Mimi McDaniel/Townsquare Media

I am allergic to their stings. I am afraid of their buzz. I hate being chased by them so how can I keep wasps away from my house and property?

There has to be a way…a flower, a bush, a spray or something that will make my yard unappealing to these darn stinging wasps.

Do you have any suggestions?

This is the Hotel they set up last year:

Mimi McDaniel/Townsquare Media

Mimi McDaniel/Townsquare Media

Really?! Do you think I need a bath?

What caption would you put on this pup’s photo?

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Former Arkansas High football star Rod Smith has been selected to join the Denver Broncos Ring of Honor.Smith played for Arkansas High back in the late 80s and early 90s before playing his college career at Missouri Southern University. Smith went on to play 14 years as a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Rod Smith became the only undrafted free agent to pass the 10,000 yards received milestone. He also finished his career in 15th place all time on the NFL career receptions and 16th all time in yards gained from receptions.

Smith  has maintained his local ties through efforts to help out the Texarkana Razorback Foundation and donated the  so called “Big Hog” inflatable tunnel that the football runs thru at game time.

Smith will be inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Honor during a ceremony at a game in Denver this September.

Brad Barket, Getty Images

The singer, looking fine in a green jacket, shades and a bling rope chain, was doing those cool, robotic, choreographed moves while flanked by bootylicious dancers during ‘OMG.’ Is it us or can Usher groove like Michael Jackson?

The song was a high-energy way to kick off the summer. But Usher is about dynamics, offering up one fast song and then one slow tempo sexy jam. It was a welcome balance that showed both sides of the R&B superstar.

Before he performed the falsetto-driven, sexy jam ‘Climax,’ he spoke about his evolution as an artist. While his accolades – sales numbers and industry awards like Grammys — were mentioned, he spoke about how important it is to be a father and to raise his kids into fine, incredible young men and gave them a shout out, since they were watching at home.

Too cute. We like seeing Usher in dad mode amidst a national TV performance. He then launched into ‘Climax’ and mid-song, he ripped off the jacket to show off his toned arms. It was met with screams from the crowd. He even sang on his knees a little bit, too.

Hello, summer 2012!

Watch Usher Perform ‘OMG’ on ‘Today’

Watch Usher Perform ‘Climax’ on ‘Today’

Source: PopCrush.com

dreamsjung, Flickr

With the popularity of eBay and craigslist, it has become very easy to get great deals on “gently used” items without leaving the comfort of your home, but as the weather warms up, we can’t deny that there is just something much more exciting about finding those great deals while on the hunt at garage sales all over town.

In order to make sure you’re getting the best deals possible, and not wasting time and money, this isn’t something you should just rush into and do without some planning.

You, too, can spend the next six months getting great stuff for ridiculously small amounts of money, but you need to be ready. Here are 10 ways to get the best deals during the 2012 garage sale season.

Learn the Market

macinate, Flickr

First of all, if you’re going to shop efficiently, bargain smartly and save money on garage sale items that you don’t have to purchase for retail, then you need to know the market. In order to know what kinds of things you should be looking out for, you need to know what useful items you’ll be able to find at garage sales. You can usually get great garage sale buys for baby items, kids’ clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, tools, camping gear, games (both board and video), DVDs, CDs, off-season holiday items, speakers, spare parts, craft supplies, gift items and furniture. Make sure you stay away from computer and electronic items that you can’t test, or pricey “antiques” with interesting histories that you can’t verify. Then, do a little research early in the season and while you shop. Check prices for items you want online and pay attention to the prices people have on their garage sale items. If you always see books priced at about 25 cents apiece, you know not to pay $1 apiece for them somewhere else. This is also a good way to know if you’re at a garage sale where everything is way over-priced and you’ll just be wasting your time.

Have a Plan

John Beagle, Flickr

The next thing you have to do to be sure you’re getting the best deals possible at garage sales is to have a plan. For one thing, you don’t want to spend a fortune in gas driving randomly all over town just to save a few bucks on an old table. Use an app like YardSaleMapper that maps sales listed on Craigslist, or any mapping program to help you find the most efficient route to your selected sales. Also, to find the best stuff at low prices, make sure you’re shopping in a relatively upper middle class area. These garage sales usually have nicer items that are less used and they are usually trying to just get rid of them, rather than make their livelihood. Also, look for group sales where you’ll be able to shop for more items in less time. Finally, your plan must be well-timed. It’s common knowledge among the pros that the good stuff goes early. Things will be cheap at the end of a sale, but it will also be picked over. You may have a harder time negotiating the lowest price for something early on, but if you wait too long, it’ll be gone. Check for sales that start during the week and don’t wait until Saturday or Sunday if you can avoid it. Plan your route according to when people are starting their sales. Don’t show up early, though. Nobody wants to make deals with the early bird, because now you’ve made them cranky.

