The Sound of Music

The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I've heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I'll sing once more

Substitute Pound for Pound for the hills, iPod for heart, and the news should be obvious. For those a little slow on the uptake or just uncomfortable with Julie Andrews, get ready for the resumption of mp3s here.

Shout the good news out to the world, as we're back in business.

Things That Are Making Me Smile Part 1

Amazingly, the news has been cheering me up, which is either a good sign for the state of the country, or a bad sign for the state of my life. For real, though, there have been some nice developments in politics, sports and music that have put me in a better mood- a little sun on a cloudy day.

-The Democrats won both Governor's races last Tuesday, in New Jersey and Virginia. The Virginia one is especially exciting because it comes in a red state that voted for Bush by a nine % point margin in 2004. Bush actually made a campaign push for the Republican nominee on Monday, and it seemed to have a negative impact. The Republican nominee for NJ Governor, Doug Forrester, blamed Bush for his loss. Nice to see the GOP big tent collapsing under the weight of corruption and ineptitude. However, heed kos' words that this is just the beginning, that we need to keep the Republicans reeling.

-Philly voters overwhelmingly approved a change to the City Charter that will enable ethics reform to go forward. It was 6 to 1 voting yes, a clear and loud message that voters do care about this issue. Again, this is just a beginning. We must keep the focus on this issue and the pressure on members of City Council.

-The Philadelphia Flyers look great. although they lost in overtime last night. I cannot begin to tell you how nice it is to have my boys back in action, winning, playing well and taking my mind off of things. Actually, this is just a shameless way to boost Canadian readership, but whatever.

-lemon-red! Bol is straight killin' it. Go here and check out the new monthly mix, this time by DJ Benzi. Go here and grab the DJ Eleven mix, Houston Rocks It, as one of The Rub DJs takes you on a journey through the hip hop history of everyone's favorite city, H-Town. Go here for the man's first foray into mix making, a nice start and hopefully the first of many.

-Thanks to the good guys at Those Two Words for the kind words over at their site and in the comments section. It's real nice to have them back writing and updating on a consistent basis. Go check them out here, or use the link on the right as I have finally added them to the links list. It's one of the best hip hop news sources around.

More to come later in the week on the positive, as I try to stay on the Bobby McFerrin grind.

Monday Did Not Happen

That's right. Monday did not happen, there was no football game or telegraphed pass or returned interception or injured quarterback. Nothing.

We will have a post up shortly, as Pound for Pound is desperately trying to think happy thoughts. The only one coming to mind is that things can't get worse. Right? They can't, can they?*

(Robber, please post Burt Bacharach's "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" now. Thanks.)

RIP Arrested Development

In a fitting end to a shitty week, Arrested Development, the FOX sitcom, was dropped from the November sweeps schedule Friday. While the show is due to return in December, the network has cut the third season to 13 episodes. In other words, the show has been cancelled, fulfilling the threats of FOX executives and the worst fears of its fans. There are 5 more episodes this year and that's it. It will not return in the new year.

This is really upsetting news for me, as this was the one. The only show that I got excited to watch, that I waited for each week, my TV jawn. What does the future hold for Pound for Pound's TV time? I guess that I will continue to let my inner 16 year girl out, solely watching MTV programming. I am thankful that both seasons are available on DVD, as it's nice to know that I can always watch the show and pretend it's still on. Go here to buy them.

More than anything, it's a sad day for TV viewers. I know y'all are watching lots of TV, but I just can't figure out what you're watching? Law and Order: Short Hills? Some girl with implants eating worms for money? A family terrorized by a morbidly obese, Christian maniac who was swapped for their real wife/mom? Bobby and Whitney? The Danny Bonaduce train wreck? (Wait, that last one's legit.) We let something unique and creative die, and so we deserve all the reality show crap that fill the air. The folks at TV Squad have a far better attack on the people who didn't like the show.

The cancellation's got the Internet going nuts. The people at Fox's Arrested Development forum are plotting a revolution. For real, that is the subject of a post. Here is the site dedicated to bringing the show back from the dead. Read this lament from someone who watches TV for a living, The Arizona Republic's Bill Goodykoontz, who makes it clear just how bad this news is. As Goodykoontz (a simply awesome last name) says, "This is perfect television." The Moderate Voice weighs in, as does TV Fodder and TV Elites.

Finally, a big fuck you to FOX. Your pathetic network had a real treasure, the best comedy on television. A successful network would have made this work, like NBC did with Friends or CBS with that pile of shit Everybody Loves Raymond. Unfortunately, the douchebags at FOX are too concerned with finding new ways to switch wives or make people cheat on their boyfriends to promote an Emmy winner. Great job, guys, as I guess that you can focus all of your attention on the greatest comedy of all, FOX News. Learn your lesson and stick to propaganda.

It is a shame that there will be no more Michael, Gob and Buster, but I still hold out hope that another network will step up and find a home for the best TV show since Seinfeld. HBO, stand up!

Free Anyan!

You Can't Take Away My Dignity

I am sorry for the brief absence, but the real world frighteningly intruded into my life Monday. I was robbed at gunpoint, and had my laptop and some money taken. The good news is that I escaped without being harmed physically, and did not pee or defecate in my pants in the moment. I am, however, a shook one right now, trying to get back on my feet and back into the real world as best I can.

I'm going to try to post up regularly, as honestly it has helped writing and looking at the news and checking out blogs and doing my general nerd stuff. It's helped get my mind off of my own troubles, and that's all I can ask for right now. (Well, that, and a brand new laptop, powerful pharmeceuticals and world peace.)

However, I am not going to be posting up music for the foreseeable future, until a new computer is purchased and my music is back on a machine. Perhaps if we are lucky, the armed robber will feel free to upload some Miami bass and DJ Screw tracks on yousendit for everyone to enjoy, as it would be nice to know that the music is being enjoyed and shared.

