Here are a few quotes from the interview. Scroll down and click the ‘play’ button below to see the entire video on YouTube.

“I have to admit, I still am an old-school guy. I’m still Stevie…Marvin. If you look at my iPod, it’s Earth, Wind and Fire, Isley Brothers, Temptations. I’ve got a lot of that old school stuff”, Obama said.

Obama loves the art of hip hop but not always the message of hip hop. “There are times where..there is a message that is not only sometimes degrading to women. Not only uses the “N” word a little too frequently, but also, something I’m really concerned about, is it’s always talking about material things and always talking about how I can get something”, he said.

When asked if there was a place in his White House to find an effective way to use Hip Hop in education, Obama answered “absolutely, I don’t think there’s any doubt that it (Hip Hop) can be (effective).”

Other things Obama had to say about Hip Hop:

“The potential for them to deliver a message of extraordinary power that gets people thinking…The way that they can communicate a complex message in a very short amount of space is remarkable. A lot of these kids aren’t going to be reading the New York Times, that’s not how they’re getting their information so the question then is what it is the content, what’s the message?”

“Hip hop is not just a mirror of what is, it should also be a reflection of what can be”, Obama said.

He encouraged people to
“Imagine something different
Imagine communites that aren’t torn up by violence
Imagine communities where we’re respecting our women
Imagine communities where knowledge and reading and academic exellence are valued
Imagine communities where fathers are doing right by their kids
That’s also something that has to be reflected.

Art can’t just be a rear view, it should have a headlight out there, according to where we need to go”, Obama concluded.

The interviewer ends the conversation with a quote of his own: “Hip Hop needs to have the audacity of hope.” Obama agrees.

It came about as a result of a Tweet I read by Zadi at twitter.com. In case you don’t know twitter, it’s a highly addictive way to keep track of a lot of people and a lot of things at once. It’s also your opportunity to share tidbits of information with people who choose to follow you.

Zadi wrote: “This campaign is turning into The United States of America VS The Divided States of America. We’re teetering on the edge of self-destruction.” This instantly caused the song Divided States of America to begin playing in my brain. I became obsessed with digging the album out of the top shelf of the closet, and forcing my husband to connect the turntable to the CD recorder so I could not only play it, but record it and have it on my iPod for eternity.

This song was an anthem for me in my youth yet I realize most American’s have never heard it. So, in the spirit of this ever-so-controversial presidential election I want to share it with you, with Zadi and anyone else who thinks we’re becoming the Divided States of America. It might take a second or two for the track to start, since it is vinyl and I did want to make sure you didn’t miss a thing.

On a side note, I have to say I enjoyed the whole process of getting an album out of it’s sleeve, putting the needle on the vinyl and hearing the popping sound that only vinyl makes. The artwork for the cover is clearly DIY which makes it all the more charming and for those who know or care about what this means, they come from Torrance, California. This album was recorded in 1979.

Last week Trainer on the Corner (T.O.C.) and I went on a Laugh Tour. We posted signs that say “Laugh” all over Belmont Shore. There was a soundtrack that carried me through the entire experience, from stepping down my front porch steps with skates on, to skating up and down 2nd Street spreading laughter, to sitting at Archibald’s drinking ice cold Lemonade. Here it is. All links go to iTunes where you can sample or buy the song.

I left the house listening to Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys off Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. On my way to T.O.C.’s house I listened to Police Brutality by The Sky Beneath off The Floor and went a little faster than comfortable all the way down the bumpy asphalt hills. I had to take a side turn to slow myself down.

As I waited for T.O.C. to come downstairs and put on his skates I listened to The Wizard Turns On by the Flaming Lips off At War with the Mystics and flew down 2nd St. listening to Under My Thumb by Social Distortion off Mainliner and Fat Boys by Sport Doen off Never Mind Aerobics Here’s Punk Rope.

We had to make a stop at Mailboxes Etc. I heard The Way You Move (Feat. Sleepy Brown) and, Knowing both by Big Boi off Speakerboxxx, followed by Spybreak! by Propellerheads off Decksandrumsandrockandroll.

