Earth Day Sunday Music: John Denver

Even though Earth Day 2008 is still more than a week away (technically it is April 22, 2008), I wanted to get a jump on a post about it. There are many events planned around the world next weekend. The zoo in Houston, Texas will be holding an event this coming Saturday, April 19. Anyway, last year, when I was searching for a song that had an environmental theme to it, Charles Hugh Smith of Of Two Minds blog suggested Big Yellow Taxi originally done by Joan Baez.

Later I realized some of the songs sang by the late John Denver also had environmental themes. John Denver in many ways epitomized the cognitive dissonance we all exude in our ideals. While he championed protection of the environment, he had a hobby of flying airplanes, which leave a pretty large carbon fingerprint for a hobby. I also heard that he pushed for the construction of an airport near his home over the objection of many of his neighbors. Even so, the music he left is loved by millions and expresses the ideals of conservationists.

Rocky Mountain High


And in the following video, Denver talks about the development of the song Calypso, which is based on a trip he took with Jacques Cousteau (it includes the video for the song).

Calypso

The Greatest Happiness Principle

60 Minutes: Happiness


We could learn a lot from the Danes (and all Scandinavians for that matter). A new study shows that they are the happiest people in the world.

I consider myself a Utilitarian in this sense: we should strive to create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. I am not a purist, mind you. There obviously are values that would more important (where it would conflict with Justice, for instance), but in a broad sense I find this principle to be the correct one.

Sunday Music: Major Tom

There are a few reasons why this video seems appropos right now:

1. I recently visited the Houston Space Center. I'll get around to posting the pics eventually. I promise.

2. Hellasious yesterday wrote a post on his blog, Sudden Debt, called "Space Oddity" where he referred to David Bowie's Major Tom lyrics. Why am I not using David Bowie's song, then? Because I like this song more.

3. There are some reports of a bus-sized satellite hurtling toward earth that will hit sometime in early March. They don't know where it will hit yet. Or they are not telling us so that we won't panic. How big was the meteor that killed the dinosaurs again?

Peter Schilling - Major Tom

My Recent Blog Posts

I haven't been posting much over here lately. Most of my recent posts have been over at DailyKos. Click here if you want to see some of my more recent writings.

A Beautiful Model for Fraud

Take a look at this:

A Beautiful Model for Fraud and here is the accompanying article:

The great credit unwind of '08.

Sunday Music: Play the Game Tonight

In this Kansas video, a chess game between white and dark-hooded creatures seemingly representing the forces of Life and Death (playing the white and black chess pieces accordingly) is the backdrop to this rock hit video.

Kansas -- Play the Game Tonight

Dancing At the Policeman's Ball

Prior to Mark Heard's final three CDs, Dancing At the Policeman's Ball was Mark's biggest "hit." It was featured in the movie Dakota starring Lou Diamond Phillips. Although not a dance song, it was featured in the scene of a policeman's dance.

As I posted recently, Mark said that:

"Policeman's Ball" is speaking about the isolationism to which I've referred earlier - how we as Christians can get so caught up with our own circles that we again forget about our responsibility to sense what is going on with human beings out there in the "secular world."

Dancing At the Policeman's Ball

You hit the floor at the sound of the band
With a partner in your hand
Restless and breathless you dance the night away
Did I hear you say it is your aim
For every night to be just the same
And you hope the city outside's gonna be okay

Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Move your feet while the city sleeps
Dancing at the Policeman's ball

I saw you smile when I heard you say
"A life o' crime just does not pay,
And criminals are heading for a big fall!"
And when I asked to see your badge
You said, "Man, I don't need to flash no badge -
Can't you see I'm dancing at the Policeman's ball?"

Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Move your feet while the city sleeps
Dancing at the Policeman's ball

In precinct five, ten people died
In precinct six, it was twenty-five
Nobody taking the law to the streets tonight
Did I hear you say it is your aim
For every night to be just the same
And you hope the city outside's gonna be okay

Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Dancing at the Policeman's ball
Move your feet while the city sleeps
Dancing at the Policeman's ball

Written by Mark Heard © 1982 Bug 'n Bear Music ASCAP

Pastemusic.com is the only place I am aware of that carries the CD.

How To Spot A Scam, Part 6: Roommate Scam

This is the way the scam works:

A person claiming to be a potential roommate sends a check for an amount far above the amount owed (this is a HUGE red flag). They then request that the balance be sent back to them so that they can buy an airline ticket or some other expense (which is bogus). The check they send is fake.

Check the links and instructions I provide in this post.

Also, go to FakeChecks.org and report it.

American World Chess Champion, Bobby Fischer, Has Died

In late breaking news this morning, American World Chess Champion, Bobby Fischer, has died in a Reykjavik hospital, announced by his spokesman Gardar Sverrisson. According to the latest news reports at the time I am writing this, he died of an unspecified illness.

I never met Bobby Fischer, but his 60 Memorable Games was one of the two first chess books I ever owned and studied.

In later years, his greatness at the game of chess sadly became overshadowed by his possible mental illness and anti-Semitic rants. I remember talking to Bruce Pandolfini about the anti-Semitic statements once (Fischer had been saying those types of things for several years, apparently), Bruce told me that it probably came from his first chess coach who himself was anti-Semitic.

However, when it comes to the game of chess, his contributions are incalculable. As the last American World Chess Champion (Paul Morphy -- who was unofficially considered World Champion -- was the only other American that history books record as having the title), Fischer's image looms large over the American chess culture.

Fortunately, Gata Kamsky, who will be playing for the World Chess Championship later this year, may bring the title back to the U.S.

Perhaps American chess players will soon be able to say: "The king is dead, long live the king."

Nothing Is Bothering Me

Here is a satirical Mark Heard song with a serious message. Mark explained what he meant in the liner notes of his Victims of the Age album:

On this album, "Nothing is Bothering Me," "Dancing at the Policeman's Ball," and "Everybody Loves a Holy War" are all satires touching on problems. The first one is about the lie we can live as people by not seeing what's happening in the world around us. We have no right to interpret our complacent experiences as "the way things are" in this world. The other two are dedicated solely to Christian problems. "Policeman's Ball" is speaking about the isolationism to which I've referred earlier - how we as Christians can get so caught up with our own circles that we again forget about our responsibility to sense what is going on with human beings out there in the "secular world," And "Holy War" speaks satirically of the danger of believing that God is the author of our opinions, or our political leanings. Wars are always being fought between the "holy" and the "holy." Neither side realizes he can't win. Each side believes he has won already.

Nothing Is Bothering Me

No news is good news but news is here to stay
Tightening the thumb-screws from day to day
I hear the tale of a distant fray
War is hell but it's half-a-world away

I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world
From dawning on me
We get the picture from week to week
The rich get richer and inherit the meek
Long since started preying on the weak
Am I the guilty party if I turn the other cheek

I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world
From dawning on me

Hey now emotion - is that you again
Don'tcha know that warmth and devotion have passed as a trend
Jesus is knocking but don't let him in
He might come like a thief and steal away your sin

I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world
From dawning on me

Written by Mark Heard
© 1982 Bug 'n Bear Music ASCAP

I have posted Everybody Loves A Holy War before and I will post Dancing at the Policeman's Ball soon.

How To Spot A Scam, Part 5: Tax Scam Update

There is a new phishing e-mail scam going around involving tax "refunds."

The letter says this:

Internal Revenue Service
United States Department of the Treasury

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity we have
determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $496.23.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 3-9 days in order to
process it.

A refund can be delayed for a variety of reasons.
For example submitting invalid records or applying after the deadline.

To access your tax refund, please click here

Best Regards,
Tax Refund Deparment
Internal Revenue Service
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If you get this message, delete it. It is not from the IRS. More information can be obtained at the IRS website.