Hookers & Blow

Don't Call It A Comeback...

Liza, over at BURNED BY THE SUN, informed us of 2 important things. How bad 90's music was and the return of the Presidents of the United States of America . I guess 5 years was a long enough break for a band that was never that big in the first place...

Speaking of Presidents, I TIVO'ed last nights Democratic Debates. I'll probably watch them on Sunday since The Wire's season is over.

The best line (according to a friend of mine who's a political junkie) came from John Edwards. "The president goes around the country speaking Spanish. The only Spanish he speaks when it comes to jobs is hasta la vista."

It's not exactly, "I'm Howard Dean, and I'm here to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.", but it's nice to see Edwards make a little noise. I'm sure he wouldn't want me to call it a comeback, though.

If Bob Graham's daughters were Spice Girls...

...In girl-band archetypes, the oldest, Gwen, would be Posh Spice--smoldering and fashionable, and their nominal leader. Suzanne, number three, is the Ginger Spice-ish bad girl--"bad girl" being a relative term in the Graham family, meaning that she's the one who'll wear the non-uniform article of clothing (anything without Bob Graham's name on it). Kendall, the youngest, is Baby Spice. When I ask Cissy which one would be Strong and Silent Spice, she points to Gwen. "She's strong, but not silent. None of us are silent," which Cissy proves by letting out another ear-splitting "WHOOOOO!"...

--Thanks weisblogg!

Beyonce: The Doll

Not to be outdone by the president, ToyCove is selling a one of a kind doll fashioned after Destiny's Child star Beyonce Knowles on eBay for only $19.95. You can bid here. Can you figure out the real toy from the plastic singer?

"The Black Al Franken"

Though it didn't get nearly the attention as Al Franken's case, Grammy-nominated rapper Mystikal did not break copyright laws when he used two Cajun sayings in one of his songs, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Emanation Inc. sued Mystikal's record label, Zomba Recording Inc., in 2001 claiming it owned the copyright to the phrases.

Emanation makes a hand-held toy called "Cajun in Your Pocket" that plays several Cajun phrases, and got a copyright for the word arrangements on Dec. 13, 2000.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, did not infringe on the company's copyright in his 2000 song "Shake Ya Ass."

The appeals court agreed with a district judge, ruling that the sayings - "We gon pass a good time, yeah, cher," and "You gotta suck da head on dem der crawfish" - are not original and therefore are not protected under copyright laws.

Mystikal said he has no plans on changing his name to Black Al Franken. And though no one is saying it, these losses that copyright is getting in courts does not bode well for the RIAA...

Good News

EUR is reporting that "The Boondocks," which has been seen in 350 newspapers nationwide since 1999, will soon be seen
on a Fox station near you.

The comic strip was created by Aaron McGruder and is based on the junior revolutionary Huey and his
thug-in-training brother Riley, who move to the suburbs from the inner city.

Known mostly for it's controversial, in-your-face racial humor, "Boondocks" will join other Fox animated
series, like "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill."

McGruder, along with partner Reggie Hudlin, is slated to write the pilot and executive produce it for
Sony Pictures Television.

If the pilot is successful, the series will launch in the 2004-05 midseason.

Girl Power

A chick does battle with the RIAA

High Brow Gangster Bloggin'

Some high brow bloggers follow in the tradition set forth by our forefathers Biggie and Tupac and argue about East Coast vs. West Coast. They do not hold back. Insults that manage to include the C-Span network and the word 'tubular' in the same paragraph deserve to be shared...

Some Highlights:

"LA is actually the biggest book-selling market in the country. When I moved here from NYC, my friends made fun of me, and told me I'd have nobody to talk to. My smart friends knew differently. Last week, Elizabeth Spiers came to two LA writer gatherings -- some of the intellectual duds in attendance were: Mickey Kaus (Slate/Kausfiles.com), Cathy Seipp, Michael Isikof (of Newsweek), Gabriel Snyder, Emmanuelle Richard, Heather Macdonald (of City Journal), Scott Kaufer, Alan Mayer, Ned Zeman, Matt Welch, and Jill Stewart. I don't believe the word "tubular" was uttered once, but I'll have to check the C-Span transcript."