As we skated and handed out fliers and laughed and posed for pictures, I kept my iPod going at a low but audible volume as I heard Comicstripteasegirl by Stereo Total off Juke-Box Alarm, So Whatcha Want (feat. B-Real) by the Beastie Boys off Dr. Numbers Presents Still Ill, Anti-Pop by Kommunity FK off The Vision and the Voice and Take Me Higher by Peshay.

It’s always good to have Gratitude, especially when It’s delivered by the Beastie Boys off Check Your Head. The tunes continued with Tequila Dub by Sly and Robbie off Maximum Dub, Pat-Trip Dispenser by The Fall, Everything’s Gone Green by New Order, Normal (Is a Million Miles Away) by the Groovie Ghoulies off Springman Records Sampler and Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones.

As we came to the end of our journey, we headed to Archibalds for some ice cold lemonade. I heard History Repeating by Propellerheads off Decksanddurmsandrockandroll, Unspeakable by Killing Joke off What’s This For, Mad Flava by Fatboy Slim off Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, I Love You Big Dummy by Magazine and Oh This World by Dr. Alimantado off Kings Bread.

As we left Archibald’s and skated home I heard Insane In the Brain by Cypress Hill, Make Love by Daft Punk off Human After All, and Only Child by Patrick Mata off Hydro Carbons from a Meteorite.

It was a hot day. 95 degrees by the time we got home. But the joy we shared for those few hours was well worth the time and energy. We connected with some really neat people and we plan to do it again next month. (See video)

If you want to have your own Laugh Tour, we’ll gladly send you a PDF of our Laugh sign. As a bonus, we’ll also send our Love and Peace signs from last month’s tour. Simply fill in your name and e-mail below. We won’t share your info with anyone. If you want to remain on our list, we’ll also send you updates about roller derby, playlists, concerts, free workouts and more.

P.S. Today I spent some time at the final mile of the Long Beach Marathon. This playlist was also part of what carried me through a couple of miles of skating hard and cheering the runners. Stay tuned for pictures and highlights from my visit to the Long Beach Marthon.

I couple of days ago I wrote a blog and posted photos from our Laugh Tour; a day in Belmont Shore posting and passing out signs that say “Laugh”. We have no agenda. We aren’t selling anything. We just know that laughter is contagious and we wanted to spread a little of it around. Heck, maybe it’s even selfish, you laugh, we laugh, we all feel good. What’s wrong with that?

We spoke to and laughed with a lot of people on this day. Only a tiny portion is caught on tape but we hope you’ll enjoy it. A couple of highlights: at 51 seconds, that’s Orange County Roller Girl boodeefull #88 that we’re talking to. At 1:41 you’ll see Fingerprint’s music store owner Rand and his distributor friend. We talked to them for a couple of minutes off camera about University by the Sea, a downtown Long Beach cultural event that included a full day of live music. Fingerprint’s had it’s own stage all day. He said the day went well.

As you’ll notice, I have my iPod on at all times. Music carries me through so many of the highlights of my life. I like to associate music with good times because then when I listen to the song the next time, it brings back good memories. So, I’m going to post my iPod playlist for this Laugh Tour day. Subscribe to the blog if you want to get playlists on an ongoing basis.

Here’s my playlist for this ride. All links go to iTunes or MySpace as noted.

Intelligent Guy by the Butthole Surfers (didn’t see it on iTunes but you can check out their MySpace page)

Intro by Big Boi off Speakerboxxx

City of Fun by Come off Volume 08

Rap is Really Changing by Mucho Macho off The Limehouse Link

Harmony in My Head by the Buzzcocks off Singles Going Steady

Purity by Monkey Fist off Between The Lines. I have chatted back and forth across the Pond with these fellows on MySpace for a couple of years. I love their song Take It (you can hear it on the Monkey Fist MySpace profile). They keep telling me they’ve got something new coming out but I haven’t heard it yet. They are not on iTunes. Imagine, probably thousands, perhaps millions of bands are not.

