Have you ever wished you could relive something from your past? Maybe an event or a period of time that was special in some way? That is what Hollywood attempts to do when they create a remake from an original movie, book, or play. Often it ends up being a dismal failure, but there are some that have been a brilliant success. Here are a few of those:

Father of the Bride

Steve Martin has a talent for picking the right movies to star in, and this was no exception. It was a remake of the original Father of the Bride from Vincent Minnelli in 1950. He took the role of a fun but crazy father, originally played by Spencer Tracy, and turned it into a big box office hit.

The Magnificent Seven

Still remembered today from 1960, this remake was based on The Seven Samurai from 1954. It was a westernized version where gunmen protect a Mexican village. It featured the likes of Charles Bronson and James Coburn that make it worth watching even today.

Over the weekend, NFL fans reveled, fretted, and fantasized about their team’s 2012 Draft picks. The Draft may be over, but those seven rounds sent reverberations throughout the NFL community. Here are this year’s biggest winners and losers from the 2012 Draft. 

Biggest Winners 

Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers seem to always nail a perfect draft selection. Their draft strategy, simply choosing the best player available, has rewarded them over the years with players like Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca.  This year, the Steelers chose the top-10 overall prospect David DeCastro, a Wisconsin guard, in the first round. In later rounds, they picked up tackle Mike Adams, Sean Spence, Alameda Ta’amu, and Chris Rainey.

Philadelphia Eagles - After a nightmare season, the Eagles picked a key defensive end Fletcher Cox to help plug up holes in the defense. Other picks, Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry will contribute to one of the best pass-rushing teams in the league. The Eagles approach to the draft was similar to the Steelers: pick the best player available. In the seventh and final round, the Eagles took a gamble with Bryce Brown, who was once a top recruit out of high school but had a blundering college season.  The Eagles believe Brown could be the next hidden gem. 

When temperatures are climbing outside, the best place to be is in a cool, dark movie theater. This summer promises to bring some new movies that are worth watching. Here are a few that have critics and fans alike excited.

The Avengers

It will be interesting to see how this movie fares with the public. It combines numerous action heroes in one film. The Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America will all show their superhuman capabilities in this movie set to debut on May 4^th. The question critics are asking is if there is enough room for so many heroes. We’ll see how director Joss Whedon makes it work.

The Dark Knight Arises

This is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It is the grand finale of the Batman Trilogy from director Christopher Nolan. It isn’t due to be released until July 20^th, but fans are already getting excited about the film. Anne Hathaway will be Catwoman, and Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman are two of the returning cast.

After a prolonged hiatus due to the collective bargaining lockout, the 2011-2012 NBA Season is back in full glory, and so are the dunks. In just over a month, there’s already an extensive reel of highlights that transcend into the realm of athletic and artistic perfection. Even though it’s early, here are the best dunks made so far:

10. Corey Maggette of the Charlotte Bobcats started the season with a bang after an alley-oop slam dunk in a match against the Milwaukee Bucks. As Maggette soared through the air, he reached slightly behind his body to grab the ball, and then lurched forward to throw the ball down on the rim.

9. Vince Carter of the Dallas Mavericks predictably comes in the top ten with his master slam dunk skills. In one of the most in-your-face dunks of the season, Carter gracefully weaved around the seemingly stunned Hornets defense to stuff the ball in the net.

8. JaVaie McGee may have been benched by the Washington Wizards coach shortly after a showboating slam, but by all accounts it was worth it. He made for a fast break down court and bounced the ball of the glass before he nailed the dunk.

7. No list of best dunks of the season would be complete without LeBron James. In a late December game against the Timberwolves, James made three sky-high dunks. Then again, it’s just Lebron being Lebron.

For movie and TV fans, there’s nothing more exciting than discovering new talent and watching well-deserved success unfold right before your eyes. These young stars are poised to have a breakout year. Here are the actors to watch in 2012.

Mackenzie Foy

This 11-year old star debuted on the silver screen with Breaking Dawn: Part 1, of the Twilight trilogy. Formerly a child model for Guess, Ralph Lauren, and Gap, Foy takes on the challenge of playing Renesmee Cullen, the vampire child who can read thoughts through her touch. While she had a small role in this film, she’ll have a better opportunity to show off her acting chops in Part 2, due in November.

Andrew Garfield

Garfield is recognized by his stellar performance in last year’s The Social Network, but this year he’s taken on the title role for The Amazing Spider-man. The 3-D film will follow Peter Parker’s high school transformation into Spider-man. Garfield knows it will be a challenge to fill the shoes of Tobey Maguire, the previous star of the web-slinging superhero. Garfield, however, wants “to make it authentic. To make the character live and breathe in a new way.” 

If you are looking for some humor to lighten your day, here are 5 of the funniest podcasts that you will enjoy listening to, over and over.

The Adam Carolla Podcast

You’ve seen him on Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice. Even if you didn’t already know who he was, you could tell he was a comedian by his quick wit and off-the-wall comments. If you want to see him in his original environment, tune into his podcast.

The show has become one of the most downloaded podcasts on iTunes and features several comedian guests.

The Nerdist

The premise of this show by Chris Harwick is about nerdy things, like video games, movies, and technology. This podcast is popular owing to the celebrity guests and the relaxed, entertaining interviews that Harwick conducts. Former guests of note include Drew Carey, Ozzy Osbourne, and Rob Zombie. The first guest on the podcast was Adam Savage.

If you’ve never heard of it, Coachella is officially named Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. It is held in Indio, California, at the Empire Polo Club. The music you will hear is a mix of rock, indie, electronic, and hip-hop. Along with that, you will get to see some unique sculptural art. There are 5 main stages in the desert setting.

