Bush Addresses the Country's Energy Problems

Given the follies of the last seven years, it's hard to imagine how George Bush could become any more irrelevant in today's political climate; however, he's managed to do it again.  Today Bush held a press conference, declaring a call to action from Congress to address the country's current oil and gas crisis.  If the crisis has taught us anything, it has imparted on us the indisputable fact that dependence on oil for fuel is a zero sum game.  Alternative energy sources, whatever they may be, are the only long term solution to our current energy problems.  Yet, in the face of this obvious fact, Bush's recommendation to congress is to lift a number of restrictions on drilling for oil.

Really?  More drilling?  This is the answer to rising fuel costs?  Bush's proposal is both surprising and expected; surprising in that the proposal to drill more only further increases our dependence on oil, and expected because big oil companies stand to benefit from the proposal over the long term.  

Bush's proposal mirrors that of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.  This is unfortunate for McCain.  The average American Republican who feels the financial pain at the gas pump on a regular basis must know that more drilling isn't going to help.  McCain should be distancing himself from Bush in any way he can, not embracing a flawed energy policy recommended by him and his lame duck administration.  McCain, if you're going to win in '08, you'll have to do better than that.

Proper Beat: 'One Day' by Jeru the Damaja

A Proper Beat is the antithesis of a Wasted Beat.  It's a song whose lyrics blend with the underlying track in such a way that an original artistic work is created.  The message of the work is elevated beyond the ego of the artist, telling a compelling story in a musically moving way that evokes strong emotion in the listener.  A Proper Beat is not about bling, glory, fame or status; it's about authentic artistic expression that makes your head bob.  Proper Beats pay the appropriate homage to the tracks they sample, giving fresh perspective to time honored classics.

'One Day' is such a Proper Beat.  Jeru's track from the album 'Wrath of the Math' is an all too short tale of treachery and malice that describes the kidnapping of Hip-Hop by the likes of Puff Daddy and Foxy Brown.  The metaphor is obvious: Hip-Hop is being held hostage by greedy phonies who are only interested in their own financial gain.  Hip-Hop is eventually rescued by Jeru and his crew, unmasking the kidnappers by noticing Foxy Brown's fake alligator boots.  The narrative is clever and provides a clear message: desecrating hip-hop with greed and self indulgence is a serious offense to the art form.

Jeru and his music are about authenticity and originality.  He is a poet and a self proclaimed prophet.  Prophet may be a bit strong, but his heart is in the right place.  Although Jeru's more recent works have lacked the punch and grittiness of 'Wrath,' he will always command respect of the genre's hard-core fans.