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Students at Tuskegee University were informed by President Bush that they can thank the Federal government for the iPods they listen to in class when they should be listening to their professors' lectures. The President's comments came during a speech concerning the American Competitiveness Initiative on April 19.

During the speech, the President lauded the role of the Feds in promoting technological research and advancement.

So here's the first thing that I intend to work with Congress on to make sure that we're on the leading edge of change and technology, and that is to increase federal support for vital, basic research. I don't know if you realize this, but because of Defense Department spending in the past, and because of the research that the Defense Department was doing to enhance communication, to improve military communications, the Internet came to be. In other words, the Defense Department said, we need to figure out how better to communicate. And, therefore, they spent some research dollars at institutions like Tuskegee. And out of that research came the Internet, which has helped change our society in many ways.

The President continued his enthusiastic endorsement of government funding for basic research and pointed out that our tax dollars were directly responsible for the iPod.

Here's another interesting example of where basic research can help change quality of life or provide practical applications for people. The government funded research in microdrive storage, electrochemistry and signal compression. They did so for one reason: It turned out that those were the key ingredients for the development of the Ipod. [emphasis added] I tune into the Ipod occasionally, you know? (Laughter.) Basic research to meet one set of objectives can lead to interesting ideas for our society. It helps us remain competitive. So the government should double the commitment to the most basic -- critical research programs in the physical sciences over the next 10 years. I look forward to Congress to doubling that commitment.

The President stopped short of saying that all American taxpayers should receive a discount on their next iPod purchase, but we think it's only fair that we get some kind of return on our investment.

On a related note, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was not invited to the U.S./China corporate love fest held at Microsoft chief Bill Gates' house in honor of President Hu of the People's Republic of China. President Hu dropped by to attend the party one day before he visited the White House to meet President Bush.

After the meeting at the White House, it was announced that Chinese factories will soon begin making counterfeit copies of the counterfeit copies they are already making.