The Only Guru I Ever Listened To (Is Dead)

"The influential rapper Guru has died in hospital aged 43 following a battle with cancer.

The Boston-born MC, real name Keith Elam, was hospitalised last month after he suffered a heart attack and had been in a coma.

Guru rose to fame in the 80s as one half of Gang Starr, the conscious rap group he founded with Grammy award-winning producer DJ Premier.

Gang Starr was credited with the birth of the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre."

-- The Daily Mail

This is a shock: I met Guru once - saw him perform, at least, a half dozen times. He was a really nice guy and one of the most prolific artists around. To say he will be missed is, both, a huge understatement and a lie:

Like most artists of note, through his work, he will be with us forever.

If You Don't Know Who You Are, You're Lost

"We shouldn't change our philosophy. We may want to change our messaging. We definitely want to change messengers. We need a new group of leaders."

-- President George W. Bush, saying what the Republican Party still doesn't understand - conservatism has to go deeper than Michael Steele or Bobby Jindal - to FOX News.

Oh: It's Not Wrong if Obama Doesn't Do It

"While much of the scandalous conduct which is now making headlines preceded Obama’s election, not all of it did. And he doesn’t seem terribly moved to do much about it now that it has come to light."

-- Jennifer Rubin, on the "political cesspools" that have emerged since Oprah got "The One" elected, which Rubin lists for Pajamas Media.