Several things that don't make sense

For every strange throwback band like The Arcade Fire whose music makes me twitch and thrash rhythmically, or for every smart lyrical "pop" band like Rilo Kiley whose music makes me think and reflect, there will always be at least one song on the radio that makes me say WTF?

Of late, there are two:

• A hip hop song (artist unknown to me) that samples the Turtles' "Happy Together;" and


• Another hip hop song (artist unknown to me) that samples Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely"

This, at least to my unique little brain, begs the following question: after so many years of marketing quote unquote Black Culture to White Suburbia, have we finally reached a point where icons of quote unquote White Culture will be coopted by Black Youth? Will it be the new gangsta to sport Izod shirts and topsiders? Will Pat Boone do a guest spot on the new 50 Cent album? Does this frighten anyone else as much as it does me? Do I frighten any of you? The questions ABOUND.

Whew, now we can all rest easier

Germans identify the Origin of the Garden Gnome