The LA Times has an article on how hip-hop has connected youth of all races in LA.

"People should be able to do what they want. I ultimately defer the wisdom to an adult to make their own choices. If someone wants to do drugs, I think it's their own business and not the business of the state." - Moby

I'm sure you have you have heard of the Chicken Soup for The Soul series. Well now work is under way on a "Chicken Soul for the Hip-Hop Soul"

You have to give some of the record companies credit for figuring out that they had been selling overpriced CDs. Some record companies have begun initially selling early copies of the records for a discounted price. This has significantly improved sales of Ashanti's self titled album.

Cold Fury gives one of the best explanation of why Columbine happened.

Overlawyered.com reports that a high school in Indiana has kept a student from attending the senior prom because he tested positive for nicotine in a drug test. The student was 18. He did not smoke on school property.

The war on drugs appears to be moving towards other gateway drugs. In California the state assembly was considering a sin tax on soda, here a student is being banned from going to the prom becaue he smoked cigarettes and taxes on junk food have been considered. I guess the war on drugs has been expanded to cover other harmful products. Or maybe nicotine is being targated here because it is a "gateway drug." Well, the gateway drug argument is laughable. Under that theory everything is a gateway drug. Lots of people that become addicted to food, oxygen, and oxygen go on to other drugs under that argument.

For you non-smokers:Enjoy your McDonald's while you still can.

"Left Eye" Lopez died in a car accident in Honduras on Thursday. Lopez was a member of the R&B group TLC.

Tom Tommorow's views on ABC's The Bachelor: "That shit is wack, yo."

"The problem with drugs is people forget to stop doing them." - South Park

USS Clueless has a good article on the large variety of differint groups on the web. I don't aim to be part of a group; I just am.

Charles Oliver rightly attacks the Rothbardians for fawning over Le Pen because he thinks American foreign policy is bad. I am sick of these neo-racist "anarcho-capitalists" who side against the American government in whatever the American goverment does intuitively. If these people were patriotic anarcho-capitalists they would suggest paying people to take care of Al-Queda. But the truth is these people are just as un-American as those anti-globalization whackos.

Kofi Annan wants peacekeepers between the Isrealis and the Palestinians. Jeff Jarvis thinks a wall is a bad idea. He may be right. The idea of human beings to seperate these people is definitely is a bad idea.

I have not actually seen a copy of the New York Sun but one of the criticisms I have heard is the fact that they take stories straight from the Associated Press. I respect them for this. Instead of having someone take a story and change a few sentences and call it their own, The New York Sun is admitting who the real author is and that they were not responsible for the content that appeared in the story.

Tim Blair reports that Los Angeles has certainly improved from 10 years ago.
(Link via Ken Layne

Ken Layne argues that puppets have become instruments of hate by protestors. Thank goodness for the puppets on "Greg The Bunny".


UPDATE: In other puppet news, CNN.com reports that Elmo, from Sesame Street, testified before Congress recently.
(Elmo link via Kyle Still
UPDATE2: The Washington Times also has an article covering the Elmo story.

Karen Hughes has announced she is resigning from her position as aide to Bush. Karen Hughes says she is quiting because she wants to spend time with her family. Any speculation on possible other reasons?
UPDATE: Maureen Down has some speculations on why Hughes might be open but I don't care about her opinion so I am not going to even link there. Brian Doherty over at Reason has the best explanation I have heard yet: Managing the White House Public Relations is tough.

William Tucker has an Op Ed in Monday's New York Post arguing that rent control is what has caused a shortage of high quality low income housing in New York City. He backs up his statement by pointing out factual data. Rent control seems to be a staple of life in New York City that does not look like it will be going away anytime soon. I find it surprising that rent control is a state issue. I previously had thought that New York City had enough home rule power to control such things on its own.

In honor of earth day TechCentralStation argues: Organic food isn't neccessarily healthier and recycling is not cost effective.