Don’t Look Like You Have Money to Burn

m.gifford, Flickr

Now that you’re ready to actually get out and shop, you need to think about your presentation. If you want to be able to negotiate prices down, don’t show up in your expensive car with your expensive clothes and your expensive accessories. Nobody wants to lower prices for someone who looks like they could easily pay retail without blinking an eye. You’ll get better deals if you look like it would help you to get them. This seems obvious, but it’s an easy mistake to make. Leave the Coach bag and BMW at home. Wear your Old Navy and drive the clunker you’re saving for when your toddler’s a teen. You’ll definitely get the best deal possible if you look the part.

Bring Notes & Tools

Bob n Renee, Flickr

The best way not to waste your money at a garage sale is to know exactly what you need and exactly what will work for you. At the start of the season, make a list of the items you’re hoping to find during your sale quests. It doesn’t matter what the list contains, it just matters that you make a list so you don’t get sidetracked by interesting stuff that will only turn into clutter later. Then, make notes. If you’re looking for clothing, have everyone’s sizes with you. If you need a gift for Aunt Matilda, note what she likes. If you’re getting video games for the kids, know what system and games they have. Then, bring a garage sale kit. You need to have a tape measure for furniture, batteries to test battery-operated items, a small screwdriver to open battery compartments, a portable CD player to test CDs, a CD to test CD players, a DVD to test DVD players, an extension cord to test electric items, a working light bulb to test lamps, bags to carry items, newspapers to wrap breakables and a rope to tie large things to your car.  Also, make sure you bring munchies so you can keeping ‘saling even if it’s lunch time.

Show Interest in the Stuff You Like

Bob n Renee, Flickr

Don’t be afraid to show a seller that you’re interested in the items for sale. If you are interested in more than one item, the seller will like you more because his taste will be validated. Also, if you’re interested in what you see on the tables, you can strike up a conversation about certain items, further forming a bond with the seller. This means he’ll be more likely to negotiate a good deal with you because he’ll like you. If he has things out that are similar to other items you’ve been searching for, but not exactly what you want, ask about the items you’re looking for. For example, if you know your husband needs a certain tool and the sale has some tools, let the seller know what you’re looking for because he might be willing to part with it. Maybe he has something inside that he didn’t put out because he thought it wouldn’t sell, but would be willing to sell it if asked. Or, maybe he’s seen it somewhere else in his garage sale excursions and can give you a tip.

Take Small Bills

BrownPolyester, Flickr

This is something, as a beginner, you may not have considered, but having small bills when you hit the sales is a must. It’s hard to make a deal if you’re whipping out a 20, especially if you’re early and the seller can’t make change. You can negotiate better prices if you can make exact change, and if you’re pulling out fives and ones, it won’t look like you have tons of money to spend. Here’s another important money idea — keep your bills in separate pockets. This way, if you’re offering $3 for an item, you don’t have to flip through a bunch of tens to get to your ones. You simply reach in your ones pocket and grab what you need without looking. Again, it won’t appear you have tons of money to spend and you can score better deals. Also, it adds to your efficiency and you can move on to the next sale that much faster.

Be Ready to Negotiate…Nicely

BrownPolyester, Flickr

People expect to negotiate at garage sales, so you need to have your skills polished. The first thing to remember is that negotiating goes much smoother if you are polite and complimentary to the seller. Whatever you do, don’t insult the products. Telling someone her items are second-rate will not help you negotiate. Instead, tell her how much you are interested in the item and then let her know the price just isn’t in your budget. If you can’t get to a good price, try buying things in groups. The seller will appreciate that you’re going to clear a lot of the things she’s trying to get rid of and may be willing to let things go for a bulk discount. Above all, be reasonable, non-confrontational and polite. And, be ready to walk away. Know what value the item has for you and don’t overspend if you don’t want to. You can always check back at the end of the sale.