The History of Coachella

Coachella has been compared to Woodstock and Lollapalooza. The first Coachella festival was held in 1999, three months after Woodstock 99. Previous performers include Beck, Rage Against the Machine, Bjork, and the Beastie Boys. It was extended to three days back in 2007, with an even larger lineup of talent. The only time the event didn’t sell out was in 2003.

In 2011, the headline act was Kanye West and included the Kings of Leon. With two weekends, this year could end up being the biggest in the festival’s history. As always, you will hear music from some of the biggest names in the industry as well as from artists you didn’t know about. Coachella fits a wide range of musical tastes.

2012 offers new hope to teams that didn’t fare so well last year and much of that hope rests on their rookies. Everyone hopes for an Albert Pujols or Jeremy Hellickson, but who has the potential to see their rookie player win the award? Here is a look at the top picks for the season.

Matt Moore

Number one on everyone’s list and for good reason, Matt Moore promises to be exciting to watch. He is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays and has been impressive in double and triple-A ball. His record for last year was 12-3 with an ERA at 1.92. Even more impressive was the fact that he struck out 210 batters in 155 innings. If he can keep that kind of record in the majors, no one will be able to touch him.

Bryce Harper

Playing for the Washington Nationals, Harper has the potential to be a power hitter. He is an aggressive player, both in the field and on the bases. He has the ability to adjust to become a consistent player. While it is expected that he will spend part of the year with the minors, he should get playing time in the big leagues. That will be worth watching.

It was a decade of variety in music, as American Idol became popular and younger generations became famous, while older artists still turned out albums for their fans. Here is a list of ten most popular albums from that decade.

The College Dropout

This was the debut album of Kanye West, the beginning of an incredible career. He took rap to a whole new level and introduced a new group of fans. He combined hip hop and R&B with rap to create a new sound that was unique and popular.

Stankonia

This album by Outkast was released in 2000. The album was their edgiest, and it gave a fresh look to hip hop. The music was fun while the lyrics could often be serious.

Modern Times

With this album, Bob Dylan showed that he was still a force to be reckoned with. The songs kept with his unique style and could have been hits from any part of his career. It proved that if something is great, it doesn’t matter what else is popular.

Now that the NHL trade deadline is over, experts all over are ranking top teams. Some, like the Nashville Predators, went all in. But we’ll have to wait until the Stanley Cup champion is decided before we can know who made the right and wrong choices in the trade.

1. The St. Louis Blues have an overall 45-18-7 record. Currently on a 5-game winning streak, they are one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The versatile winger Jamie Langenbrunner, with 4 goals and 17 assists this season, is out with an injury for four weeks. He broke his left foot while blocking a shot for the Blues. Even with injuries the Blues are a powerful team known for their team play and attention to detail. 

2. The Pittsburgh Penguins have now won 9 straight games. The 2009 Stanley Cup champions are doing it all without their star forward Sidney Crosby. While the 2012 Stanley Cup seemed like a distant dream just a few weeks back, the Penguins are surging, and may be the team to beat by the time the playoffs roll around.

3. The New York Rangers, with an overall record of 43-18-7, have reason to be pumped up this season. Despite having lost two of the last three games back-to-back, the Rangers only need to score first to carry a game. They have a .903 winning percentage when they are the first to score. Definite contenders for the Cup, the Rangers have the great combination of good chemistry, suffocating defense, and the best goalie on the planet.

In the recent Grammy broadcast, pop star Adele stole the show, winning numerous awards for her album 21. Hers' was an unusually meteoric rise to critical acclaim, but generally the Grammys recognize artists with distinguished careers, who have been accumulating accolades for several years. Here are five stars set to release albums in 2012 that could steal the show in 2013. 

Green Day

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard something new from Green Day, but they have started recording their new album. There isn’t a release date set, but they have plenty of material to choose from. They have played 15 new songs in their recent live shows, so it is anticipated that we may get to see something new before the year is gone.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has been working on her fifth album, which is expected to be completed sometime in the early part of the year. She’s already won a Grammy for her album Songs in A Minor, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to take home another one.

The Killers

The Killers exploded onto the scene in 2004 with their first album Hot Fuss, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album. It’s been four years since we’ve seen anything new from them, but they have promised a new album by the end of 2012. Maybe they can take home that Grammy with the new album. Their two-year hiatus has made their fans anxious for new music.

Basketball fans from everywhere look forward to the Slam Dunk contest during the NBA All-Star Saturday Night. It can be exciting to watch players compete for the title. Here is a list of some of the best slam dunks in the history of the competition.

Gerald Green

Back in 2007, Green put on a Boston Brown jersey and landed a slam dunk over the head of Nate Robinson. Green was also a runner up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk contest. He won McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Contest in 2005. He plays for the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League.

Dwight Howard

Ousting Green for the 2008 title was the center for Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard. He has been a six-time All-Star and has helped his team win three division titles and a conference title. He has been named the Defensive Player of the Year three times.

This is the perfect season to go to a movie theater with friends and family and watch a new movie. If you want to be the first to watch an Oscar nominee in the theaters, here are the ones you should check out. These are the movies and people that are already being considered as front runners in this year’s race. Once you have seen these movies, you can find out who the nominees are on January 24, and see who wins on February 26.

Best Picture

War Horse is expected to clean up nicely at the Oscars. It hasn’t even come out yet, but is already being hailed as a front runner this year. Just the preview showing great music, amazing scenery, and a wonderful plot, is enough to pull in people; including the Academy. Others include The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Help, The Ides of March, J. Edgar, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, and We Bought a Zoo. 

