If we decide to file Chris Brown's new video, "Crawl" (directed by Joseph Khan and taken from his forthcoming Graffiti album) as another chapter in his never-ending apology to the world and Rihanna (which, let's face it, is exactly what we're going to do), then one thing is pretty clear: Chris Brown sure has a funny way of apologizing.

"Crawl," is a rather pretty ballad concerned with overcoming adversity, something Brown is entirely familiar with. In the video, Brown's mechanical heart skips a beat every time he's haunted by the ghost of a lost love.

Strangely enough, the lost love in question is R&B temptress, Cassie. That may or may not sit well with another R&B temptress we all know and love.

Elsewhere in the clip, Brown perches on a skyscraper (City Of Angels/Wings Of Desire nod, maybe?) and dances in the snow covered streets of L.A..

Nothing says, 'I'm sorry,' like dancing in the snow.

In 2006, Rihanna was just starting to become a big deal. She had released her second album, A Girl Like Me, and found some success with the single, "SOS," but was nowhere near the level of "Umbrella" success she'd find the next year. In this MTV video interview, taken from that period, Rihanna briefly talks about all the places she's seen and people she's met in during that dizzying year.

There's a certain harrowing air to the clip, isn't there? Rihanna talks about growing up and experiencing so much. You have to wonder how she must be feeling now, after all that she's seen and experienced in this tumultuous year.

Thankfully, it seems like Rihanna is ending 2009 on a real upswing. She appeared on Good Morning America to finally give her side of the whole Chris Brown issue. She wisely used it as a platform to make an appeal to girls, imploring them not to stay in abusive relationships. Then, this past weekend, Rihanna joined Jay-Z onstage at UCLA, triumphantly joining Hov during "Run This Town." Here's hoping things just keep getting better for Rihanna in 2010. Her new album, Rated R, drops November 23,

Apparently Chris Brown isn't totally persona non grata in the music biz. He's still got a record deal and a brand-new video, "I Can Transform Ya," from his upcoming album, Graffiti. And he's still got friends willing to work with him -- Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz on the track, and Joseph Kahn, who directed Britney's "Womanizer" video and Lady Gaga's "Love Game."

So, are time and a slick, Daft Punk-leaning dance jam enough to forgive Chris Brown of the crimes of his past, or a time machine and an "undo" button the only thing that could allow you to listen to the once-prince of R&B's music -- including his new video -- in good conscience?

NOT TOO SOON! Hey, the balloon boy story that had the nation -- and Twitter -- captivated for hours yesterday had a happy, albeit bizzare, ending. Which means... IT'S TOTALLY TIME TO MAKE FUN OF IT! Plus, Falcon puked not once but TWICE on TV! Amazing! Someone get this kid some Gatorade. And get me this balloon boy t-shirt, okay?

Or this hide-and-seek all-time champion shirt.

Also, here are some songs you could play the next time you fake-steal your dad's UFO thing. Which reminds me, I SO need to make sure mine's securely held down with bricks so we don't have an incident.

Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight"

Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, "No Air"

R. Kelly, "I Believe I Can Fly"

Someone holler at Thom Yorke: This is how you get down in a supermarket. You don't mope your way up the aisle singing about green plastic watering cans; you drop it low.

Ester Dean's new video, "Drop It Low" (not to be confused with "Dip It Low") -- the second single from the soundtrack to the Lebron James movie, More Than A Game -- starts with Nelly (yes, "Hot In Herre"/ Band-Aid Nelly) instructing Ester to keep watch over his bodega (so that's where he's been hiding himself).

No sooner can you say, "clean up in aisle three," then Dean has her ladies getting crunk in the store. The party then moves into the world's most inviting walk-in freezer, which doubles as a night club).

When things could not get any more off the meat rack, lo, Chris Brown makes an appearance, uttering unintentionally awkward lyrics about putting hands on a girl's body (um, yikes).

What any of this has to do with Lebron James and the bonds he forged with high school basketball teammates is anyone's guess. But between the frozen produce dance scenes and the egregious use of color, we're intrigued.

+  Beyonce has just been named Billboard magazine's Woman Of The Year and will be accepting the award at a ceremony to be held later this year in NYC. We smell a J-Lo-style backlash aaaaaaaany moment now (which consequently smells a lot like glitter body paint). (Billboard)

+ Also on the Billboard tip, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas reveals what it's like to be a part of the pop supergroup that has been making Billboard chart history. (Blogamole)

+ Is Prince truly seeking a job at the White House? Would it then be called the Purple House? (The Tripwire)

+ Reigning '90s R&B supergroup TLC will return to the stage after a more-than seven-year absence, thanks to a little nudge from none other than Justin Timberlake. (Rap-Up)