"But as for the book market, buyin' ain't readin'. I know producers who buy multi-copies of the best sellers and then scatter them, artfully, at home,at the office, etc."

"Well, that's where you kind of have it wrong. Elizabeth Speirs is not a real writer, she's a hack who worked her social connections in New York to land a blogging gig (which she's about to ditch to write gossip elsewhere). This little blogging gig in turn hoodwinked an increasingly low-standards driven media to into believing she has a clue and actually allowing her to write for money at print publications. The very fact that she responded to the jabs at her on this board proves, not that she's good down to earth sport, but that inside she 'knows' she's a hack and must explain her hack writing. Talented writers are good enough not to have to come back and explain their jokes. She is, ironically, a joke."

--Thanks Weisblogg

What's in my head: At this moment

Annie Leibovitz took this picture of Penelope Tuesdae back in the late 90's. I have never really dug blondes but loved this picture...anybody knows what ever happened to Penelope...

A Rhode Island nightclub and the band Great White face nearly 100-thousand dollars in fines related to a lethal fire, but no criminal charges. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the operator of The Station club more than 85-thousand dollars for one "willful" violation and six serious ones.OSHA says the willful violation was an exit door that swung the wrong way. Other violations include the club's use of highly flammable foam, inadequate safety planning and an exit door concealed by foam.OSHA says the company representing Great White faces a seven-thousand dollar fine for failing to protect workers from fire hazards.The club and the band have 15 days to appeal the proposed penalties

The New Pornographer's song Letter From An Occupant is what I've been listening to as I write this. I like the song and the band.

Arnold is full of shit.

Who's putting together the online lifestyle website that will change everything?

The RIAA and Bush's '04 Strategy

Further proof that the RIAA's plan of filing lawsuits against consumers is doomed for failure, the conservative publication Insight has printed an anti-RIAA article stating how GOP strategists plan on using the RIAA as a chance to "stand up for the consumer."

"...conservative activists and GOP strategists see this issue as a chance for Republicans to show concerned Americans that they sometimes do take on big business and stand up for the consumer, particularly when the offending business is wielding government-granted power. Others see it as a wedge issue with which younger voters can be separated from celebrity Democrats in the recording industry..."

Also, some Republicans are grumbling about having to carry water for an industry that disproportionately funds Democratic campaigns and represents celebrities such as Barbra Streisand who attack and stigmatize GOP candidates and officeholders. For the 2002 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, the prerecorded music industry gave $1,894,955 to Democrats and $618,866 to Republicans, a 3-to-1 ratio in favor of Democratic candidates.

Yet the strongest criticism of what's perceived to be the RIAA's overreaching has come from Republican members. In addition to Coleman and Cannon, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has proposed amending the copyright legislation to take away the RIAA's special subpoena power and will hold hearings in the Senate Commerce Committee in September. In a recent floor speech critical of the RIAA, Brownback cited other principles conservatives believe in, including privacy, fairness, and due process of law. "I find it untenable that any Internet subscriber's identifying information can be obtained, under government auspices no less, without any oversight or due process," he said in June. "There are no checks, no balances, and the alleged pirate has no opportunity to defend themselves. My colleagues, this issue is about privacy, not piracy."

FULL STORY

Was Elvis a "Wigger"?

Interesting article about the phenom of wiggers.

Whites have always loved black music and culture, including jazz, blues and rock 'n' roll. But the question of today's youth's fascination with black culture is whether it's a culture clash or an exchange.

The fact that it's from a black perspective makes it interesting, imho. But if it comes across as too high brow for you there's always wiggaz.com

I find it funny that nowhere can I see a list of famous wiggers, even though they are everywhere...So I made a short list of famous wiggers...

Eminem

Mariah Carey

Christina

Elvis