Best Documentary

There have been quite a few amazing documentaries that have come out this year, including Bill Cunningham New York, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Pina (this one is in 3D), Project Nim, and Under Fire: Journalists in Combat. What is interesting about this category is those not being mentioned as much. Werner Herzog and Morgan Spurlock had movies come out this year, but they are not being considered as contenders.

The television has been an important facet of entertainment for the American family since it first came into our living rooms. The following shows have been running for years, coloring the backdrop of our collective understanding through pop culture.

The Price is Right

Category: Game show

Duration: 1956 –1965, and 1972 – present

On this exuberant Saturday-morning game show, members of the audience are invited to “come on down!” to play The Price is Right. Estimating the cost of everything from a jar of peanut butter to a luxury cruise, players compete with one another for top prizes.  

The Tonight Show

Category: Night show

Duration: 1954 – present

This long-standing show on NBC has been hosted by Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and Conan O'Brien. Guests include movie stars, political figures, comedians, music bands, and a variety of other personalities and groups.

Want to play games online for free? Sure you do! Check out these great browser-based finds:

Super Mario Bros. Crossover

Developer: explodingRabbit

A mix of several characters from various video games, this ‘crossover’ with 8-bit graphics, is lots of fun. Samus, one of the characters, can shoot beams, roll into a ball, and jump, just as she does in her video game. Other characters include Link with his boomerang and swords, Mega Man with his arm cannon, and Mario from Super Mario Bros.  

Atomic Puzzle

Developer: Sigma Studio

The objective is simple, yet challenging: reduce molecules by clicking sets of atoms. Just like Tetris and Gem Drop, this game can be addictive.  

Blood Wars

Developer: Blood Wars Team

This gruesome, realistic-looking game takes places in a post-nuclear world, where the player is a vampire.  

They weren’t hurt, getting older, or even doing badly, but these ten athletes retired during their primes for their own reasons.

Annika Sorenstam
This talented Swedish-American Grand Slam champion golfer was one of only two women to compete on the PGA Tour. During her career, she won 72 tournaments and 10 majors. She has set several all-time scoring records, including the lowest season scoring average, which was 68.6969, in 2004. Since retiring, she has started various businesses under the ANNIKA brand, including a golf academy. She has also helped to design golf courses.

Barry Sanders

Detroit, Michigan residents and Detroit Lions football fans everywhere certainly have fond memories of former running back Barry Sanders. He spent his entire professional career with the Lions, and retired when he was just short of the all-time rushing record. He is a member of both the college and professional football halls of fame. He never did win a Super Bowl with the Lions, but he was named to the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his seasons as a professional player.

Take a break from Hollywood’s regular fare of made-up stories and run-of-the-mill plots – instead, take in a documentary.  You will expand your mind and gain insight and understanding into something you likely had never considered. Here are ten recommendations that were released in 2011:

Back to Eden

Starring: Paul Gautschi

Directed by: Dana Erin Richardson, Sarah Zentz

Gautschi explains sustainable organic growing techniques that can take the place of harmful agricultural practices. Learn about the serious issues surrounding crop rotation, soil preparation, irrigation, fertilization, weed control, pest control, and more.  

Forks over Knives

Starring: Joey Aucoin, Neal Barnard, Gene Baur

Directed by: Lee Fulkerson

Although we live during a time of advanced medical technology, many of us are plagued with diabetes, heart disease, a dependence on prescription drugs, or other conditions and diseases. This documentary explores the possibility that such health problems are caused by our reliance upon processed and animal-based foods. Can a better diet be the solution to our most pressing health concerns?

After you are done watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and have eaten Thanksgiving dinner (and seconds, of course), it is football time. The NFL Thanksgiving Day schedule has been set since April 19^th. Here is what you can look forward to:

Green Bay Packers at the Detroit Lions Ford Field

9:30 am PST on Fox

Watching the Packers play the Lions has become somewhat of a tradition in itself in recent years. This is the first time that the two teams will meet since Aaron Rodgers was knocked out with his second concussion last year. The Packers are slightly ahead in total yards per game, passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, and games won. The Lions are defensively a better team because they haven’t allowed as many total yards per game. They are so close that it should be a good match to watch. Players to watch on the Packers include Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, and Greg Jennings, while amongst the Lions, Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best (or Kevin Smith, if Best is unable to play), and Calvin Johnson are players to look out for. The two teams will meet again on New Year’s Day this year. If you would like to watch or listen to the game while you are cooking, you can go to the NFL Game Center. 

If you have a little time in between watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, watching football, and eating pie, here are ten great Thanksgiving movies to watch.

The New World 2005 PG-13

The New World tries to bring a little reality to the Pocahontas and John Smith story, including all the highs of romance and the lows of violence. This movie is good for anyone who feels a little too old for Pocahontas.

Pocahontas 1995 G

Disney animation tells this story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith as they explore the New World together. The songs are beautifully done and so are the colors. This movie is good for anyone who is a little too young to watch The New World.

Home for the Holidays 1995 PG-13

This story is all about that trip home to visit wacky and sometimes intrusive relatives when things aren’t quite going your way. It has an all star cast including Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., and Anne Bancroft. Anyone who has just had a Thanksgiving dinner with their own cast of characters will enjoy this one.

they are heading to the playoffs as a division champion or a wild-card contender.