Bruce Bartlett at National Review Online lays the smackdown on Bush for steel tariffs. He certainly is right Bush's chickens are coming home to roost. Instead of embracing the American based industry of chickens, Bush has embraced the steel industry with its economic problems. It doesn't seem like Bush believes in the free market. If Bush doesn't believe in the market, then why is he a supporter of free trade? I guess Bush is a free trader only when he is asking the other guy to cut tariffs. Bush seems to be a fair-weather free trader as well as being a fair-weather Federalist.

Protein Wisdom tears apart a Reuters peice on the anti-Israel protests in D.C. this weekend. I understand these people are crazy and stupid, but wasn't the Israeli flags with a swastika a little overhanded of the protestors?

Patrick Fagan writes in National Review that the government should be encouraging marriage. This is the problem with government being too big. Government has gotten into the business of spending money on encouraging values. Patrick Fagan must not be a supporter of small government if he believes government is in the business of telling people what to do and think.

Sonia Arrison at Tech Central Station.com has a piece on how the digital divide is non-existent. Incidentally, I noticed even Jerrold Nadler's website only mention the "digital divide" in quotes.

Watching the protestors on CSPAN, I thought, "What are these guys smoking?" Tons and tons of marijuana. You know since it's 4 20 and all.

Can these protestors get a life? Bush won the election under the system we have under our Constitution.

InstaPundit mentions the anti-globalization protests have resorted to violence already.

One of the protestors on the mic was shouting "USA. Justice or Genocide?" I will choose justice against Palestinians connected with suicide bombings and against the Palestinians that would like to drive Israel into the sea.

Watching the Anti-War Protest on CSPAN. They keep having people shouting "Free! Free! Palestine!" I thought this was an anti-war rally I guess it is just another anti-progress and anti-civilization liberal rally."

The White House replaced 75 vandalized keyboards at a cost of $5,000. The article is about vandalism from the outgoing Clinton administration. I guess the Washington Times would rather write an article being critical of the Clinton administration than dealing with governmental inefficiency under a Republican administration. That is an average of $67 per keyboard. The government must have been buying one of those fancy keyboards not your standard keyboard for $20.

Another one bites the dust...

Dave Tepper explains how Atlas Shrugged can easily be turned in to a porn movie.

Never Forget! At least 2, 825 people died on September 11 in NYC.

The New York Times has an article on how upset the author is that New York is losing a classical music station and how classical music on the radio is dying. Join the crowd. Most people are not happy with radio today. I guess the New York Times hasn't discovered internet or MP3s yet.

The music industry is upset because they did not kill file sharing when they killed Napster I have some thing to say about the RIAA but only with words I don't want to use on a blog. The music industry is just stupid sometimes. I have not found a file sharing program for the Mac, that will get behind the schools firewall, so I have been listening to internet radio. The music industry wants to charge royalties for every time a song is played on internet radio. How stupid can these guys be? If they don't want people downloading music they should be happy people aren't downloading music. (Link via Ken Layne

Update: The New York Times has an article on how royalty fees are threatening internet radio stations.

Megan McCardle attacks the kinds of comercial rap and r&b that appears on the radio these days. For the most part, I would say she is right and I am a big hip-hop fan.

I would guess from what was being played that Megan McArdle was listening to New York's Hot97. Until recently, HOT97 was the only game in town. Hot 97 had some of the hottest DJs in the country on their station. Instead of taking advantage of this because they have had a monopoly in New York they have concentrated on having the DJs play only the top 12 songs or so. I agree the music played on Hot97 and the pop stations in New York, and around the country, is pathetic

I try not to listen to most radio or watch MTV and BET. The music that is being pushed by radio and the record industry is disgusting. Rap is at a pretty bad state but what even shocks me even more is the R&B that is being pushed. A big hit on MTV recently has been the song "Oops!(Oh My!)" by a singer calling herself Tweet. In this song Tweet says "Oops! There goes my shirt! Oops. There goes my skirt!" Can you get much more explicit than that?

