Wii

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- XO laptops - the low-cost computers geared for children in developing countries - are fetching a pretty penny on eBay. The computers, which have a signature green-and-white case and a customized version of the Linux operating system, have a nominal value of about $188. One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), the nonprofit that designed and distributes them, is offering them to Americans in a limited program for about $425, including shipping charges and a required $200 donation.

Downloaded singles 1.Stronger, Kanye West 2.Crank That, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em 3.S.O.S., Jonas Brothers 4.Rockstar, Nickelback 5.Beautiful Girls, Sean Kingston[ITUNES (AUG. 27)] Downloaded albums 1.High School Musical 2 soundtrack, Various artists 2.Live at Radio City (bonus track version), Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds 3.Coco, Colbie Caillat 4.Kala (bonus track version), M.I.A. 5.Hairspray soundtrack, Various artists[ITUNES (AUG. 27)] Downloaded TV episodes 1.Multiple Choice, Greek 2.Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas, Hannah Montana 3.If You're So Smart, Then Why are You Dead?

Dexter White was the first in line. A 25-year-old Baltimore police officer, White had arrived outside the Best Buy in Timonium nearly 48 hours ago to ensure that he would snag one of the coveted Sony PlayStation 3's going on sale today. By nightfall, he had set up his green tent and was ready to settle in with his sleeping bag and a supply of Pringles, Capri Sun and breath fresheners. "I'm a die-hard Sony fanatic," said White, who took Wednesday and yesterday off from work to wait in line for one of the machines, which sell for $499 and $599.

The Ant Bully Midway Games [Various platforms] Rated E Honey, they shrunk the kids ... and 17 years later, somebody decided that the same concept might work well for another movie and a series of video games. You're Lucas Nickle, a young boy guilty of torturing the residents of an anthill in your backyard. A wizard ant shrinks you down to ant size to fend for yourself. The game follows the plot of the movie fairly faithfully. As the game progresses, Lucas takes on more ant-like traits.

Support group Spanish-speaking group for family members of an adult or teen with a mental illness meets at 7 p.m. Friday at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Road. For directions or more information, call 410-772-9300. Wii club Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks offers a Wii club for those 55 and older from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way. The first game is free. Call 410-313-7213 for more information. div.talkforum #creditfooter { display: none; }

I'm not much around the kitchen. Neither is my 12-year-old son, Austin, who'd be content with ham and cheese three times a day. But the other night, we whipped up an amazing spaghetti in squid sauce, a zesty shrimp paella and, for dessert, cream puffs from scratch. And we didn't dirty a pan. We "cooked" on a video game called Cooking Mama: Cook Off, recently released for the Nintendo Wii. Austin had checked it out from our local library - libraries aren't just for books anymore - although he admitted he did so because it was the only game left.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Surveying the sparse scene by the old-school Gorf machine, bathing in the greasy odors of cheese steaks and chicken fingers wafting from the cookery in the linoleum-tiled basement of the Valley Forge Convention Center here recently, it certainly felt a long, long way from Los Angeles. For the past decade, the video game industry's annual calendar has been dominated by the elephantine Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles each spring. E3, as the show has come to be known, was not supposed to be open to the public; instead it was theoretically meant for journalists and industry professionals.

After the prom, high school senior Cody Wolfe ditched his tuxedo and slipped into a hulking, flesh-toned sumo suit. He then raced onto a mat to body slam two classmates who were also wearing puffy fat suits. What better way to spend prom night? After the last slow dance, Wolfe joined about 240 C. Milton Wright High School students who left the ballroom on a recent Saturday night and headed to another party where the DJ played fast-paced, upbeat songs, the cooler was packed with nonalcoholic drinks and the hot tub was running - all under the watchful eyes of 50 parents.

CONCERT Beach House: Baltimore's own Beach House is moving up in indie-pop world, recently garnering national attention and graduating to larger venues (like this week's show at Sonar). Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand boast an ethereal and slightly sleepy sound, so expect an extremely mellow affair. Show starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday. More: sonarbaltimore.com CIRCUS 'KOOZA': Bringing in clowns, acrobats and a 1,600-pound Wheel of Death, Cirque Du Soleil arrives this week to transform a Camden Yards parking lot into an avant-garde circus.

South Baltimore's newest bar has been open for less than a month. It's so new, it doesn't even have decorations on the wall, except a clock and an alarm box. The toilet still has a remove-before-using sticker. So few have stepped inside, it still has that new apartment smell. When I spoke with manager Stephen Gronowski recently, he hadn't even settled on a name yet, wavering between The Park Bench or just Park Bench. Still, I went down for an early look last Friday, and found a bar that, though short on pizzazz or notoriety, shows a lot of promise.