Some sad news to pass along this afternoon: Manute Bol, the iconic 7 foot, 7 inch big man -- who, in recent years, had gained a cult following among Washingtonian basketball fans who fondly remembered his three-year stint with the then-Bullets in the late 1980s -- died today. He was 47. Bol was, quite literally, one of the more visible players in the NBA during his ten-year career -- especially when he teamed with the diminutive Muggsy Bogues (see right) to form one of the most vertically disparate duos in NBA history. Bol remains the only NBA player in league history who averaged more blocks than points per game in his career. more ›

Emmanuel Jal is a supremely charismatic young man with a gentle way of carrying himself, always ready with an infectious smile, and always willing to talk to a group of strangers about his music and the path that led him to be on a stage or at a podium in front of them. The simple fact of his standing anywhere is a triumph; at the age of seven he was transformed into a child soldier to fight in the Sudanese civil war, and spent five years with an AK-47 at the ready until a British humanitarian helped him sneak out to a better life in Kenya. His difficult path is an inspirational example of just what can happen when a little luck combines with a lot of talent, charisma, and positive attitude, as he now finds himself an international star, both for his story, and for the hip-hop he now performs, much of which is informed by the events that shaped him. He's a natural subject for a documentary, an unlikely and fascinating story of triumph over adversity, and that alone is enough to recommend War Child. On top of that, five percent of the grosses for the film go directly to Gua Africa, a group that works to help out war and poverty devastated communities in Sudan and Kenya through education. How often do you actually do some good when you spend your entertainment dollars? more ›