By GRETCHEN McKAY, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

WASHINGTON -- Chalk it up to the eternal conflict between good and evil, but Americans have always been fascinated with crime.

From the stocks and pillories used during Colonial times, to the bloody shootout at the O.K. Corral, to the notoriety of serial killer Ted Bundy, who confessed to 30 murders before being executed in 1989 -- it all fuels our imagination.

What would happen if someone obtained the screenplays for three recent 'tween hits -- "High School Musical," "High School Musical 2" and "Mean Girls" -- threw them all up in the air, reassembled the pages in random order and then slapped on a new title page?

PITTSBURGH -- The fuss started March 13 at the airport, as the family prepared to board a flight from Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Aren't you the kids we saw on the "Today" show?

It would continue during the brothers' weeklong spring break aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

When the country's largest private collection of Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorabilia goes up for auction this weekend in Dallas, one of the hottest lots will be a series of three watercolor sketches by artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- If you're looking to experience Civil War history, there's probably no better place than this quaint town in Adams County, where every house and field seems a reminder of that famous three-day battle back in July 1863.

WASHINGTON -- It makes sense that working journalists and news junkies might want to visit a museum that explores five centuries of news history. But everyone else? As the old saying goes, today's news is tomorrow's birdcage liner.

Easter can't help but conjure up thoughts of chocolate bunnies, gooey marshmallow Peeps and jelly beans. Lots and lots of jelly beans. Yet no Easter basket is complete without a few colored Easter eggs. And for that, we have William Townley to thank.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- There are plenty of reasons to visit the historic port city of Charleston. But what charmed me most were the houses.

For more information on Charleston's charms:

The Heyward-Washington House and Joseph Manigault House: www.charlestonmuseum.org.