Leave Business Cards Before You Go

giuliana_miranda, Flickr

If it turns out that you can’t get the price you want for an item and it’s early in the day, have a card on you that you can leave with your best offer written on it. If the item is still unsold at the end of the sale, the seller may just want to get rid of it at a bargain price and will contact you. Sellers are especially eager to get rid of large items they don’t want to drag back into the house at the end of a long day. You can go to sites like VistaPrint.com and have basic cards with your name and number on them printed for a very low price, or even free. It’s well worth it for that perfect piece of furniture that you know you can get for a steal.

Thoroughly Check Items Before You Buy

Dick Penn, Flickr

Test. Test. Test. Taking home an item that doesn’t work is more of a waste of money than buying something for retail that you can get at a sale. Paying $3 for garbage is not smart at all. Turn things on. Plug things in. Check board games for all the parts. Use your smartphone to look up items and see what a complete version of it looks like. Make sure decks of cards contain every card. Don’t buy a puzzle unless you know for sure it has all its pieces. Ask the seller if she can play a CD or DVD for you to make sure it plays, and then check for scratches yourself. It’s not rude to make sure something works properly before you buy it. Just make sure you get permission to start taking stuff apart before you do it. No seller should have an issue with you saying, “Do you mind if I put batteries in this and see if it works first?” If they do, put it down, thank them for their time and walk away.

Be Picky

colros, Flickr

Finally, you aren’t saving money if you’re going around buying things you don’t want or need, or couldn’t sell for a profit. Garage-saleing isn’t about getting things at cheap prices, it’s about getting the things you need at bargain prices. Having a house full of useless junk isn’t the best way to stretch your dollar. Keep track of your list and make sure you have a plan for everything you purchase. Is it something you’ve wanted for a long time? Is it something you or someone in your family needs or could use? Or, is it something you could clean up and mark up and then sell it at your own garage sale for a profit? If you can’t answer “yes” to any of these questions, walk away. Don’t get caught up in the moment. You aren’t going to buy something at every sale, so keep your money in those pockets until you find something on your list.

Watch This

Just so it all sinks in, here’s a quick howdini.com clip describing the best ways to get fantastic deals at garage sales. Happy ‘saleing!

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

There are few people who can’t get through their busy day without a cup of strong black coffee. It gets the blood moving, make your brain work faster and keeps you from falling down face first at your desk in a puddle of your own drool.

Some don’t drink it at all because they think it’s not good for them. However, it may not be as unhealthy as you think. A new study from the National Cancer Institute found that guys who drank six cups or more a day actually a 10 percent lower chance of dying prematurely. It’s 15 percent lower among women. Some can even take this good thing too far. Here’s how to tell if you’re one of them.

1. Your blood pressure finished in single digits.

2. You’re so jittery that Sherman Williams hired you as a paint shaker.

3. Your three children are named Venti, Grande and Tall.

4. You’ve showered, made breakfast, fixed a flat tire on the car, read the entire newspaper, fixed lunches for the kids, res-sewn the buttons on all of your shirts, given the house a second coat of paint, finished your taxes and painted a perfect reproduction of the fresco Palazzo del Te by Giulio Romano for the bathroom wall and you’ve only been awake for five minutes.

5. You ask the guy at Starbucks if they can serve your latte in an IV drip.

6. After sex, you go for a one-mile run — and you’re a guy.

7. Your heart beats so fast that you can lay on your stomach and do push-ups without using your arms.

8. You’ve replaced your cocaine habit with nutmeg.

9. You save time so you can drink more coffee by drinking it black, injecting yourself with half-and-half and snorting a line of Sweet’N Low.

10. Your doctor says you’ve got the foamiest blood he’s ever seen.

11. Your favorite coffee mug says, “I’d rather be drinking coffee.”

Honda has designed a new people mover with all of us in mind.

The Honda UNI-CUB is Honda’s answer to the Segway, but this thing is truly unique. It travels up to 3.5 miles an hour but it is very versatile since it turns in such a small area. I know you thought Honda was working on some new sports cars or maybe some fuel efficient cars, but it looks like personal people movers seem to be at the front of their minds right now.

YouTube

A few years ago, Jennifer Lopez’s career seemed to be floundering.  Not any longer, she’s now topped Forbes magazine’s annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities,displacing last year’s #1, Lady Gaga.