The big thing going now that has been a combination of Rap and R&B which Megan mentions is the mixture of the two. The singer sings the hook while the rapper badly rhymes through the verses (usually Ja Rule). I guess I should be happy that rappers are doing a lot of love songs. I think not. How much love is really there if it requires massive amounts of profanity? But the overdone profanity sells. On De La Soul's recent release Bionix, De La Soul mixed a lot of singers onto their album, but without the profanity their sales have been extremely low. There is still some soul music left with artists like Jaguar Wright and Jill Scott

Large sales are hard to get without the profanity, drugs and gun talk in hip-hop. That is the hip-hop that is played at almost all college parties. Don't get me wrong there is good stuff out there. Good concious and uplifting rap exists but people are willing to buy into what most of the record companies are pushing.

Was Chris Matthews going for a Mr. Rogers look on Leno tonight? Matthews seemed like an idiot compared to Leno. Matthews was arguing the anti-semitism in France was just anti-Israel bias. That's a big bunch of crap. What in the world are Jews living peacefully have to do with what those living in Israel believe is best for their government. Thank goodness Leno was there to argue with him and put some sense in to the conversation.

Have tons of cash you feel like giving to small successful Libertarian Campaigns? The Newly created Libertarian Victory Fund PAC may be for you.

I know it is a day late but in honor of April 15th being the day the federal government asks for your money, here is the lyrics of "Who Are The Pimps" by Boogie Down Productions:


Stick up!!!
All gwan put your hands up in de air
and turn around with your face to the ground
Stick up!!!

Here we go
Who are the pimps? Who are the pimps?
Wimps, sitting behind a desk
You only get a glimpse of the action or reaction
when you don't respond to them TAXING
You fuck a lot when you're tax exempt
Like with the church, the rules were somehow bent
The more money you make, the more money you can have
You lose your mind after a while trying to just
grab and grab and grab and grab and grab
until the pimps roll around real mad, what they say?
"Pick up that money hoe!"
You done all the work, but now a part of the show
You're a hoe, you pimped all around real fresh
Got letters on they chest spelling I, R, S
And they be taxing, asking, sitting back relaxing
Pimping asian, european, blacks and chicano
Hah hah! But they can't pimp a wino
Why? Because a wino don't want nuttin
It's when you try to get ahead they start frontin
Capitalism -- the system of pimps and hoes
I'm sorry that's the way it goes
In this particular system everyone's a slave
Racist is how they want us to behave
White Johnny, be fighting black Michael
Both are blind to the system's sick cycle
In a circle psychotically they slay each other
with a grin, because of color of a skin
"Pick up that money hoe!" (3X)

Now we don't want to get you all alarmed
A little education never did you no harm
When Africa's free the African will be free
Capitalism says we're ALL in slavery
They're not looking at the color of a human brother
April 15th they're looking at your mother!
"Pick up that money hoe!"
You work all week, and now your money has to go
to a pimp, and it's you that limp
They cut your check and take a tenth
Don't wanna hear no lip, about support of family
Cause on a piece of paper that's a fantasy
They don't care if you're in a bad mood
Your wife needs shoes, your kids need food
Uh-uh, pick up that money honey
The pimps so serious they're funny!
They'll look you straight into your face
and tell you that your money's going to a good place
Like Social Security or Welfare
But if you go to the Bahamas you'll see them all there
"Pick up that money hoe!" (4X)

UPDATE: I realize in this song KRS-ONE has some elements that appear to be anticapitalist but I look at it as being more against the status quo. I like the idea in the song though that the IRS and by extension would much rather have people working then putting time towards some other activity.

Andrew Sullivan chimes in on support of the wall idea. This is about the only practical solution I have heard proposed to bring about a lasting peace.

Back in February the Libertarian Samizdata folks predicted that punk rockers would get upset when the EU decibel limit was enforced. It turns out that classical musicians are angered about the regulation saying it will "make classics unplayable."

Vote Scot Jeffrey, Libertarian for New York Governor.