San Francisco 49ers

At 8-1 the 49ers have already won two more games than they won last season. More importantly, with the clostest divisional opponent five games back, the Niners are a sure thing to make the playoffs this year. They have surprised opponents and experts alike with the stingy run defense and efficient offensive play, highlighted by the consistent solid play of their notoriously inconsistent quarterback Alex Smith. If Smith continues to avoid mistakes, the 49ers might be the only thing standing in the way of an undefeated Packers season.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have a talented team this season, but they are playing in a tough league, which makes this team a surprising contender for the wild-card. The Green Bay Packers will most likely keep winning, and this will garner them the NFC North and probably even the number one spot in the NFC. The Detroit Lions will have a shot as a wild-card contender, but they will have to beat out the Chicago Bears. If the Lions can hold out against their two games against the Packers in the next part of the season (including one on Thanksgiving Day), they may be the ones heading to the playoffs. With an easier schedule, the Bears will have more of a chance of getting there though.

Last week, America was shocked by the allegation that Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused several boys over the course of many years. Worse yet, according to the allegations, several key members within the Penn State family participated in a conspiracy to cover up Sandusky's actions, in an effort to avoid public scrutiny and evade appropriate legal action. Where does this scandal rank in the pantheon of sports scandals? Here's a look at the five worst sports scandals of all time. 

5. Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds Steroid Scandal: 

In the summer of 1998, fans were glued to their TV sets watching Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa go head-to-head as they chased after Roger Maris’ single-season home run record. Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs that year and broke the record. Barry Bonds went on to break that record with 73 home runs in 2001. Unfortunately, these records have been tainted by allegations and admissions of steroid use. Mark McGwire admitted in 2010 to using steroids to help him recover from injuries, including in 1998, the year he set the record. In 2009, it came out that Sammy Sosa failed a test for performance enhancing drugs in 2003, and he has continually been suspected of using steroids during his career. The scandal implemented almost all of the era's best players, including the era's best pitcher (Roger Clemens) and the era's best hitter (Barry Bonds), leaving baseball with an impossible decision--should MLB disqualify an entire era of baseball or allow verified cheaters to hold some of the most hallowed records in all of baseball? For the time being, the records, and the blemishes remain. Baseball has steadily declined in popularity since the scandal was made public.

Cedar Point

Location: Sandusky, Ohio

Cedar Point is a classic amusement park that has been in operation since 1870 – it’s the second oldest in North America. Children will enjoy Planet Snoopy and thrill seekers will like the 310-foot-tall Millennium Force roller coaster.

LegoLand

Location: Carlsbad, California

LegoLand is a 128-acre park made to appeal to children from ages two through twelve. Featuring more than fifty family-friendly rides, this is an awesome place for a young family.

King’s Island

Location: Mason, OH

King’s Island has an impressive Eiffel Tower, one-third the size of the original Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Three million people visit this amusement park each year.

At the celebration for the Blu-Ray release of the 1998 comedy The Big Lebowski, Jeff Bridges was heralded for his iconic role as “The Dude.” This was far from how critics and audiences responded when the movie first came out. Maybe these ten box-office disasters were just ahead of their time.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

$5.53 million is all this comedy made at the box office when it was released, but it has since gone on to inspire the religion of ‘Dudeism.’

Citizen Kane (1941)

William Randolf Hearst threatened critics and studios when this thinly veiled biopic of the magnate came out, causing it to bomb horribly. It has gone on to being considered as one of the best movies ever made.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

This holiday classic directed by Frank Capra originally received “universally negative or at best dismissive” reviews. Today, however, it hardly seems like Christmas unless it is shown on TV.

If you are one of the 800,000 people who have recently left Netflix, you may be wondering what alternatives are available. Here are ten Netflix alternatives:

Amazon Prime Instant Video

You can watch instant videos when you sign up for Amazon Prime. You will have access to ten-thousand streaming movies and TV shows on your computer or TV (if you have a device like Roku). Amazon Prime is $79 a year and also offers free two-day shipping without a minimum order.

HuluPlus

With HuluPlus you can watch streaming movies and TV shows on a computer, Apple device, or a TV with a gaming station. This subscription offers users the opportunity to see popular shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Desperate Housewives the next day (as well as past episodes). HuluPlus is available at $7.99 a month.

Redbox

Redbox offers some of the latest DVDs straight from a kiosk in your local grocery store. Redbox now offers game rentals in addition to movie rentals. You can rent a DVD for $1 plus tax for one night.  

If you missed that third cup of coffee that usually gets you through late night shows, and want to know what you missed, head online. Besides clips from previous shows you can find exclusive content and also interact with your favorite hosts. Here are the best places to catch up with your favorite late night shows:  

Late Show With David Letterman

David Letterman is famous for his “Top Ten” lists. On the Top Ten section of the website you can find all the top ten lists since 1993. The extensive archives allow you to search by keyword or air date. So, if you wanted to find out what the top ten lists were following an election or a major event, you can easily look it up. If you watched the show and a line really cracked you up, but you can’t remember the wording (so you can quote it on your Facebook wall) the next morning, look it up on the “Wahoo Gazette” portion of the website. The recap of the show is named after the city of Wahoo, Nebraska, which was named the “home office” of the Top Ten lists after heavy campaigning in 1996.

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

If it’s Tuesday morning and you missed watching “Headlines,” then watch the online video of the most recent episode, play the “Is This Headline Real?” game, and submit your own. You can also play games based on some of the sketches on the show.

Through the ages, poetry has encapsulated some of the most beautiful combinations of words ever written. Favorite family poems and beloved childhood rhymes are passed along from generation to generation, even as new works are constantly being created. The 21^st century brings some exciting poets out of the literary woodwork. Here are four of them:

Karen Volkman

Volumes of Poetry: Crash’s Law, Spar

Awards: Iowa Poetry Prize, James Laughlin Award 

Volkman teaches in the MFA program at the University of Montana.

Sample: Nothing was ever what it claimed to be,

the earth, blue egg, in its seeping shell

dispensing damage like a hollow hell

inchling weeping for a minor sea . . . 