According to Forbes, once J-Lo landed the American Idol judging job, it revived her career and gave her a platform to build her empire.  She now has big endorsement deals with L’Oreal and Gillette, a clothing line at Kohl’s, a fragrance line, and another show, Q’Viva!, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.  She also has a strong social media presence, with 12 million Facebook fans and 6.6 million Twitter followers, and she’s reportedly earning $20 million for her second season on Idol.

Justin Bieber is #3 on the list, right behind Oprah Winfrey. Not only did he earn $55 million from touring and record sales and rack up 21 million Twitter followers, he’s also a venture capitalist, having invested in several technology startup companies.

Rihanna is #4 on the list, thanks to her non-stop stream of hit singles, her touring income, her endorsement deals with Nivea and Vita Coco, her Rebl’ Fleur fragrance, and her 53 million Facebook fans.

Lady Gaga is #5.  Her slide from #1 is due to the end of her most recent tour, but she stays in the top 10 thanks to her album sales and social media influence: she’s got more Twitter followers than anyone in the world.

Britney Spears is #6, thanks to her successful tour of last year, her album sales, her endorsement deals and her fragrance line.  Katy Perry’s #8, due to the fact that she scored five #1 singles from one album, she’s only the second artist in history to do that, next to Michael Jackson, as well as her successful tour.  Both Britney and Katy also landed high on the list due to the number of mentions they got in the media, mostly due to their personal lives: Britney got engaged, while Katy got divorced.

Other musicians who made Forbes list:

#11 –Taylor Swift
#16 – Beyonce
#17 — Elton John
#21 – Paul McCartney
#24 – Adele
#25 – Bon Jovi
#26 — Dr. Dre
#38 – Jay-Z
#42 — Sean Diddy Combs
#45 — Kanye West
#69 — Lil Wayne

YouTube

Glamberts, rejoice,  your man Adam Lambert is back on the American Idol stage Thursday night to perform a song from his brand-new album, Trespassing, in stores this week.

Unlike some American Idol alumni, Adam follows the show closely, and has been quite outspoken about the fact that he thinks Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet are the two standouts this season.  However, he stops short of trying to predict who he thinks will win the competition.

“I’m actually really thrilled at the last three who are there are there,” Adam tells ABC News Radio.  “They all have something really special.  They all have something very different and that’s great, and I think at this point, when you get down to the final three, it’s not necessarily about who’s the best singer, ’cause they’re all really good.  It’s gonna just be about what’s the popular style and personality.”

Adam adds that he thinks all three of the remaining contestants will probably get great recording deals and make really great albums, adding, “I plan on buying all three ’cause I think they’re all great.”

And speaking of great albums, Adam’s very proud of  Trespassing, his sophomore album.  He took complete creative control of the project, co-writing nearly every song and overseeing every aspect of the package, including the artwork.

Noting that he feels Trespassing is a “make or break” album for him, Adam tells ABC News Radio, “I made sure that every song, whether it was one of the upbeat songs or one of the more introspective, was very, very, very honest.  And I think my fans…I think I owe them that.  I think they’ve been there for me and I want to give them the most authentic experience possible.”

Trespassing is made up of half upbeat funk, pop and electronic dance songs and half introspective ballads, and Adam says that’s because he wanted to show his artistic depth.  “Obviously, I think everybody has their ups and their downs and there’s more dimensions to most people that just what you see when you first meet them or when you’re out at a party with them,” he explains.  “I wanted to give my fans a little more insight into what goes on inside.”

Adam says the album’s title track, which recalls Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” sums up his feelings about competing in the pop music world.  “It’s about feeling like an outsider and feeling like the atypical type that gets to go into this business, in this world,” he explains.  “And instead of letting that be something that stops me or prevents me from doing it, I think the very fact that I’m different, it actually fuels me.”

Adam adds, “It gives me a lot of ammo to go in and do my thing, and that’s what Trespassing’s all about.” here is a video of Adam performing the title track on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images

It’s time to exercise your right to vote.Early voting is underway in both Arkansas and Texas for Primary Elections later in this month of May. The Arkansas Primary is next Tuesday May 22 and the Texas Primary is the following Tuesday May 29.

There are numerous local races including Sheriff, County Clerk, County Tax Assessor and County Commissioner Races in Bowie County. Texas voters also have congressional races and a statewide Senate vote to see who will replace the retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison.

