"True Blood" returns for season three on Sunday! Little spoilers and hints have been appearing online. Ryan Kwanten, who plays Jason Stackhouse, has dropped a few details, including what his character develops a passion for. And Nelsan Ellis, who plays Lafayette, has dished on his character's sexy new love interest.

What are you most excited to in the new season?

Back in February, when Trent Reznor announced that it was "time to make NIN disappear for a while," I didn't think too much of it. I thought I'd just have to wait several years for another album from my favorite band ever. I figured if I could wait five years for "The Fragile" and six more years after that for "With Teeth," I could wait just as long for the next album or tour. Then he called Bonnaroo his last U.S. show, and that's when it hit me.

Getty Images

Trent Reznor just about broke my dark heart when he announced that Nine Inch Nails was going to "disappear for a while."

There might never be another Nine Inch Nails album. The new tracks I downloaded from the NIN/JA tour EP might be the last new NIN tracks I'll get.

As sad as that might be, what concerned me more was what I was going to listen to going forward. (Remember, I'm the gal with the iPod stuck in the '90s. New artists don't excite me much.) Sure, I can spin all of the band's albums, but that's going to get old after awhile. I need something new.

Fortunately for me, when I saw NIN open for Jane's Addiction (playing as an opener on your farewell tour?! Don't even get me started), an amazing new band kick off the whole show: Street Sweeper Social Club.

Sharp lyrics, catchy hip-hop beats that mesh with amazing guitar riffs and a frontman who overflows with boundless energy make for an awesome musical project. Oh, did I mention that Boots Riley of The Coup is said frontman? And Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine is the guy behind the magic guitarwork. These two talents combined created a debut album that has yet to leave my CD player since it was released in mid June.

As for other new music, I don't know yet. My plan is to go back and revisit old favorites who had fallen off my radar in the last decade. (Perhaps I'll check up on the Prodigy and Chemical Bros.) After that, I have no idea.

What say you, readers? Any suggestions for someone who loves industrial but finds the new music in that genre subpar? Tips on how you moved on to discover new beloved bands after your all-time favorite called it quits?

While riding the school bus home one day in sixth grade, I was telling my butt-rock friend Maria about an awesome song I heard when I saw "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" in the theater, and lamenting the fact that I had no idea who the band was. A few months later, after I had forgotten about the tune, she pressed her copy of Guns N' Roses' "Use Your Illusion II" into my hand. After once again hearing the rapid-fire drums that kick-start "You Could Be Mine," a diehard fan was born.

And now, 17 years later, I finally hold in my hands the latest album of new material from GnR – or more accurately, Axl Rose.

Prior to its release, I didn't seek out the leaked tracks. I didn't google any reviews. I wanted to hear the entire album with an unsullied opinion, save for the disappointment that Slash and Duff McKagan were no longer in the band. (Yes, I am such a big fan of the old GnR that I own not only the Velvet Revolver debut, but also Slash's Snakepit and Duff's solo album. Hey! I needed something to tide me over during that long wait.)

So what do I think?

That first -- and title -- track is freakin' awesome! It is exactly what I imagined the band's updated sound would be: a refreshed GnR that's modern but still rocks hard. My expectations weren't that high, but "Chinese Democracy" and the next two songs gave me hope that the rest of the album would be at least good, if not great.

But the more of the album I heard on first listen, the more disappointed I became. Where is the familiar raw, angry, honest feel that all the other albums -- and the first few tracks -- possessed? Where are all the songs, stacked one right after the other, that made me want to thrash around and scream profanities along with Axl and gang?

And more important, why are there all these songs that sound like they belong more on a pop-rock station or an elevator?! This is NOT the Guns N' Roses I grew up loving. This is a very cleaned up, soft effort that sounds more like an overly polished record-label product rather than the original artist I last heard in the early '90s.

Believe me, I expect artists to evolve, especially considering all the technological advancements available in studios now. I don't expect to hear the same album rehashed over and over again. Perhaps the change in the band's sound was too sudden for me between the "Illusion" albums and this one. Would I like "Democracy" more had Axl released some others in between that would have led me to this one? Maybe, maybe not.

