Even when everything is crazy and/or absurd and all you wanna do is sit on the couch and play video games, don't panic! Fortunately, the new Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie is coming out, with hip-hop great Mos Def as Ford Prefect. Yes! Not much yet at the IMDb, but they have some intriguing trivia.

(Picture stolen from Beaker's home page.) Thanks to DLF for the movie website.

Questions and Conspiracies

In general terms, I'm thankful that the internet provides us access to information and perspectives that we haven't always had access to. We can hear intriguing things and news that doesn't make it onto CNN. But now it seems like every thing that happens is getting analyzed by armchair experts who are ready to charge conspiracy at the drop of a hat.

Yes, the grisly video of Nick Berg's death is disturbing in the extreme, and there are some interesting questions to which I'd like answers. ("When Berg is decapitated, there was almost no blood.") But come on -- "The videotape was quite blurred"? Gag me with a blog.

GNN's AfterMath was intriguing, but it feels like lately every event has its Zola wannabes tagging along, "j'accuse"-ing just because they can. It's not like this is the first time this has happened. And don't forget about the bunny!

Still, this is pretty interesting.

We Are Hip-Hop


Thanks to Mark for hipping us to The Hip Hop Box, "The First Definitive History of Hip Hop." It's pretty complete, but there's some stuff you've just gotta have. (No EPMD!?)

As with Burns' Jazz documentary, there will always be things that get left out so that us officianados (some would call us "snobs") can carp about how incomplete it is. What would I add? Thanks for asking!

• "Paul Revere" by the Beastie Boys
  
  
• "Pimps (Freestylin' at the Fortune 500)" by The Coup
  
  
• "The Formula" by The DOC
  
  
• "Hip-Hop" by Dead Prez
  
  
• "You Gots to Chill" by EPMD
  
  
• "Typical American" by The Goats
  
  
• "Beyond This World" by The Jungle Brothers
  
  
• "New World Water" by Mos Def
  
  
• "Express Yourself" by NWA
  
  
• "Break the Grip of Shame" by Paris
  
  
• "Soul on Ice" by Ras Kass

Please note the restraint I've applied in not including Consolidated, MC 900 Ft. Jesus, or Meat Beat Manifesto. Disposable Heroes really does belong -- as do New Kingdom -- but I suppose we only have so much space.

Random

Too much testosterone blights social skills. It's in New Scientist -- it must be true. Thanks to DLF.

Yes, cup stacking is a sport. I guess. Thanks, MoFi.

Also be sure to check the new PMB post.

TimeWaster™

Thanks to Josh for sending us the Jesus Action Figure. If there is a God, He's going to punish me for posting this.

Today I'm listening to: JBs Jungle Brothers JBs for short JBs Jungle Brothers JBs for short!