Pop quiz! Don’t worry, it’s multiple choice. What has been the most significant technological development in the history of American cinema? Is it A) 35mm projection, B) Sound, C) Color or D) Digital 3-D?

Well, personally, I go with sound, but the growing support for answer D is starting to alarm me.

It’s finally happened. “Lost” is back, but with it has come perhaps the greatest dilemma I’ve faced in my television-watching career. Should I watch?

“But, Patrick,” you say, “Of course you watch it! You love ‘Lost’! You’ve been waiting for this for nine months. How could you not watch it?”

That’s an excellent question, hypothetical reader. I’m glad you asked.

Okay, okay. Settle down. It may be December and we may have gotten our first snow of the season already, but we’re not quite at Christmas yet (even if every store is already playing carols). We’ve all got to face down finals before we can really get into the holiday spirit.