The genuine excitement of launching a golf ball so accurately that it lands where you can only choose in your wildest dreams, ranks as a number one goal with most avid golfers. This achievement begins with a good solid stance, and a swing with your favorite golf club. If you have a group of friends who spend Sunday mornings striving to impress each other with quickly improving skills and growing expertise in swinging a golf club, these tips will help you earn bragging rights. 

Watch Your Form

You can literally watch your form by filming yourself taking a few practice swings in the backyard. It can be awkward to watch yourself on film. But by doing so, you may find out that when you come down to hit the ball, the actual position of your arms is different from what you think. Your setup may be different from your impact. You can also ask someone in the golf shop to take a quick look at how you are holding the club to give you some pointers; they may be able to see something you don’t. How you feel when you swing the club is important too, because any pain may be an indication that you aren’t quite doing something right.

Watching other golfers can also help you form the right technique and swing. In the offseason you can find online videos that will show you how to swing the right way. Golf Tips Video on Demand is a great place to start. eHow’s Sports channel on YouTube also features videos about how to improve your swing. Try entering your favorite player’s name as the search keyword on YouTube to come up with more videos that show you what proper technique looks like.

If you are an avid PC gamer, chances are you have already played at least one of these awesome games. Check out the top five that scored the highest user reviews. 

Portal 2 by Valve Software

Genre: First-person shooters

Also available on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Enjoy a fantastic story line in this sequel that blends adventure, action, and logic into a winning formula. This is an ultra-refined, multi-dimensional puzzle game.

Shogun 2: Total War by Sega

Genre: Turn-based strategy

Also available on: Sega

This game is said to be the perfect mix of turn-based strategy and real-time gaming. The series’ depth is enjoyed by veteran players and newbies alike. Polished and refined. 

“Hey, brother!” Look what’s back! Arrested Development is hinting at a return to the small screen and a movie on the big screen!

If you haven’t seen it, Arrested Development has been described as irreverent and wry. Fans of the show love it for the humor and unique cast of characters. The show follows the Bluth family- a fictitious family living in California. The family was once wealthy, but after their company is investigated for fraud and their assets frozen, they have to adjust to a new life; including living together under one roof. This would be amusing in any family, but in the Bluth family it is positively hilarious, owing to their dysfunctional relationships.

The show is considered as an underdog comedy, but during its run on Fox between 2003 and 2006, the show gathered quite the cult following. When Arrested Development went away five years ago, people behind the shows untimely demise probably said, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” The show was dropped due to a lack of ratings. However, supporters of the show felt that it did not offer sufficient closure, and they were left wanting for more. The mistake of ending the show prematurely may be remedied soon though.

Mitchell Hurwitz (creator) and Ron Howard (director, producer, and narrator) have been dropping hints that they are talking about bringing the show back, and that new episodes and a movie are closer than ever to getting started. Hurwitz has said that a screenplay for the movie is about halfway done. However, the studio for the movie and TV series has not been chosen yet, and there is still the issue of rights.

The National Hockey League has entered its 95^th year. The 2011 - 2012 season officially began on October 6. As you tune in to watch a televised game or enjoy terrific season tickets behind the penalty box, watch for these key storylines to emerge over the coming weeks and months.  

Suspension

Head-shots and borderline hits, which are dangerous for any player to sustain, are not allowed in the NHL. During this year’s preseason games nine players were suspended, totaling 31 regular season games. Brendan Shanahan, the league’s Vice President of Hockey and Business Development, came down hard on the players and is expected to continue in the same fashion during the regular season.

Player retirement

This is expected to be the final season for Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom. Both players are 41 years old. Selanne is in his 19^th NHL season and has 637 goals under his belt. Known as the “Finnish Flash,” he has been a favorite for years. Lidstrom is one of the NHL’s best defensemen of all time. He has been on four championships teams.  

In any other season, the most logical place to find your favorite NBA stars would be on a basketball court making big plays. However this season, you will have to look harder to find them. The NBA lockout is in its fourth month now, and isn’t showing any signs of abating. Over the summer, this didn’t matter too much. But now that people are gearing up to see their teams in action and the regular season is creeping in, it is starting to matter. The NBA has canceled the pre-season, and said that they would cancel the first two weeks of the regular season if an agreement isn’t reached soon.

Everyone involved with the NBA is trying to resolve the big issues related to the lockout, but negotiations don’t seem to be going very far. Owners and players keep battling it out, pointing fingers at who they think is the problem, and who is making more money. Big name players have started showing up for negotiations, which shows that they are ready to play. A ratified agreement is needed on the issues of Basketball Related Income (BRI) and salary cap structure before players can take their place on the court again. Until this happens, everybody in the NBA is looking for new opportunities.

New NBA rookies may be in the tightest spot when it comes to the lockout. If they have already signed with the NBA out of college, they are no longer eligible to play with their college team. But, they are not able to play in the NBA, or make the big salaries that can sustain them through rough patches like these. Andrew Goudelock who signed with the Lakers is one such player. Now he is continuing his coursework towards a sociology degree at the College of Charleston. Darius Morris is a Lakers rookie making a slightly higher salary than he’s done in the past. He is close to signing a sponsorship deal with Nike. 

If you want to watch your favorite NFL team play, the only guaranteed way is to buy a ticket and attend the game in person. The NFL’s blackout policy states that a home game cannot be televised locally if not sold out 72 hours before the start time of the game. The blackout is an effort to make fans buy tickets and watch the game in the stadium. The NFL want to compel local fans to pay to see the game, instead of just watching it for free on TV.  

75 miles and 72 hours

This policy affects local markets within a seventy-five mile radius of the team’s home stadium. The present deadline is for 72 hours prior to the game, but if just a couple of thousand tickets remain to be sold, the league may extend it to 48 or even 24 hours prior to the game.  