I'm not saying I hate "Chinese Democracy." I've had the album for only 24 hours and have given it four spins so far. I like it a little bit more each time, but those too-smooth, light tunes catch me off guard every time. 

Perhaps all I need is a little patience. (Again.)

When it was announced that Daniel Craig would be replacing Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, I was annoyed.  Brosnan, in my opinion, had been the perfect Bond: charming, handsome, sexy, mysterious, smooth and a bit naughty.  He brought a fun aspect to the character that made the films more enjoyable for me, and I wasn't interested in having someone else take over the role, someone I couldn't see playing the dashing agent.

So for the first time in a long time, when "Casino Royale" was released, I didn't go rushing to the nearest theater. In fact, I didn't even see it until three nights ago because I didn't have faith in Craig. My friends tried to convince me that he'd be great and urged me to watch "Layer Cake" as proof of his talent. I watched it. I enjoyed Craig. (Those abs … wow!) But I still couldn't see him as Bond.

Even after I finally caved to "Casino" the other night, I haven't changed my mind, though Craig seemed to do fine. I liked that he was rougher around the edges, but his performance seemed flat and monotonous. So forgive me for not being upset that he may not be back for a third installment.  I'll still see "Quantum of Solace" – eventually – but I may be more excited when a new actor takes the helm.

And who should that be? There are a few I believe may do a bang-up job.

First on my list is Christian Bale. I know, I've already explained why he can always put me in a theater seat, but this man can definitely pull off this secret-agent role.  He's done smooth yet crazy ("American Psycho"), action hero ("Batman" and the upcoming "Terminator 4"), mentally haunted ("The Machinist") and many other films that have shown his range of talent. And his ability to successfully relaunch a beloved character is proven by his Bruce Wayne/Batman. Plus, his recent roles already have his body in perfect shape for rolling around on a sandy beach with a Bond babe.

If producers are hoping for another blondish Bond, how about Kevin McKidd, most recently of Dr. McArmy fame on "Grey's Anatomy"? McKidd has the chops to play a total badass good guy bent on doing whatever it takes for the good of his country, as evidenced by his stint as Lucius Vorenus in HBO's "Rome." His role on "Grey's" also shows that even as a tough guy, he's got a heart, perfect for falling in love with all the wrong ladies. And his voice, oh … that gruff, sexy growl! It's perfect for Bond, along with his rugged looks.

For the fun, charming factor, Blair Underwood would be my pick. He's done sneaky bad guy ("Dirty Sexy Money") and charming romantic hottie ("Sex and the City"). And in those roles, he's proven he can be cool as a cucumber when things don't go his way, not to mention his draw with the beauties, which is a requirement for Bond.

Who do you think would make a great Bond?

On Tuesday, manly mag Esquire named Halle Berry its Sexiest Woman Alive, 2008. I certainly can't argue with that. Not only does she always look great (how quickly she sprang back into perfect form after welcoming baby Nahla!), she's talented and seems smart.

After three long, painful years of having to squint through the fuzz, I finally chucked my rabbit ears earlier this month and now enjoy the crisp, clean picture offered by cable television.

Back in my early teens, I was a huge fan of the original "90210." Sure, it was set in a wealthy high school with ridiculously rich kids (nothing like my school or classmates), but at the core were two average teens I could identify with, and issues that young people often face.

Last week, I listed Marilyn Manson's cover of "Sweet Dreams" as one of the worst cover songs, but apparently, many disagreed with me. But that's the beauty of music: What sounds awful to one person may resonate with another.

I was cruisin' in my ride and singing along to the Guns 'n' Roses "Greatest Hits" CD the other day when I thought, "Hmm … G'n'R rocks, but they sure did do a lot of covers."

Since attending my first concert at age 12 (it was Nelson, if you must know), I've been hooked on live music. Sure, CDs sound flawless and uninterrupted at home, but a concert can provide a glimpse of the person behind the tunes, reinterpretations of favorite songs, and the opportunity to enjoy it in with a room (or stadium) full of others who also dig the artist.

When the topic of girly-girl TV shows comes up, the same series are often mentioned: "Sex and the City," "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty" and the like. They all tend to feature a strong female cast, drama-rific plotlines, modern-day knights in shining armor and often, excellent wardrobes and shoes to die for.