She’s a Woman by the Beatles off Past Masters – Volume 1 (couldn’t find it on iTunes)

Breakaway by Basement Jaxx of Rooty (I love this entire CD)

She’s Lost Control by Joy Division off Substance 1977-1980

Kneel Before Your God by Lemon Jelly off of the Swordfish soundtrack

Belfast/Wasted (Wasted Vocal Mix) by Orbital off of Volume 3

For more workout playlist ideas, visit the Donate Your Weight On-Line Forums.

The best way I’ve found to liberate my mind and my body, is to move to music. A good, exhiliarting workout makes me feel energetic and renews my creativity. Many times I put my iPod on shuffle just to see what songs come up. I skip over the songs that don’t inspire me and only play the tunes that make me want to peddle hard and soar through the air like a super-heroine on wheels.

Here are the songs that survived the cut today and made me feel like a 7-year-old out for a bike ride while the parents were at home working, drinking or fighting.

Links go to iTunes

The Hunter by Blue Cheer off of OutsideInside
Anti-Pop by Kommunity FK off of The Vision and the Voice
I Used to Love H.E.R. (Look of Love Remix) by Common feat. J Dilla off Statik Selektah and Q-Tip the Look of Love is a rockin’ tune.
The Fall of Because by Killing Joke off What’s This For

When Spybreak! (Propeller Heads off Decksanddrumsandrockandroll) came on, I was so Gal VanIZed that I stood up and peddled as fast as I could. Then, I pushed my quads hard as I whizzed past all walkers and slow bike riders.

Other songs include:
The Next Big Chill (Edit) by Beat Pharmacy off Astralwerks 1999 v.2
Song For Shelter by Fatboy Slim off Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars

As I bring my bike inside the house, I hear Save Our Soul by Groove Armada off of Soundboy Rock. The music is so motivating that I decide I’m not done exercising. I get out my rebounder/trampoline and jump up and down and side to side to the beat of the music. I love the way my heart starts pumping and my muscles feel stronger and more alive.

The beginning bars of Procol Harum, About to Die tell me it’s time for a break. That’s when I open a cold one and sit down to blog.

This a.m. I opted for an entirely different type of exercise ala “just like when I was a kid.” I got on my pink beach cruiser with the wicker basket, put on my headphones, turned on my iPod and started peddling.

Although I do have an official workout playlist that I like to use for motivation, today I decided to leave the iPod on shuffle and see what would happen.

I didn’t realize my podcast was set on repeat>albums so the first 4 songs I heard were by Flipper. Which is totally fine because I LOVE Flipper. I heard Way of the World, In Your Arms and Ha Ha Ha. After that, I heard Transitions by the Beastie Boys followed by Rhythm (Devoted to the Art of Moving Butts) by A Tribe Called Quest. I finished off the ride with Steppin Stone (a Monkees cover) by Minor Threat.

It was an exhilarating ride. Something I lost touch with for a long time thanks to poor body image and food obsession. Today I can honestly say I love my body. I love the feel of my muscles burning. I like to challenge myself. I love the feel of the wind on my face. I like to guess what people on the bike path are thinking. I think the diet, fitness and advertising industries stripped the notion of fun right outta exercise and now, more than ever, its time to bring it back.

I watched a portion of The Brain Fitness Program on KOCE-HD. Here’s what brain researchers are finding: “Throughout our lives it (the brain) can be physically and functionally changed even improved on, depending on how we use it.” It turns out that exercise is one of the few things that can cause the brain to grow new neurons.

According to Sharon Begley, co-author of The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force “Something as simple as one hour of aerobic exercise 5 times a week will dial up the rate of production of new neurons in the brain.” That means memory loss is not something we’re completely powerless over. It is not an inevitable side effect of aging.

Don’t you think existence in modern day society is stealing enough of your brain already? Don’t make it worse by being a couch potato. This is your life. Live it. It is never too late to change.