Trends for December 10, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Dec. 10, 2001 | 8:08 a.m.

Movie magic

Oh, the weather outside is frightful. (OK, so it's not that cold. Work with me here, folks!) So rather than go out, the folks at Blockbuster suggest you stay inside and watch holiday movies (preferably rented from one of the blue-and-yellow stores).

The company recently released a list of the top-10 holiday movies rented at Blockbuster last year. Leading the spirited fare is the 1965 animated classic (and not the 2000 redux dud) "Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," followed by the wacky Griswold family in 1989's "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

The quirky "A Christmas Story" from 1983 (where was Peter Billingsley's Oscar nod?), "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Jack Frost" round out the top five.

OK, now name your favorite holiday movie. Chances are good it made it onto the second half of the list. At No. 6 is the favorite "White Christmas," followed by "Frosty the Snowman" in seventh place. "Charlie Brown Christmas" is eighth, "It's a Wonderful Life" is in the No. 9 position (No. 9?) and "Miracle on 34th Street" is dead last.

We're demanding a recount on the last three.

Fightin' words

Then again, maybe being cooped up inside the house isn't such a good idea especially if you loathe your relatives, and dealing with them may end in fisticuffs.

Aren't the holidays grand?

New Jersey communications expert Barbara Pachter wants to help, really she does. The author of "The Power of Positive Confrontation" (Marlowe & Co., $13.95) has a few "polite and powerful" tips for handling holiday conflicts:

Social security

And still more tips. These come courtesy of the Security Industry Association, a trade organization for companies that deal in home and commercial security systems and equipment. The group hopes to help homeowners avoid breaches in security similar to those endured by a once-adorable Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone."

Get the lowdown on your neighbors' holiday plans. Will they be in town or heading out on vacation? Report to the authorities any suspicious activity around neighbors' homes while they're gone. And if you're hitting the road, let the neighbors know to keep an eye on your place.

While you're away, give your abode a "lived in" look by installing controls to automatically turn lights on and off. Have newspaper and mail delivery stopped, or ask a neighbor to pick them up and hold them until you return.