If you're at all engaged with American popular culture (and Bless You if you're the rare soul who's tuned out), these first few months of each calendar year can often feel like they're running on Idol time...American Idol, that is.

With that in mind, we thought it might be fun to give you a Friday links drawn around several of the remaining 11 finalists' hometowns, with a little splash of paint connectivity thrown in for good measure.  This is, after all, a painting blog.

Finalists Adam and Allison come from Los Angeles, the City of Angels and statemate to several of our brother Advisors on Target painting contractors: Peek Brothers Painting and Chism Brothers Painting out of lovely San Diego; MB Jessee Painting and Decorating out of Oakland; L&L Custom Finishes out of Santa Clarita; and On Time Painting out of nearby Calabasas...finalist Anoop hails from Chapel Hill, NC; the Outer Banks area of North Cackalacky is home to Beach Painting...Danny is a resident of the Milwaukee area; another area known for its fine and potent potables--Portland, Oregon--gives us Sundeleaf Painting and Hernanz Painting...Michael, well, Michael lives in Texas and he just seems like a good guy so we thought we'd mention him here.

Our pick for the Final Two: Lil Rounds and your 2009 American Idol, Matt.