No reprieve for nationally-televised games

If a game is nationally televised on a network like NBC Sunday Night Football, the local stations are responsible for playing something else. This is unlikely to happen because the NFL and NBC choose games that are popular with teams that are doing well. If a game is due to be shown on cable, like ESPN, then cable and satellite providers are responsible for blacking out the network signals in the local area. If the game is supposed to be shown locally, the local station has to show another game during that time. The blackout rule even applies to the NFL mobile app.  This app will check the location of a user and not show a game in that area.

If you have followed the auction of Debbie Reynolds’ movie memorabilia collection, or have been watching the new show It’s Worth What?, you may be wondering what some things cost.  Here are some of the most expensive movie memorabilia of all time.  

Darth Vader’s Helmet from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

In 2003, the helmet that Olympic fencing champion Bob Anderson wore for the famous fight sequence in this movie sold for $115, 000.

The General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard

John Schneider, who played Bo Duke, tried to sell his personal General Lee car on eBayMotors.com in 2007 for 9.9 million dollars.  Unfortunately, the bidder claimed that the bidding account had been hacked, and the sale fell through.  Schneider tried again to sell the famous car in a Barret-Jackson auction and wound up with $450,000 out of the sale.  The General Lee is a 1969 Dodge Charger.  

The Starship Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation

In the days before high tech special effects, miniatures and glitter in water were used to create an alternate universe on TV.  The miniature model of the Starship Enterprise-D was featured in the title sequence of the TV show and also in the Star Trek Generations movie.  The miniature sold for $576,000 in 2006.  

Seeing a player lay motionless, seeing the wince of pain on their face, or the sound of a bone snapping is tough for both teams and fans to watch.  Here are the toughest moments we have had to watch our favorite players go through. You may click the links to be directed to videos of the injuries, but do so at your own risk. Some of these are hard to watch. 

Darryl Stingley’s Broken Neck

One of the first traumatic football injuries happened on August 12, 1978.  New England Patriot Darryl Stingley was playing in an exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders when the wide receiver collided with Jack Tatum.  He suffered a broken neck that made him a quadriplegic, with only limited movement in his right arm.  This injury eventually led to his death in 2007 at the age of 55.  He died from bronchial pneumonia, quadriplegia, a spinal cord injury and coronary atherosclerosis.

Joe Theismann’s Leg Break

In a 1985 NFL game, New York Giants player Lawrence Taylor tackled Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann.  From one angle, viewers saw Joe Theismann’s leg break in two and get pinned underneath him as the play ended.  Immediately, Taylor got up and started jumping and signaling for anyone to come and help Theismann. 

The MLB playoffs begin at the end of this month. Here’s a sneak peek at the 2011 Fall Classic. 

Who’s in

Currently, the Phillies and Tigers are the only teams to technically clinch a playoff berth. However, with only about 10 games left for most teams, several other division races are all but decided. In the AL East, the Yankees will finish on top; they currently have the best record in the American League. The Rangers have a healthy lead in the AL West, and the Red Sox are currently in position to snatch the final wild card spot in the AL. In the National League, the Brewers are just days away from clinching the NL Central and the D-backs will be tough to catch in the NL West. Meanwhile, the Braves are in the driver’s seat for the NL wild card spot. 

Who’s on the bubble

Currently, there are four teams with an outside chance at knocking one of eeking into the playoffs—the San Francisco Giants, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Of the four teams, the Rays have the best chance. They are just 2 games behind the Red Sox for the wild card spot. The Cardinals are 3.5 game behind the Braves for the wild card spot. The Giants have two ways to get into the playoffs, though both paths are unlikely. They are currently 4 games behind the braves and 5 behind the D-backs for the division title. The Angels are 4.5 games behind the Rangers for the AL West title. With just about 10 games remaining, it will be hard for any of these teams to make up enough ground to get into the playoffs, but it is still technically possible. 

With all the recent talk of lockouts and revenue problems surrounding professional sports, it's easy to lose sight of just how much money a successful sports organization can make. Here are the five most valuable sports organizations in the world, according to the most recent analysis performed by Forbes Magazine. 

Manchester United - $1.86 Billion

Manchester United is truly a global brand. With over 333 million global supporters, 17 million fans on Facebook, and a star-studded roster, they are an institution unlike any other in sports. Manchester United attracts new fans every year by acquiring top talent from other clubs and winning big on the international stage. 

Dallas Cowboys - $1.81 Billion

It's been a while since the Cowboys won a Super Bowl (1996), but that hasn't hurt the team's value at all. Owner Jerry Jones demands attention every year through huge offseason acquisitions and spectacular fan accommodations, such as his state-of-the-art, billion-dollar arena, which can fit more than 100,000 fans. 

The start of the NFL season is just hours away. If you only watch five games this weekend, here are the five you want to see. 

New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers

When the last two Super Bowl champions square off on opening weekend, you know it’s going to be a good one. When those two teams are led by Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees respectively, you know you could be in for a legendary game, characterized by some of the most complete quarterback play in the league. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

If you love smashmouth football, this is the game for you. No two teams are more physical than the Steelers and Ravens. These teams have a bitter rivalry extending over a decade, and this year’s matchup looks particularly explosive. After a lockout, and a shortened preseason, these teams are anxious to lay down some big hits and set the tone for the 2011-12 season. 

The new Sims Social experience encourages players to “Play with Life.”  The game is already social in its original form, but given the partnership with Facebook, it will become a truly social experience.  The game is a collaboration between Electronic Art Play’s The Sim’s Studio and Playfish, and is formatted specifically for Facebook.  

