• The “Chinese Democracy may actually come out during this century” chatter started up again, thanks to Dr Pepper dangling cans of soda in front of our faces and Axl Rose deciding to share managers with Weiland.
• American Idol’s viewers took Kristy Lee Cook’s USA-blessing bait and sent Chikezie packing.
• Andy Beta watched as Jackie Chan made cats howl.
• Why ’80s bar rock needs to come back ASAP.
• Leona Lewis’ Oprah blessing helped her capture the Hot 100’s top spot, but Lil Wayne made the biggest move on the chart. And now his album’s actually coming out! (Well, maybe.)
• Tim Finney got lost in Mungolian Jet Set’s cavernous club.
• The first “best of 2008″ list hashit the Web, not nine months too soon. (Don’t tell anyone, but so far Panic at the Disco’s Pretty. Odd. is near the top of Maura’s.)
• Speaking of lists, Matos combed through some top-35 rundowns from 1990-era Spin.
• Vinyl vs. CD: does it really make a difference?
• America’s Next Top Model brought grunge back to the runway.
• Finally, if you hear one song before you leave for the weekend, make it Sean Kingston’s “interpolation” of Billy Joel. You’ll never want to tune into a station playing “the greatest hits of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s” again.

[Photo: Getty]