+ Watch Britney Spears and Russell Brand in their second stint as VMA "lovers." It's kind of cute to see Russell throw himself at Brit so desperately -- story of his life, we're guessing, though we'd TOTALLY hit it. (Buzzworthy)

+ British bad boy and all-around international superstar Robbie Williams is set to return with an album of entirely new material this fall, titled Reality Killed The Video Star. (RobbieWilliams.com)

+ Good for you, Lily Allen! Way to hook up with a guy who's your own age for a change. (Daily Mail)

+ 90's grrl rocker Jill Sobule lambasts Katy Perry for the first time, after keeping mum during countless interviews about the "I Kissed A Girl" brew-ha-ha, calling her "a title thieving, f***ing little slut." (Rumpus)

+ Lauren Conrad is going to be a guest judge on the next cycle of America's Next Top Model? Really? (Pop on the Pop)

+ Ashley Olsen is "surprised she didn't end up like Britney." (Marie Claire)

+ This news about Chris Brown and Rihanna makes us really sad, on multiple levels. (People)

+ Move over "Drake's Knee's" Twitter! Time to make some room for "Teyana's Mustache," another fake Twitter account named after a celeb's body part. What's next?? "PammiesBoobays?" (Twitter)

+ Kings of Leon tore up the Today show stage this past Friday at NYC's Rockefeller Center. These guys are sooooo hot and sound so GOOD!! I need to go towel off now, if you'll excuse me. (The Rad Report)

+ Gotta scroll down a bit after you click, but here's a really cute interview with Demi Lovato, who topped the Billboard charts last week at #1 with her sophomore album "Here We Go Again." Congrats, Demi! (Katie & Karleigh)

+ This one is bringing the Monday LOLz: Whitney Houston's Good Morning America performance next month will be taped instead of sung live because Ms. Houston is "not a morning person." Is that what we're calling it these days? (PopCrunch)

+ No Doubt's Gwen Stefani and Paramore's Hayley Williams teamed up in concert together in Irvine, CA at what was at the least an unforgettable show. (Neon Limelight)

+ Remember when Rihanna almost got in trouble for giving a tattoo to her tattoo artist? Well, now Chris Brown is doing the same crap. (Singersroom Celebs)

+ Rocker Dave Grohl got a street named after him in his hometown of Warren, OH. (NME)

Fabolous has a new video out. It's called "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere," it's from his much-Tweeted-about new album Loso's Way, and it features Keri Hilson and Ryan Leslie. Oh yeah: and it's boring. I mean, NOTHING HAPPENS.  The most excited I got was during the line "Somebody better tell 'em that we in this b+tch like an unborn baby" and at the gratuitous shot of Rick Ross' beard, but shots of Rick Ross' beard are like a dime a dozen.

The video takes place in a club. A club where NOTHING HAPPENS. No one even spills a drink. The opening quote about paparazzi at the beginning of the video suggests there might be some kind of high-speed chase or at least a theme or story arc. But no. Nothing. Happens. At all. If you want a continuous story arc, watch Fabolous' "Throw It In The Bag." No story here though. In fact, it kinda looks like it was shot on someone's cell phone. I'm sorry. I'm just being reasonable and honest with you. Like my last relationship, "Everything, Everday, Everywhere" goes nowhere and leaves me confused. Plus I'm annoyed with Fabolous because it should be "Every Day," not "Everyday."

Oh yeah, that is NOT Chris Brown in the video, okay? Chris Brown is BASKING in the unintentional success of the "Forever" wedding dance, okay? That is Trey Songz.

Okay. If you strictly only have like FOUR MINUTES to watch ONE video today, I'd say watch the "Young'n" video. Or Shakira's "She Wolf" video. Or watch "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere," and tell me if I'm missing the point. (Is there a point?)

+ Kid Rock thinks that Twitter is gay. Like, "stupid" gay. Not "homo" gay. (The Blemish)

+ Sucks to be a big-wig at huge corporation lately. Lawmakers (Democrat and Republican alike) are heavily scrutinizing Ticketmaster's wish to merge with LiveNation, which would create this superpower of concert tickets. Nice to see the government is actually doing what it's supposed to do. (The Tripwire)

+ Are Chris Brown and Rihanna secretly dating or is it just soyyyyyyy rannndom (said in best Ja'mie accent from Summer Heights High) that they keep getting photographed within feet of each other, all throughout NYC? Isn't there a restraining order against that fool? (Socialite Life)

+ Rihanna should be doing some more hanging out with Katy Perry, eating lollipops all sexy and whatnot. (Pop on the Pop)

+ Now super-producer Ryan Tedder is releasing an official statement regarding the whole Kelly Clarkson/Beyonce fiasco that has unfolded over the past few days. Nothing like a non-admission of guilt and a compensatory compliment to win people over. (RyanSeacrest.com)