Whereas other Facebook games have little, if any, social interaction, The Sims Social’s main draw is the social interaction.  Already the game is drawing a lot of attention.  The game started out in the open beta stage on August 17, 2011, and managed to rack up three million players by August 22.  By August 23, the number of players more than doubled to seven million.  Needless to say, this is a fast growing game.  According to a recent Gamasutra article , CJ Prober, vice president of publishing and platform management for EA’s Playfish studios, said, “There may have been a time when Facebook was unsure about the importance of gaming, but if there ever was that time, it’s gone now.”  

The Sims PC game has sold 140 million copies in the last ten years, and also has game applications for sale that people can play on iPods and iPhones. The game on Facebook, however, is free to play.  You can get started by granting permission to ‘The Sims Social’ app to access basic information from your Facebook profile and publish game activity to your wall.  

Sitting down with your family to watch a TV show should be an enjoyable experience, but many TV shows have the same old plot that has been seen on every other show.  Other shows have parents reaching for the remote to change the channel.  The best TV shows are the ones that teach lessons in a quiet way and have interesting characters, and have plots that will keep the whole family entertained and relaxed.  Check your local listings for these great TV shows:

Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go!  Young viewers will love watching Dora explore the world around her with the help of Backpack and Map.  Go Diego Go is the spinoff to the very popular Dora the Explorer.  This show features Diego helping animals in the rainforest.  In both shows, young viewers are encouraged to interact with the show.  They will count, learn shapes, sing along to songs, and even learn a little bit of Spanish from this sweet cartoon.  Children will be encouraged to get up and get moving instead of sitting still in front of the TV.  Both shows are great for preschoolers and young school age children.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes If your child loves Marvel Comics and the movies Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, he or she will love this cartoon series about the Avengers.  The Avengers are made up of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, Giant-Man, the Wasp, Hawkeye, and the Black Panther. 

It’s that time of year when students are heading back to school.  That means that college football players will be hitting the field soon. Whether you are a fan of the Big 12 or the PAC-10, there is something for everyone this college football season.  Grab a bowl of chips, and be sure to catch these highly anticipated games:

1.  Notre Dame at Michigan, Saturday, September 10^th 2011 at 7:00pm Central Time on NBC

Notre Dame and Michigan have two of the most well established college football teams.  Every year, each team is a force to be reckoned with. There are some new comers to each team this year who will be battling to show their skills. This is the first season for Michigan’s new head coach, Brady Hoke, and the second season for sophomore quarterback Tommy Rees. With the decision of who should be the first string Notre Dame quarterback still up in the air, it will be interesting to see who will take the field.

This game will be interesting for another reason too. This will be the first night game in Michigan’s football stadium, nicknamed the Big House. For the first time, the lights will be needed to light up the field for 100,000 fans in the stadium. Viewers may tune in to NBC just to see what the Big House looks like at night.

YouTube is more than a website. It's an entertainment universe. There are literally millions of hours of videos uploaded every week. With so much volume, it could take a long time of hunting through boring kitten videos before finding that one hilarious video you want to share with friends and family. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to stay up to date on YouTube without spending hours there each week. 

Tosh.O

Tosh.O is basically the professional version of Ray William Johnson's weekly videos. Daniel Tosh is a professional comedian who hosts a regular television show on Comedy Central laughing at the web's funniest and strangest videos. Tosh's version is longer (fills an entire 30-minute slot as opposed to RWJ's 5-minute videos), though it tends to focus on shorter clips (usually less than 30 seconds). Tosh excels at commentary; the videos are often just starting points for his standup stylings. But, be warned: Tosh.O is not for young children or the easily offended. 

Ray William Johnson

Ray William Johnson is an internet celebrity who has made a career out of highlighting and discussing funny and unique web videos. In fact, Ray William Johnson is so synonymous with YouTube, that a Google search for YouTube returns Ray William Johnson's site as at the #4 result. 

Now the NFL lockout is over, teams are falling over themselves to sign new players and cut deals with each other. In the first few days of the preseason, we have already seen more deals than we typically see in several weeks. Here are some of the highlights. 

Randy Moss retires…for now

On Monday, Randy Moss abruptly retired, with a one-sentence statement from his agent: "Randy has weighed his options and considered the offers and has decided to retire." This announcement comes on the heels of reports that Moss was in the best shape of his career and was anxiously waiting the upcoming season. No one would be surprised if Moss reemerged from retirement at some point this season. 

Patriots acquire Chad Ochocinco

The Patriots have a reputation for turning around troubled stars like Randy Moss and Corey Dillon. This year, Chad Ochocinco will present one of the most challenging rehabilitation projects for Belichick. Ochocinco was acquired from the Bengals for two future draft picks. He is expected to fill the void left by Randy Moss. 

The 2011-2012 NFL season has been saved with a last-minute deal between owners and players to remake the NFL as a more safe and profitable venture. Here are the highlights of the deal. 

More revenues for owners

For the owners, most of this debate was about increasing their share of the rapidly growing NFL revenues. This was the owners' intractable point, and they got what they wanted. 

Less practice for players

The amount of practices an organization can conduct have been dramatically reduced. For instance, there are no more "two-a-days." Additionally, the intensity of practices has been reduced--less contact is allowable. And, coaches who violate these new rules will be on the hook for huge fines. Players argue that this will reduce injuries and extend careers. 

