In politics, it isn’t over until it’s over…and even then, some close races don’t ever seem to end.

In light of the recent Burris and Franken episodes, Time magazine took a look back at some of history’s Top Contested Officeholders. Here’s what the editors came up with:

Roland Burris/Al Franken, U.S. Senate, 2008

Hiram R. Revels, U.S. Senate, 1870

Adam Clayton Powell, U.S. House, 1967

Rutherford B. Hayes, U.S. President, 1876

Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senate, 1996

Frank Smith, U.S. Senate, 1926

John Durkin, U.S. Senate, 1974

Theodore. G. Bilbo, U.S. Senate, 1946

George W. Bush, U.S. President, 2000

Frank McCloskey, U.S. House, 1984

To find out what made these races so controversial, visit Time.

Through Dec. 27, 2008, Wii Sports had exceeded Super Mario Brother’s lifetime total of 40.24 million units, taking over the all-time top spot.

The top 10 selling games of all time, according to vgchartz.com, are:

1. Wii Sports

2. Super Mario Brothers

3. Pokemon Red/Green/Blue

4. Tetris

5. Duck Hunt

6. Pokemon Gold/Silver

7. Nintendogs

8. Super Mario World

9. Wii Play

10. Super Mario Land

Source: vgchartz.com

1. Gather your records…now! It’s never too early to start getting together any documents or forms you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks, and other documents that support an item of income or a deduction you’re taking on your return. Also, be on the lookout for W-2s and 1099s, coming soon from your employer.

2. Find your forms. Whether you file a 1040 or 1040-EZ, you can download all IRS forms and publications online.

3. Do a little research. Check out Publication 17 on IRS.gov. It’s a comprehensive collection of information for taxpayers highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return. Review Pub 17 to ensure you’re taking all credits and deductions for which you’re eligible.

4. Think ahead to how you’ll file. Will you prepare your return yourself or go to a preparer? Do you qualify to file at no cost using Free File on IRS.gov? Are you eligible for free help at an IRS office or volunteer site? Will you purchase tax preparation software or file online? There are many things to consider. So, give yourself time to weigh them all and find the option that best suits your needs.

5. Take your time. Rushing to get your return filed increases the chance you will make a mistake and not catch it.

6. Double-check your return. Mistakes will slow down the processing of your return. In particular, make sure all the Social Security Numbers and math calculations are correct as these are the most common errors made by taxpayers.

7. Consider e-file. When you file electronically, the computer will handle the math calculations for you, and you will get your refund in about half the time it takes when you file a paper return.

8. Think about Direct Deposit. If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll receive it faster than waiting for a check by mail.

9. Visit IRS.gov often. The official IRS Web site is a great place to find everything you’ll need to file your tax return: forms, tips, FAQs and updates on tax law changes.

10. Relax. There’s no need to panic. If you run into a problem, remember the IRS is here to help. Try IRS.gov or call our customer service number at 800-829-1040.

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Mississippi’s rate was more than 60 percent higher than the national average in 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The teen pregnancy rate in Texas and New Mexico was more than 50 percent higher.

The three states have large proportions of black and Hispanic teenagers — groups that traditionally have higher birth rates, experts noted.

The lowest teen birth rates continue to be in New England, where three states have teen birth rates at just half the national average.

Here are the top 10, with number per 1,000 births:

1. Mississippi: 68.4%
2. New Mexico: 64.1
3. Texas: 63.1
4. Arkansas: 62.3
5. Arizona: 62.0
6. Oklahoma: 59.6
7. Nevada: 55.8
8. Tennessee: 54.7
9. Kentucky: 54.6
10. Georgia: 54.2

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Recovering from preseason knee surgery, Manning went on to have a stellar year, earning a third NFL Most Valuable Player award in the process. That ties him with Brett Favre on the all-time list.

Sports Illustrated commemorated the occasion with a slideshow of the last 10 NFL MVPs. It’s an interesting trip down memory lane, and a reminder of how fleeting pro football fame can be.

Here goes:

1999: Kurt Warner, St. Louis

2000: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis

2001: Kurt Warner, St. Louis

2002: Rich Gannon, Oakland

2003: Steve McNair, Tennessee, and Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

2004: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

2005: Shaun Alexander, Seattle

2006: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego

2007: Tom Brady, New England

2008: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice: January 27, 1955

Samuel Alito, Associate Justice: April 1, 1950

Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice, August 15, 1938

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice: March 15, 1933

Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice: July 23, 1936

Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice: March 11, 1936

David Hackett Souter, Associate Justice: September 17, 1939

John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice: April 20, 1920

Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice: June 23, 1948

Source: Cornell University Law School

But almost every comic actor has a dark side, and the tears of a clown have been immortalized in verse, on stage and screen and in pop music. Among them:

Jim Carrey discussed his bouts of depression in a 60 Minutes interview in 2004. Chevy Chase also suffered similar despondent spells.

Bill Murray always has been candid in interviews — at least until studio reps tried to shut him up. When doing interviews for 1988’s Scrooged, he told reporters that the flop of his long-planned remake of The Razor’s Edge had left him with a nervous breakdown. When a Studio Type barked, “They want to hear about Scrooged, Bill!,” reporters urged Bill to just keep talking. Last year, he honestly said that the thought of his ongoing messy divorce was “devastating.”

Jackie Chan may be a lovable, chipper action/comic figure on screen. Off screen, he’s said in interviews that American schools are “soft” and he deplores the hour-long lunch breaks allowed in Hollywood moviemaking. He also travels with only two sets of underwear, personally washing at least one pair each night.

Phil Hartman attained tabloid immortality the hard way. On May 28, 1998, the onetime Saturday Night Live headliner was murdered by his wife, who committed suicide later the same morning.

Paul Reubens, a.k.a Pee-wee Herman, became tabloid fodder with his arrest for “lewd conduct” while watching the skin flick Nurse Nancy in a Florida porn theater. Pee-wee practically went bye-bye, but Reubens has stayed afloat in supporting roles under his own name. Pee-wee’s “little adventure” in Florida definitely cast dark shadows.

Dana Carvey shied away from show business for almost six years when, after the success of Wayne’s World, his subsequent films flopped. He reached the decision that he’s best as a stand-up comic and last year did an HBO comedy special.

Steve Martin has been successful in movies, but his stand-up comic routines had a freshness that few of his films have caught. He once expressed a fear that in a dozen years, he’d be making Father of the Bride, Part XII. His writing efforts reveal a sensitivity that his movies also rarely allow. Last year’s memoir, Born Standing Up, was a poignant reverie of his early stand-up years and of his painful relationship with his jealous father.

For the most part, sibling rivalry is about petty (yet somehow enormously important) stuff. When the debate outgrows the household, however, the stakes get higher, the tricks get dirtier, and the ego bruises can hurt a little more.

Blender examined some of the top sibling wars in rock and roll history and came up with a list of 12.

Here goes, in reverse order:

12. Incubus vs. Audiovent

11. Brandy and Ray J

10. Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz

9. Benji Madden and Joel Madden

8. Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg

7. Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson

6. Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears

5. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan

4. Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson

3. Nick Carter and Aaron Carter

2. Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher

1. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and the Jacksons

To read about what made these relationships “special,” and to see a slideshow, visit Blender.