Lego immortalizes ‘Ghostbusters’ for 30th anniversary
I was 3 when "Ghostbusters" came out in theaters in 1984. That puts me in the sweet spot for watching the movie and spinoff cartoon series on TV. I grew up loving "Ghostbusters." When I heard there was an official Lego set celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Ghostbusters — all four of them — and their car, Ecto-1, I was all over it. Seriously, who doesn’t want a Lego figure of Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman? You can pick up a set for $49.99 at the Lego store in Ala Moana Center or online at www.lego.com. — Joe Guinto
Fellow country artists salute Haggard on CD
Merle Haggard has been entertaining country music fans for 50 years and speaks for so many people that several of his hits have crossed over to the pop charts. With "Working Man’s Poet: A Tribute to Merle Haggard" (Broken Bow Records, $11.88), record company exec Benny Brown celebrates his friend’s lifetime achievements with a compilation of 20 Haggard hits redone by a new generation of country artists. The selections include Garth Brooks’ cover of "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down," Toby Keith singing "Carolyn" and James Wesley reviving "The Fighting Side of Me." The album is a great collection of timeless country songs. Haggard and his music certainly deserve this tribute album. Find the CD at Walmart and other stores, or download the 19-song digital version on iTunes. — John Berger
Blow heat away with colorful 2-speed fan
Even with air conditioning, things can get a little warm around the office, what with all the heat from myriad computer and electronic devices and fluctuating hormone levels (hot flash!). Sometimes a little extra cooling is needed at your desk or on your nightstand at home. The two-speed, 6-inch Chillout Portable Electric/USB Fan does the trick and provides adapters that allow you to plug into a computer or electrical outlet. With a suggested retail price of $14.99, find the fan in fun colors at variety and office supply stores and online retailers. — Christie Wilson
Cross this ‘Bridge’ for captivating crime fighting
FX has definitely become the home of edgy TV crime thrillers, including "Fargo," "Justified" and "The Americans." Add "The Bridge" to that list, as the series launched its second season Wednesday.The show, which won a Peabody Award for its first season, follows an unlikely pair of cops: El Paso police detective Sonya Cross (played by Diane Kruger, pictured at left) and Chihuahua State Police detective Marco Ruiz (Academy Award nominee Demian Bichir, right). Last year’s series pilot opened with a serial killer plot line from the Danish-Swedish series "Bron" that inspired the FX version. There’s a body straddling a border bridge and when everyone looks closer, they discover it’s really the halves of two bodies put together. It got darker and sometimes comical as the 13-episode series followed the flawed Ruiz, who can’t keep his pants on, and Cross, whose Asperger’s syndrome gives her a blunt honesty. Season two focuses on the cartel run by narco kingpin Fausto (Ramon Franco), with Franka Potente joining the cast as a twisted cartel bookkeeper and lapsed Mennonite.
"The Bridge" was partly developed by executive producer Elwood Reid, who wrote and produced episodes of "Hawaii Five-0" during the show’s first two seasons. The series airs 7 p.m. Wednesdays. If you miss any episodes, including the season premiere, catch encores at 9 p.m. Tuesdays. — Mike Gordon
Double your pleasure with pizza deal at Whole Foods
It’s human nature to take good things for granted, so we often don’t appreciate how great something really is until it’s gone. For instance the buy-one, get-one-free take-and-bake pizza offered weekends at Whole Foods, something I happily stumbled upon last fall. But in January, Whole Foods nixed the deal. Apparently I wasn’t the only one bummed, because it’s back! A helpful Whole Foods cashier said management was swamped with tons of calls to reinstate the promotion. So it’s on again until further notice. Offered in 6-, 12- and 18-inch varieties, prices start at $6.99, $9.99 and $15.99, respectively, with the second pizza of equal or lesser value free (offers may vary from store to store). Usually at the ready at the Kahala Mall store are cheese, pepperoni and spinach and garlic. They freeze well, but in our household, they don’t take up freezer space for very long and are a great canvas to add your own frills. The hand-tossed pies are available in either white or whole-wheat crust and, in the smaller sizes, rice flour. — Ruby Mata-Viti
5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat.
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