Well, that's about all for now. I am sorry to say that this blog won't be living up to its potential for now, but it is nice to know that it will have its day again.

Scooter? I Hardly Knew Her!

We now return to everyone's favorite chief of staff and traitor, Scooter Libby. Last we left our hero, he was awaiting the decision of Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney investing the CIA leak case. Last Friday, he was indicted on 5 charges: 2 counts of perjury, 1 count of obstruction of justice, 2 counts of lying to a grand jury. All in all, he could serve a maximum of 30 years. Serious time. A chance for him to hit the weights, get his degree, convert to Islam, figure out his true feelings for Dick Cheney. Go here (pdf) to read the indictment.

He was in court yesterday for arraignment, pleading not guilty. The trial has begun, and it should help remind everyone that the indictment wasn't an end, but rather a beginning. Don't forget that there is so much more to come, as evidenced by Karl Rove's uncertain future. The Washington Post reports that aides are discussing whether he should resign or formally apologize. Jane at firedoglake has some great thinking on this article. Even better, contrary to the Right's talking points, Rove is still under investigation in the leak case.

-Libby resigned as the Vice President's chief of staff last Friday, as well. Are you wondering who was picked to replace Libby as Cheney's chief of staff? You are, aren't you? Wondering if the White House and Dick Cheney have learned from the Libby indictment? No, they have not. David Addington has been named as Libby's successor as Cheney's chief of staff. TAPPED has the story on him, the man called one of the president's "torture lawyers" by Slate. Even better, Cheney's new national security advisor, John Hannah, is closely tied to the lies that lead us to war. Matt Yglesias links to this Knight Ridder article about Hannah's pivotal role in the bogus claims that was used as evidence to bring us to war. Oh, and both men are pivotal actors in the leaking of Valerie Plame's name to the press.

-Speaking of torture, are you missing the stories about Abu Ghraib? Feeling a bit of pride when you consider our country, the US of A? Well, do I have a tale for you. The Washington Post has the story that the CIA has been hiding terror suspects in secret prisons in Eastern Europe, prisons that were once used by Soviet police. You want more? Dick Cheney has chosen his cause: torture. He is ACTIVELY lobbying members of the Senate to add a CIA exception to John McCain's bill banning torture by any American. Other members of the administration are even disturbed at how far down the slope they have gone.

In light of all of these stories, Cenk Uygur asks the fundamental question: What have we become?

-With such scary news out there, go to Laundromat United and grab the nice Halloween mix that Lambo and Capski put together for the holiday. We Mix On Their Graves is really great stuff.

-I have been sleeping on a great blog from a Philly bol, Trapper Juan. Drew's got lots of links and thoughts on topics ranging from rap to myspace to Barry Melrose's hair. Anyone who gets harrassed and stalked by people who frequent the OkayPlayer message board and references the greatest MASH character has to be alright in my book.

We Got It For Oops Volume 1

Clipse, We Got It For Cheap Volume 2

Sorry, I'm going to have to wait to put up We Got It For Cheap Volume 1, as I am in NYC and away from my CDs. In its place, I am putting up We Got It For Cheap Volume 2, a logical replacement. More to come on these two volumes, as I will get Volume 1 up in two shakes of a lamb's tail.

Keep the votes coming in on the next focus here at Pound for Pound.

DJ Screw vs. Miami bass vs. Three 6 Mafia

Vote or Die

We Got It For Cheap Volume 1

Clipse, We Got It For Cheap Volume 1

[Ed. note: I just realized that I am missing a few songs. I'll have the whole thing up tomorrow, so check back. Sorry for the delay.]

Okay, here is the mixtape that everyone is talking about, or was talking about 6 months ago. I'm usually about a year behind on trends, so I'm actually kinda proud of myself on this one.

While it may be old as Moses for a mixtape, We Got It For Cheap 1 is still being talked about, as it is so much more than the typical throwaway shit that just tries to collect the latest songs and blends/remix them into one package. Ain't nothing wrong with that, but they usually don't get more than a week's long listen, before one moves on to the newest shit, yamean? This one holds up months later, as Clinton Sparks and The Clipse have put together the gold standard for all mixtapes with these two volumes, elevating the mixtape to an art form.

The first one is the weaker of the two, with not enough Pusha and Malice and a bit too much Ab Liva and Sandman, the two new members who helped to form the Re-Up Gang. It's still got some great shit, with "Coast to Coast," "Pussy (Remix)," and some freestyles over LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya." More to come when I put up Volume 2 later in the week, as I want to get into the music and some of the interesting pieces that have been written about these two mixes.

-Be still my sad, dejected heart. The Democrats found their fight today, lead by the Senate minority leader Harry Reid. Today, Reid brilliantly called a closed session of the Senate, in order to force the body to continue the investigation of pre-war intelligence, invoking a little used Senate rule. This report has been delayed because of the foot-dragging of Pat Roberts, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the administration and the Republican leadership. That all changed this afternoon, and Harry Reid and Richard Durbin deserve the credit. As Arthur Silber says, "We may finally have an opposition party again. And just in the nick of time." I couldn't think of better news.

Go here to read Reid's speech on the Senate floor before he called for the closed session. Go here for the video of the speech and resulting fit that Bill Frist threw to reporters. Awesome stuff. Steve Clemons has been on this story all day, and is the best resource to know what's going on, who is behind this, and what this all means.

-Like Gatorade at the end of a marathon, light at the end of a tunnel, or a valium at the end of a panic attack,the NBA season begins tonight. Sixers open with the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. More basketball talk in the future, but in the meantime, check out Straight Bangin' (so necessary season preview here and here) and Wizznuttz for all your basketball needs. Any other good basketball sites, let me know.