Reason has partially adopted the blog format through its daily brickback and the link heavy editor's links. Maybe it is the fact that Reason has learned that internet sites can link to items in articles. I just find that blogs embrace the linking capability that is inherent in the world wide web. Blogs may just save the internet.

In Lobbying Congress: How the System Works Bruce C. Wolpe and Bertram J. Levine explain how most of the lobbying that happens in Congress is not related to campaign contributions. So the Campaign Finance Reform that was passed this year is not going to pose any real threat to the profesional lobbyists in Wahington. (I realize I'm kicking a dead horse here.)

The LA TImes has a story on how NWA's Straight Outta Compton became a phenomenal success. The LA Times tells a pretty big good job telling the story of the money making entrepreneurial spirit intinsic in hip-hop.

I wonder if the FBI has realized that there might not have been a source of revenue for "F--- The Police" if there was no war on drugs.

If you are here courtesy of the professor, welcome!

So Pakistan helps us out in the war on terrorism and now they want to sell some cheap pajamas and pillow cases. This seems to be to much for the administration. Bush is talking the talk on free trade but he isn't walking the walk. Oh no! The American textile industry is going to have to compete! George W. Bush is sure no Grover Cleveland.

UPDATE: The LA Times reports that the G7 wouldn't let Bush get away with his anti free trade on tariffs status at the recent meeting.

The White House has started calling the Palistinian suicide bombers "homicide bombers." Kind of redundant way of putting things. What kind of bombers aren't homicidal? Calling them suicidal bombers points out the fact that these people are crazy enough that they think killing themselves will bring them to eternal bliss.

UPDATE: Charles Johnson realizes that the calling of the bombers in Israel "homicide bombers" is just a game of semantics and that all bombers are "homicide bombers."

UPDATE2: To quote Jim Treacher, " "Homicide bomber" vs. "suicide bomber"? How about "cowardly murderer who makes most reasonable people hope against hope for the existence of a just God and therefore the eternal torments of Hell for said cowardly murderer"?"

Ben Domenech a self proclaimed "Christian Libertarian" has a top five list of president that does not include Grover Cleveland. I would argue that Cleveland was the most libertarian President this nation ever had.

Cleveland is famous for vetoing legislation in favor of special interests. One of the famous examples is his veto of drought relief to farmers in Texas and then raised the money privately. He stopped fraudulent claims related to the military. He fought dishonesty in the railroads. Cleveland argued to get tarriffs lowered. Cleveland took Congress to task for annexing Hawaii.

Now that is a great libertarian President in my mind.

Besides Apple having adopted a fashion sense, Pro Tools is a major part of what is keeping Apple alive. Pro Tools has become the near industry standard for editing in both the film and music industry. Pro Tools is the standard that is used in both the music and film industry. Pro Tools has a nearly de facto hold on the entertainment industry from their software. Apple will be saved by Pro Tools until an alternative comes along.

I have noticed a lot of bloggers spelling porn pr0n. I believe the reason is so that many people do not find there sites, via a search engine looking for porn. People are going to be much better off looking at most blogs than looking at porn.

Although the General Welfare clause in the Constitution has been used to ask for a number of government programs, I do not believe that was the intention. The General Welfare clause seems to be asking legislators to look at the overall effect of the program and not the local special interests. Unfortunately, Congress has not read the clause that way.

Alex Knapp's blog is back! It's moved over to www.hereticalideas.com

Jim Traficant plans to run for Congress in the upcoming year despite being convicted on Thursday of racketeering It takes a lot of guts to continue to run for Congress after being out on bail for your jail sentence. The people of the Youngstown area seem to like him despite his faults and it would not surprise me if he has a real chance of being elected.

Something disturbing mentioned in the article I link to above is that the Supreme Court has apparently ruled in 2000 that one can not defend oneself in front of courts as high as the Appeals Court. I am not aware of what case this comes from but the consequences are scary. In seems kind of like a VII Amendment violation to me.

