Fox News Channel. No surprise there.

...Lucianne.com has started a new website for blog news.

...Notable passing: University of Southern California film professor Herb Farmer has passed away, age 89. Farmer filmed football games, organized the school's film-related archives, and served as Associate Dean of the School of Cinematic Arts during his decades with USC.

...It's the big USC-UCLA game tonight, and many folks around town are decked out in the school colors. Needless to say, we're all wearing cardinal and gold today. Fight on! (Update: USC won a great game, beating UCLA 28-7.)

Have a great weekend!