In Arkansas, County Judge, Justice of the Peace and state house and senate races are being contested and of course the 4th district  U.S. House seat currently held by Mike Ross is up for grabs. Ross is retiring from politics this year.

If you are a registered voter, please be sure and either vote early or on primary day.

YouTube.com

Disco queen Donna Summer has lost a long battle with cancer. TMZ is reporting that she was in Florida at the time of her death this morning.

The five time Grammy winner was well known for her huge disco hits in the 70′s like “Last Dance”, “Hot Stuff”, “She Works Hard For The Money” and many more.



Townsquare Media

Several area high school baseball teams are in action tonight.The Pleasant Grove Hawks begin a best of three regional quarter final series in Kilgore against Mabank. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Game Two will be same time tomorrow night also in Kilgore, and a game three if necessary will be played Saturday 2 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant.

The Hawks come in ranked fifth in the state with a 27-5 record while Mabank is 18-7.

Pleasant Grove  prefers the best of three format over a one game winner take all game.

In another area quarterfinal series, Hughes Springs ranked second is taking on Queen City in a best of three at Texas High. First pitch is 7 p.m. tonight, with game two tomorrow at the same time, then a third game if necessary would be 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon also at Texas High in Texarkana.

iStockphoto

Vote for Texarkana, Arkansas to win a grant for a dog park.

The PetSafe Bark for Your Park Contest has started and runs through June 14, 2012. You can vote every day!

Texarkana, Arkansas is ready for its first community dog park and shelter dog park. It will be known as “JefFURson Park,” located on the Partnership for the Pathway Trail. It’s the triangle area between the pathway, pavilion and road that runs along AHS. Areas will be sectioned off for large, medium and small dogs. There will also be an agility course. The community will be able to exercise and socialize their dogs with other dog lovers.

Crystal Sloan is helping to organize this project. She says, “We also want to create a dog park at the Animal Care and Adoption Center of Texarkana, Arkansas with a portion of the grant. Our shelter dogs desperately need a safe place to run off-leash and play with volunteers and potential owners. As of now, the shelter dogs can escape from their slip leads and run into nearby traffic when they are taken outside of the shelter. With $100,000 we can make the most of the money by serving the general public’s need for a safe off-leash dog park as well as creating a stress-free and safe environment for the community’s shelter dogs. Our animal shelter serves Miller County, Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas, so voting for Texarkana, Arkansas will benefit both sides of Stateline.”

Please vote daily for Texarkana, Arkansas.

You can vote once a day. Please mark it as a favorite and vote daily.

Last year there was some confusion which caused a split of the votes between the Twin Cities. I believe this cost our community the chance to have a dog park. If we can get a dog park in Texarkana, Arkansas, it will benefit the entire community no matter which side of the line you are on.

The unique opportunity for Texarkana is the ability to also help the animal shelter with this grant. If you have ever been to or seen a shelter that has areas sectioned off for dogs to run loose, it is very helpful to potential adopters. They are able to go into a fenced area and sit with the dog to interact and see how much they would enjoy the dog if they adopted it. I get chill bumps when I think about how much of a difference this type of park could make for the animals that are stuck in the shelter waiting to be given a chance. Please help by voting daily for Texarkana, Arkansas to get a dog park.

Here is a video of last year’s grant winner:

Vote daily for Texarkana, Arkansas

This is a grassroots effort. If you would like to help in this project, please visit Petsafe.net and download flyers to distribute.

Thursdays are rough on me. It is so close to the weekend but it seems like it is the day when everything seems to fall apart. The stresses of our lives just seem to pile up and sometime it is best to sit back and realize that you are doing your best, and that is enough. I found this quote from John Steinbeck on a friends Facebook page and thought I would share it with you. Have a great Thursday, and remember ,you are good!

Townsquare Media Texarkana

Several vehicles have been stolen from car lots in the last few weeks in Texarkana, Texas.Texas side police believe they may have solved at least some of them with an arrest. An off-duty detective was driving south on Lake Drive when he spotted one of the alleged stolen cars. He radioed authorities who stopped the vehicle.

Police say 19-year-old Patrick Antara Sims Jr. has been charged and a warrant has been issued for a 15-year-old juvenile suspect.

The investigation continues and more arrests could be pending.

Sweet Swirlz yogurt machines (© Jathan Fink/Townsquare Media)

Texarkana summers are brutal, but there’s a new place in town to help us beat the heat. Sweet Swirlz, a frozen yogurt shop that opened last November in Pleasant Grove, is a one-of-a-kind, locally owned business that is quickly becoming a family favorite.