Jonah Gldberg rightly calls for the declaration that it is time to declare war on the Islamofascists. He makes a good point here and "One man's Islamofascist is another man's freedom fighter" does not have the same ring to it.

What do the Palestinians want? A large number of Palestians probably want to live normal peaceful lives. Some want to drive Israel off of the land. Unfortunately the numbers that want to see the Israelis dead is a large percentage.
UPDATE: The vocal percentage that wants to see the Israelis dead is a large percentage as MatthewEdgar pointed out to me.

Sunday's Simpsons featured the Simpsons going to Brazil. The Brazilian government is now suing the Simpsons producers for libel. People need to learn how to take a joke. Brazil should be happy they were getting primetime coverage in America.

Post-Modernism is a bunch of crap. No more posts until tommorow afternoon. I have to write a paper for state and local government.

USS Clueless makes the point that Turkey may give their support for the war on terrorism now that Iraq has cut off its supply of oil. Saddam thinks by cutting off the oil from his country that other Arab countries will hopefully fall. No other country except for maybe Iran is going to support on this because they want to sell their oil so they can make money. Iran and Iraq have nothing to lose since they have already been given the death row sentence by Bush as part of the axis of evil. If Saddam does have any biological, chemical or, god forbid, nuclear weapons, Saddam might use them against a U.S. attack.

Bush has been telling Sharon to move his troops back I think this is just bad policy. The Israelis and the Palestinians have a problem they need to settle among themselves. Bush should not be taking sides in this. What's next? It wouldn't surprise me at this rate if Bush told the Russians to get out of Chechnya.

"Bill Clinton; Jimmy Carter with a Fox attitude." - Homer Simpson

When you take into acount that countries like Taiwan have significant bootleging problems the complaints of the American music industry about file sharing in comparison. One can even argue that file-sharing does not violate the terms of the copyright because the user is still using music it paid for for non comercial purposes. Bootlegging on the other hand is a clear case of why people have copyrights. Bootlegging is a common thing that happens all over the world.

I know I have not bloged in a while. I have been pretty sick. I also have not come up with anything to say. Excessive commenting will resume shortly.

Kathy Kinsley links the Israeli-Palestian conflict to the two differint ways of looking at the American Revolution. It is important to admit that neither side in this conflict is perfect.

Saddam thinks he can distract the U.S. military by giving more money to Palestianian bombers. Too bad for him he is wrong. Powell who would be spending time on building coalitions isn't going to meet with that terrorist Arafat. Meanwhile, Bush and Blair are still meeting to predict the future of Iraq. I'm still not sure war with Iraq is such a good idea but I am glad Bush's global military strategy is not going to be effected by what happens between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

As Tony Adragna has pointed out it is time to put up a wall between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Building a wall between the Palestians and the Israelis would seperate those two sides. The Palestians would not be able to get into Israel to cause any trouble and the Israeli tanks would have to stay on their side of the wall. This could be a good idea except it is not practical. The Palestians and the Israelis will never agree on where the border should be. Israel can not really afford to cut itself off from the Palestians because then they will need another source of cheap labor to work for them.

Thank goodness for the Russians. They have been increasing oil output to the extent where they are the world's leading oil producer passing Saudia Arabia. Thank goodness we have countries like Russia, Mexico and Venezuala to keep those Arabs in check. I would much rather be giving my money to Russia or Mexico than those assholes in Saudi Arabia.

There is one thing the Israelis can do to save themselves: leave. It is not a fun choice but it is the only safe choice.

The Isrealis need to leave the settlements as quick as possible. Why they would want to live inside a land with people who hate them I have no idea. If they are not going to leave the settlements at least stop moving in. Even safer the Israeli people should leave the country all together. Go somewhere safe. Pick a Western country and go there. I know this doesn't sound like loads of fun, but that is one of the few practical solutions that Israel has.

Option B would for Israel to make the Palestinians Israeli citizens with full rights and responsibilities of Israeli citizenship. The Palestinians might become a very successfull people if they learned to get along. People are more willing to get along when they have a direct financial stake. I guess t