The Pop Cycle: Ke$ha, Anna Kendrick and Mariah Carey (But Really Miguel)

This week on The Pop Cycle, your weekly assessment of three songs on Top 40 radio: a pop singer second only to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on my "20 Year Old Crushes" list, an actress and her infernal cups, and the classiest lady in pop culture.

Why Reality is Overrated

Some liar with a French poodle he probably stole from a loving family

While reading the introduction to John Steinbeck's excellent travelogue Travels with Charley, I made the startling discovery that he probably made some stuff up. Jay Parini, the author of the introduction, noted some facts didn't match up then shrugged it off by saying "he's a true novelist." Scratching my head, I took to Facebook, noting that had the renowned author been born in another era, he would have become Oprah's worst enemy. (I couldn't find my status for a screen capture and I don't remember exactly what I said, so I'm kind of pulling a Steinbeck on this one. And that is probably the only time I can be accused of "pulling a Steinbeck", unless I someday own a poodle that was raised in France and name it after a relative.)

I spent a good part of my adult life hearing stories of the next literary liar who mislabeled fiction as memoir or journalism. And it seems the years have only broadened our insistence for complete and uncreative honesty. After reading about so called reality television, I can't help but think this has only gotten worse. If we're demanding television tell the truth, something must be off.

There are two important differences between Travels with Charley and the other works I mentioned above: storytelling and truth. Steinbeck was a master storyteller and crafted his tale around a central truth and a keen eye on his surroundings. Even if he took a plane around the country rather than traveling by truck and never talked to a single soul, that doesn't make the dialogue or observations in the book untrue. A skilled author can pull details out of his crack and invent a story; telling one that serves a deeper truth is not so easy. Maybe our worship of details at the expense of truth isn't new, but it's definitely more noticeable now. Here's hoping truth telling catches on. A friend at work who is a car guy asks me what I'm reading in the break room, and I usually lie, "It's a book about a truck." When he saw me reading Travels with Charley, he asked what it was about. "Actually, this one is about a truck." Of course, I was full of it.

My Pet Theory about The Voice

Having watched The Voice avidly since midway through Season 1, I've developed a few theories about the show and how it's progressed. I feel I can speak capably to these wild conjectures of mine for a few reasons: 1) I like music; 2) I like TV; 3) I hate reality TV; and 4) I somehow like this show.

There Are No Words to Describe These Words

I'm always on the lookout for valuable resources for my church. Maybe a small group study that complements an upcoming sermon series or a parenting class I think would connect. I subscribe to email lists to keep me current on new releases. Sometimes I find some gems, but just as often I find myself angry, depressed, or given to fits of laughter. My therapist says that if I stuff my feelings deep enough I'll become a Swedish Baptist. Or Lutheran. In the interest of avoiding a middle-aged conversion,  I thought I would share a press release with you from time to time and supply commentary.

Song of the Week

Have a blessed weekend. And listen to Japandroids's "House That Heaven Built" to have your cheeks blown off.

Please Stop "This."

I think it started a few weeks ago, but now everyone on my Facebook page and everyone I follow on Twitter is saying "This." and then including a link or pointing to a previous comment they agree with. I don't understand anything about this phenomenon. I know coming up with a pithy entry on every link you post isn't easy. Well, I mean, it's easy, but I can see why folks would get tired of so...much...thinking...

But for Pete's sake, come up with something. Just has to be a one-liner. Or a word! Just pick a random word. It doesn't even have to be associated. If you've written a post about gondolas, use the word "nectarine." I don't care. Anything is more clever than "This."

The Idiot Box: The Office Series Finale

The Office series finale took me by surprise last night. Maybe it's because, after over a year of hype, I wasn't sure the show's end would ever come. Maybe it's because all reports indicated Steve Carrell would not be returning. Maybe it's because the show, over its 7th and 8th seasons, was kind of a mess. Maybe it's because I'm always looking for the next thing.

But what a finale it was; in turns deeply moving, hilarious, and near perfectly executed. It deserved every minute of its 51 minute run time. Here are some of my thoughts on the show's last episode. (SPOILER ALERT. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN THE EPISODE.)

I Don't Want This Stupid Vacuum

I am highly entertained by door-to-door salesmen. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. Maybe I get a kick out of their sales pitches, or maybe I just enjoy being polite. I don't know exactly why it is, but if somebody knocks on my door, I want to talk to them.