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team's amazing victory over Brazil in the World Cup earlier this month was one of the most exciting and memorable moments in women's sports history. But, it doesn't quite crack the top three…

1996 Olympics

In the 1996 Summer Olympics, the United States Women's Gymnastics Team secured its first ever U.S. Gold Medal for the Women's Team Competition against extraordinary odds. Dubbed the Magnificent Seven, the team comprised some of the greatest gymnasts in U.S. history. However, the most memorable moment came when one of the team's lesser talents, Kerri Strug, injured herself on her first vault. Barely able to walk, Strug heroically vaulted once more in an effort to give her team one last chance at victory. She stuck the landing, collapsing to the floor moments later--having to be carried off by her coach. 

J.K. Rowling’s imaginative series first debuted in 1997. Since then, Rowling has written six sequels, each one more popular than the one before. All seven books are available for purchase on a variety of formats including audiobooks. 
 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Movies

Each of the first six books has been made into a movie. The seventh book, ‘Deathly Hallows’ was split into two movies, the second of which debuts today. Each of the first seven movies is available on DVD. The final one is currently only available in theaters. 

Keeping up with all your favorite movie stars, TV shows, and musical artists has never been easier. Twitter has entertainment news accounts that specialize in everything from celebrity gossip to insider industry news. Here are eight accounts to get you started. 

@peoplemag

The official Twitter account of People Magazine, it covers a wide range of entertainment topics. 

@enews

This is the official Twitter account of E! News. Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Ranic recap the feed's stories every weeknight at 7pm and 11:30pm on E! News. 

@tmz

The official Twitter account of TMZ, it specializes in celebrity gossip and news. 

The NFL labor dispute is expected to hit fever pitch in the coming weeks as players and owners rush to sign a deal, prior to the start of the NFL preseason. Here's a look at the key issues for each side. 

OWNERS WANT...

More money

Currently the NFL takes in over $9 billion of revenue per season. The first $1 billion is given to the owners for operating expenses. Nearly sixty per cent of the remaining $8 billion is given to the players. The owners would like to increase the amount of money taken up-front to $2 billion. Players would like to renew the existing agreement. 

A longer season

The owners would like to lengthen the regular season from sixteen to eighteen games, and eliminate two of the existing four preseason games. Players oppose this change on the basis that it will increase injuries and shorten player careers. 

Selecting a movie that's appropriate for your child can be a complicated task. Most critics review movies on the basis of their artistic ambition and technical excellence, but neglect to talk about the moral character or age-appropriateness of a movie. Furthermore, the film rating system in use today is woefully inadequate. As all parents know, PG movies are not always as safe as they seem, and PG-13 is a grey area to say the least. Kids in Mind is a website dedicated to helping parents make better decisions about the films they watch with their children. 

Three evaluation categories

Kids in Mind evaluates movies on the basis of three main categories--sex & nudity, violence & gore, and profanity. Each movie is given a score between one and ten for each of the three categories. A high score indicates a high incidence of inappropriate screen time. For instance, a score of eight for profanity would indicate that profanity is used freely throughout the movie, while a score of three would indicate that it is used sparingly and probably stays away from the most colorful swear words. 

Detailed list of dicey moments

There are actually quite a few websites that review movies in the manner described above, but Kids in Mind stands above the rest because of its shot-by-shot breakdown of every moment that may be inappropriate for children.

As we approach the middle of 2011, several albums have already emerged as key contenders for the album of the year. Here are five albums that have critics buzzing.

So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon

Paul Simon's twelfth studio album and the first in five years, has all the trademarks of a Paul Simon album--introspective lyrics, percussive acoustic guitars, and broad musical influences from around the world. Despite all the familiar components, Simon finds new ground with So Beautiful or So What--exploring new phrasings and employing more upbeat, universal lyrics. 

When the Heart Emerges Glistening - Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire is one of the most technically proficient jazz trumpeters in modern history. In his latest album, Akinmusire challenges listeners with arrangements that seamlessly intertwine tradition and modernism. 

The standard television season ends in mid-April, which means we are now entering the dreaded re-run season. Fortunately, there are several shows making their début this summer that look interesting. So, get your DVRs ready. Here are five shows worth checking out.

Platinum Hit (Bravo)

Fridays @ 10pm

Twelve aspiring singer-songwriters battle through several different obstacles and competitions to test their creativity, passion, and patience. The series follows the triumphs and failures of each gifted lyricist and performer. The tension is inevitable as they all pursue a single dream. Only one will be crowned the ultimate hit-maker, winning a $100,000 cash prize, a publishing deal with SONY, and a recording deal with RCA/Jive. 

Suits (USA)

Thursdays @ 10pm

Gabriel Macht stars as one of Manhattan's top corporate lawyers. Unable to find an associate that impresses him, he hires brilliant but indifferent college dropout Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Although Ross has no law degree, his prodigious wit and street-smart attitude make him an invaluable asset. As the two rebels fight for justice, they must also fight to keep Ross' secret safe. Suits is executive produced by Doug Liman (Bourne trilogy).

The music scene has changed a lot over the last decade. Today, there is more variety than ever before; whole new genres are being created nearly every week. However, with all of this variety comes confusion. The music industry is decentralized; “mainstream” music has splintered into a million tiny streams, each with their different cultures and cult followings. In other words, there is a very good chance that your favorite band is someone your best friend has never heard of, and vice versa. In this musical Wild West, finding your way to new bands and albums that you really care about is more complicated than ever. Fortunately, you have more tools at your disposal than ever before. Here are several great ways to stay up-to-date on modern music. 

Follow SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) has quickly emerged as the number one place for new musical acts and trends. Over the course of just a few days, hundreds of bands from around the country converge on Austin, Texas, to play in the world’s most influential musical festival. If you can’t make it out to Austin, stay connected through the myriad webcasts and blogs that review SXSW shows and bands. 

Looking for a great date movie? Here are five relatively recent movies guaranteed to deliver entertainment and a touch of romance.