So, what I said wasn't offensive in itself, but reminded you of something that someone else said, which was offensive. Again, that's not really my problem, is it? I can only control what I say: I can't control the free associations that flit around in your head.

I didn't come close to saying that I believe he's "putting up a black identity facade." Nor did I say that he "can't actually be a hip hop fan:" in fact, I said the fucking opposite: that politicians are people too, so of course they like music, and have preferences. Whatever discomfort you're feeling is not really…

In an undergrad philosophy class, my professor said: "According to Leibniz, monads have no windows. In 20 years, you will still remember this strange turn of phrase, but you will have no clue what it means." Of course, my professor was exactly right.

It would be facile to say that all politicians are professional liars (or less negatively, professional image manipulators)…but it's basically true, isn't it? So even when they tackle trivial questions like this, you wonder what the angle is, or how genuine/false the answer is.

He's a "noted hip hop fan" only because they keep telling us he is. That's the impression he wants to make, just as George W. wanted to give the impression that he's a normal joe who spends his weekend clearing brush on his ranch.

Dead Kennedys, "Kill the Poor"

He didn't stop it, though, did he?

I think I just really hate Christmas shopping, and the music adds a little insult to injury.

I can see that as a possible exception to the rule, since I really, really like Plastic Ono Band (while I really, really, really like the Beatles). Still, no one would say, generally speaking, that post-Beatles stuff is superior: your metal friends might like this John album, but there are five others that they'd…

Is there an argument here? I mean, even the most ardent John, Ringo,
George, or Paul fan would never say "I prefer the post-Beatles stuff to
Beatles." It's not impossible that people with such opinions exist, but I doubt they do.

Frosty is the product of witchcraft, and has nothing to do with Jesus: if I were a Christian busybody, I'd go on an anti-Frosty crusade.

It just sort of blends in with all the other crappy music you hear when you're Xmas shopping at Barnes and Noble. I certainly don't like it, but it doesn't make me angry (unlike that Sting Christmas album that you'll often hear in the same setting.) Now, if I worked at the mall and had to hear that song 100 times a…

SONO L'ANTICHRISTO! BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

I've got two Christmas albums: Johnny Cash's, and that Phil Spector Xmas disc. Both are good, though I usually forget that I have them when Xmas comes around, so I never listen to them.

Are there benefits to footwraps that I'm not thinking of, or is it purely "we can't afford socks"?

I'm not much of a musician, but I'm great at counting, so maybe math rock is for me.

I was forced to play "Power of Love" in junior high band (when it was a hit: God, I'm old), and any song I played in band (or had to sing in chorus) has become anathema to me.

My least favorite term might be "math rock," since (a) all music is mathematical in a sense, (b) it implies "this music is too hard, just like math!" which is a stupid idea, and (c) the bands labeled thusly don't sound anything alike, to my ears.

It's a pretty meaningless term (like so many other music journalist terms), revolving around the taste of a "typical dad" who doesn't really exist (a straw dad, if you will).

I'm fine with the term, as long as I can use "children's rock" to describe what you stupid kids are listening to these days.