Now, the statistics of me actually buying something are significantly lower than me engaging in conversation. I can certainly say "no" to a salesman. I can say it a million times if it has to happen. But I'm just strangely fascinated by them. It's like a kid on a really crappy Christmas morning.

Note To Bakers: Stop Being Awful to People

Just to be clear, this is a cake topper.

No one knows why, but bakers across the western United States are getting pissed. They're pissed at customers and gay people and Gordon Ramsay and Yelp and Reddit. They have toiled ceaselessly, preparing treats to make us smile, but we are frowning, and they have had it up to HERE.

First, Amy Bouzaglo of Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona (because of course it's Scottsdale) stole the season finale of Kitchen Nightmares by making Gordon Ramsay seem more mild-mannered than a Canadian accountant, then proceeded to drape the internet with a fondant crafted from pure refined wrath. I'm not going to explain anymore. Just go here and read everything, then watch the embedded videos. I promise: you will be deeply entertained.

But more to the interests of this blog are the actions taken by Pam Regentin of Fleur Cakes in Hood River, Oregon...

A Brief Guide to Christian Rock Euphemisms

You = Jesus
He, Him = Jesus
"something more" = Jesus
"someone" = Jesus
"so much more" = Jesus
"more" = Jesus
"one" = Jesus
"the one" = Jesus
"the sun" = Jesus

The Best of YouTube: cdza

These people.

The other night I stayed up embarrassingly late watching YouTube videos. I don't normally share this type of information (because it happens far too often than it should), but today I must.

Have you stumbled across cdza yet? Let me introduce you to the best thing on the internet. Cdza is a musical collective that makes weird music video experiments. So far they have 22 videos up on their YouTube channel, and I have watched every one of them.

In addition to being stupidly talented (we're talking Broadway talented, here), the members of cdza are funny. Every video made me chuckle, clap or squeal with delight (I really get into my YouTube viewing, ok?). They're fans of silly outfits, uncomfortably long silences and Jurassic Park. They really really like Jurassic Park.

I was going to share my favourite with you, but I can't pick. They're all so good. Start with Epic Key Changes, then go to City Streets, Famous Musicians, to get an idea of who they are and what they do. Then check out the Ringtone Medley, Pianists in Paris and Aces of Bass to be stunned with musical talent. Then watch History of Wooing Men and History of Wooing Women to feel really awful about current pop music. And check out the whistling guy. And the girl who doesn't sing any lyrics.

Homebrewed Christianity CultureCast: Video Games, Basketball, and Oral Sex

Based on our title, we're trying to appeal to Maxim readers.

Our guest on the Homebrewed Christianity CultureCast this week is Drew Dixon, the editor-in-chief of GameChurch.com. Drew talks to us about video games, and their value within faith and culture.

Later, in the Echo Chamber, we discuss Jason Collins, the first NBA player to come out of the closet. Then we talk about Mark Driscoll, and his latest controversy, which involved talking about how blowjobs are biblical a few years ago. Don't ask me why it matters now. Did he say anything about men performing oral sex on women? He did not. Christian Piatt is annoyed by that, and Amy thinks Mark Driscoll is physically attractive, which was news to us.

We also touch on Bitcoin and some hippy protestors outside Amy’s church office, which this leads me to ask how Amy deals with annoying people being that she's a pastor and all. There are some vague Recommendations, as well, though you’ve probably heard them.

Listen with the player here, or subscribe on iTunes for free HERE.

Game of Fwones: Should I Read the Novels?

Let's say you're loving the third season of Game of Thrones, and you don't know how you're going to go another year plus without all these characters you know and love (assuming they survive the next three episodes). You're considering cracking open the books.

I know how you feel. This was how I felt after Season 1, and I devoured the series (or at least the five books that currently comprise the series) before Season 2 aired the following year.

I've been asked whether the books are worth reading a number of times, and I'm not convinced one way or the other. The best I can do is present a list of pros and cons, and you make the call.

The Daddaist: Busytown Mysteries

Game of Thrones is an hour-long fantasy epic where the main action takes place on two separate continents. Parks & Recreation is a 30 minute sitcom set in a small town in Indiana. (I promise, at some point I will talk about Busytown Mysteries. Bear with me.)

What those two shows do better than any other on television is world build. They start with a base and draw outward. Theoretically, the creator of a fictional world should know every single thing that has ever happened in that world. That minutiae doesn't have to be conveyed (though George R.R. Martin certainly tries), but it's vital to realistic character development.