Earlier this week I stopped by to try out the goods. Chris Stine, one of the employees there (and great nephew to best-selling author R.L. Stine of “Goosebumps” fame), welcomed me with a big cheerful smile and tousled blond locks and offered to show me around the shop, which is colorfully decorated in pastel pink and green.

“We’ve got five machines that each have two flavors which can be swirled together,” Chris said. Four of the machines typically maintain the same flavors of Strawberry Sensations, Cheesecake, Orchard Peach, All Natural Classic Tart, Kisses Chocolate, Caramel Custard, Tahitian Vanilla and White Chocolate Mouse.

Sweet Swirlz' effervescent Chris Stine is ever cheerful (© Jathan Fink/Townsquare Media)

The fifth machine changes flavors weekly and usually features the most unusual flavor combination. This week, the result was Espresso/Cupcake. As strange as that blend sounded, the swirl of rich coffee and chocolate cake made for the perfect bite of cool, frosty refreshment.

Chris was quick to point out that there are tons of toppings available too, and his favorite is apparently the Boba Balls, because he mentioned them frequently. “They’re filled with strawberry juice that bursts in your mouth,” he said with a grin. (Yes, I believe my new buddy Chris is always full of smiles.)

In addition to these flavorful Boba Balls, there are 29 other toppings customers can choose from including berries, nuts, and assorted candies.

Boba Balls give a burst of strawberry flavor (© Jathan Fink/Townsquare Media)

Located at 3317 Richmond Road, the shop quickly fills with teenagers after school, eager to fill up on their sweet concoctions. Sweet Swirlz makes it easy though. All customers have to do is grab a cup, fill it up with all the yogurt they can handle, pile on the toppings, and then weigh it and pay only 43 cents per ounce. While it sounds amazingly inexpensive, it is a business model that has worked so well the owners are considering opening a second shop in Arkadelphia, according to Chris.

So the next time you’re out on a hot afternoon and need a little cooling off, skip the ice cream and try something tasty and low fat and discover for yourself why Sweet Swirlz is the latest place to make our Good Eats list.

la roxx myspace

There is live music in Texarkana all weekend at  Fat Jack’s , Hopkins Icehouse, and Shooters.

See the full schedule of music below.

Live Entertainment for the Weekend

Calendar courtesy of TexarkanaRocks.com

Venues:

Fat Jack’s is located on Stateline, Texarkana, Ark. 870-774-5225.

Shooter’s Sports Bar at 310 E 49th Street in Texarkana, Ark. 870-773-4903

Hopkins Icehouse is located in downtown Texarkana at 301 East 3rd, Texarkana, Ark. 870-774-3333

La Fogata is located on Genoa Road just past Loop 245. 870-773-1879

If you would like to add your favorite night club’s entertainment to this blog, please send me an email with all of the pertinent info.

Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Lionsgate

This weekend, you’ll have your choice between a goofy comedy, watching things blow up, and a tale about the joys and perils of new parenthood. Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie opened on Wednesday to lukewarm ticket sales. My pick for the weekend is Liam Neeson’s movie Battleship. I think the only thing that will help What to Expect When You’re Expecting is Chris Rock.

THE DICTATOR is a comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, John C. Reilly, J.B. Smoove, B.J. Novak. A dictator risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

BATTLESHIP is an action movie starring Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Jesse Plemons, Peter MacNicol. Based on the classic board game, a battleship fights a fleet in an adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING is a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Banks, Dennis Quaid, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Cameron Diaz, Chace Crawford, Megan Mullally. Couples weather the first pains of parenthood in the adaptation of the best-selling self-help book of the same name.

Here’s a sneak peek.

‘The Dictator’

Directed by: Larry Charles

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Jason Mantzoukas

Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘Battleship’

Directed by: Peter Berg

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater, Liam Neeson

Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’

Directed by: Kirk Jones

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew J. Morrison

Get Tickets & Showtimes

When pop stars perform live on the late night talk shows you can usually expect one of two things. They will lip sync over a track of their band. Or they will do what  Karmin did and totally blow you away with a great live performance. I was very surprised by how great they sound and the look of the band reminds me of the bands back in the 80′s. What do you think of Karmin’s performance of ‘Broken Hearted’?