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Notables: The Samuel L. Jackson vehicle Lakeview Terrace, came out on top. Here's a fun fact: according to the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records, Samuel L. Jackson is now the world's highest grossing actor - $7.42 billion, 68 films. People love him, and they love his movies. If you've seen a lot of Jackson films, you know that he usually plays a man who's just on the verge of coming undone. In fact, in a lot of films, he does come undone. What does that say about our identifying with - or at least enjoying - that sort of guy? Interesting. In his newest, he's a corrupt cop who - surprise, surprise - comes undone.

As for the rest of the list, the Coen Brothers comedy Burn After Reading is still making a lot of people laugh. Another randy comedy was unleashed on the world (My Best Friend's Girl), and the world was happy to embrace it. It's clear that executives felt Igor didn't have a chance this summer against other children's films (Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda). So, they tossed it aside until fall rolled around. Their gut feeling was right: it's a dud. And to close up shop for this section of the roundup, allow me to use Righteous Kill to do a bit of shameless plugging. The Al Pacino-Robert DeNiro vehicle is yet another movie that's fueled by protagonists who aren't so much heroes, as they are antiheroes. The elevation of the antihero has been around forever and a day. But it's become even more popular as of late - especially in crime and legal dramas. I posted an article about what this might mean for our preaching. Check it out when you get a chance. I've always been reflecting on this phenomenon right here on the blog. See the rest of this week's entries, if you care to join the conversation.

Top Five Books (according to USA Today research)
1. Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini
2. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
3. New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer
4. The Shack, by William P. Young
5. Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

Notables: Would you look at that - someone actually stole the top spot from Stephenie Meyer. Interestingly, though, it took another fantasy book aimed at young adults to do it. Brisingr is the third book of a series about the adventures of Eragon and his dragon, Saphira. To read more about the series, click here. Create a fantasy world for young adults to get lost in, and you'll inevitably make millions. I'm not sure how you can fit all of that in between sermons and pastoral calls, but there you have it.

Our having fallen back in love with fantasy novels is intriguing to me. I'm not sure the economy, the war, and the notion of America seemingly falling apart at the seams is on the mind of most grade schoolers, junior highers, and teenagers, but they are often more perceptive than we think. Are the novels of Meyer and Paolini their way to shut it all out and find a better world? Research shows that most young adults feel like the adults of the world aren't leaving them with much good to go on. Why not just escape for a bit, you know?

As for the rest of the list, despite Paolini's victory, Meyer still rules. She's got three of the top five spots. The only other person who has entered the literary coliseum with Meyer and managed to stay standing is William Young. I sort of feel like he should be declared top gladiator despite his being fourth on the list. Why? Not only has he had to wage war with Paolini, Meyer, and countless other authors. He's had to deal with a whole host of evangelicals calling him a heretic. Yowtch.

Top Five Albums
1. Death Magnetic, Metallica
2. Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
4. Brass Knuckles, Nelly
4. Rock N Roll Jesus, Kid Rock
5. Learn to Live, Darius Rucker

Notables: Metallica comes out on top again. It seems like people are really in the mood for loud, fast, angry-but-also-a-bit-sad music. As for the other newbies on the list, we've got fresh material from Ne-Yo. The singer-songwriter (mostly of love songs) says the album is a tribute to the Rat Pack of old. In one interview about the album, Ne-Yo insists Sinatra and Davis were gentleman - guys who would never leave the house unless they looked good. He adds: "They're suited and everything is right from top to bottom. Not saying it has to be a suit, 'cause clothes don't make the man - it's the attitude and person. The music needs to personify that." I'm not sure what all he means by that, but there you have it. I also feel I need to add that I've heard stories about the Rat Pack, and would we say they were gentleman? Hmmmmm.

Also new is Brass Knuckles, by rapper Nelly. Nothing really jumps out at me about this one. But I did notice #5. Darius Rucker is the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish. Remember them? Well, Rucker has taken a break from the band and gone solo. Not just that - he's gone country. It's #5 on this list, but #1 on country music's list. That's the first solo #1 country hit by an African American artist since Charley Pride.

Top Singles
1. "Whatever You Like," T.I.
2. "So What," Pink
3. "Love Lockdown," Kanye West
4. "Disturbia," Rihanna
5. "Love Story," Taylor Swift

Notables: Nothing seems special in this batch, except maybe the Kanye West single. "Love Lockdown" is actually sort of a haunting confession from a guy who's never been known for his humility. Over and over again, West keeps saying - possibly to his ex-fianc?e - "I'm not loving you, the way I wanted to." You don't hear stuff like that usually. It sure seems out of place with what he sings in "Swagga Like Us."

Top Five Web Searches (according to Google Trends)
*Exercise caution when searching; some topics may be inappropriate.
1. foliage map
2. queen rania
3. mccain top ten blowups
4. jill nicolini
5. 102.5 the bone

Notables: The first item on the list is pretty cool. I guess a lot of parks are now offering color-coded maps to help people find the most beautiful spots during the fall season.

"Queen Rania" is Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. She took part in this week's Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), alongside superstars like Bill Clinton and Bono. She has a passion for fighting against poverty and fighting for women's rights.

Much has been said about McCain's temper. Who knows what's true and what's not. Still, a lot of folks are gleefully putting together top-ten lists to prove McCain has a history of getting mad. If you Google this item, you'll see these lists are everywhere, so I'm not going to link to any particular one. I don't care to talk politics, and I would say this if it were McCain, Obama, or whoever: I'm pretty sure anyone could put together a top ten list of blowups for just about everyone.

Skip item #4. It's not edifying to any degree. Just like item #3. And probably item #5. 102.5 The Bone is, as you might guess, a radio station. I went to their site. You probably don't need to. It looks like a typical, dumb-humor radio station. I'm not sure why they are getting a little more press than usual right now.