Another Lousy Day In Paradise

Well, the headline says it all folks. In this Times Online article, Wall Street Broker and former Nasdaq Chairman Bernard Madoff is about to (actually already has) screw countless New York socialites out of potentially everything they have. Madoff had been pulling off a stunning years old Ponzi scheme that has reached over $50 billion dollars. I don't care what era you are in folks, $50 billion dollars is a staggering amount of money to bilk.

What is a Ponzi scheme? It's like a pyramid scheme. It operates within the investment world where people hand over their money out of greed. They are promised they will get an abnormally high return on their investment. Many early investors do get a large return on the money they entrust to the perceived arbitrage because it temporarily succeeds by way of the pyramid scheme concept. People early on get their money back as promised because ... more »

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Saturday, December 6

Joey Satriani verses Coldplay

by Lars Hindsley on Sat 06 Dec 2008 01:50 AM EST

There is a saying, "Good artist copy, Great artist steal." Sounds like someone trying to justify their behavior eh? Well before I tell you who said that, consider this story...

Recently Joey Satriani has filed a law suit against Coldplay for stealing a musical sound; tantamount to plagiarism . He's suing for any and all profits. The song in question is Viva La Vida. The question is now did Coldplay lift Joey Satriani's (IV V I vi) chord progression as Chris Martin's harmonic (C,D,G,E) vocal melody for Viva La Vida? It's almost a full measure (7 notes) which will most likely make it to court as the melodic line in question and diatonic chord progression are virtually the same. While its not in the same key, the tempo is not exact but close enough which lend to the rhythms sounding similar. Yet the four chords in Viva La Vida do match If I Could Fly.

AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO...
Coldplay is up for a grammy this year and Viva La Vida is a big reason. I'm certain I don't need to link to that video. So let's just allow you to cross reference on your own to Joey's Satriani's 2004 instrumental If I Could Fly. Bear with it until it reaches approximately the 49 second point. What you should hear will take you to the 1:19 second point.

For a side by side comparison while BOTH SONG'S PLAY (overlap) AT THE SAME TIME... Wow... check out this comparison video:

So who does the famous quote of "Good artist copy, great artist steal." belong to?

None other than renowned artist, painter Pablo Picasso.

What does that mean? To me it means Coldplay improved on Satriani's melody.

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Saturday, November 29

Batman is Dead! Is Batman Really Dead?

by Lars Hindsley on Sat 29 Nov 2008 12:03 AM EST

Here we go again. The comic book industry is showing it's desperation again. This time DC has decided to kill Batman.

Like Superman died and then did not die, like Spider-Man whom was cloned, but not a clone, and even the Batman series--where his back was broken and he was no longer Batman ...Once again the comic book industry has decided to make another over the top decision; Kill Batman.

The question is will he remain dead? If you are at all familiar with how comic book publishers operate, they have a tendency to undo what they do after doing it. Case in point, the perpetrator is Batman's father. But wait! He's dead! Isn't he? Well, no. Not now. He faked it according to the latest story line.

The not really dead or faked death device is really a hackneyed story line creating cynics of every reader. We readers will read the entire story, waiting and expecting to find out at the end, that this man claiming to be Batman's father isn't, and/or Batman never really died; that he too faked death. Perhaps in an effort to have readers suspend cynicism and accept this news as permanent truth the current writers at DC insist Batman really is dead and that his mantle will be taken over by one of his Protégé’s. "This is the end of Bruce Wayne as Batman" says Grant Morrison of DC. Potential replacements are Dick Grayson (the first Robin) whom is now Nightwing or the current Robin, Tim Drake. You may recall the second Robin was killed by the Joker. I think he's really still dead. Unless he is actually alive. Some believe he was thrown in the Lazarus Pit (brings you back to life with negative results) and is now the dark character Hush.

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Friday, February 15

Text messaging blunders, mistakes and the embrassment

by Lars Hindsley on Fri 15 Feb 2008 12:04 PM EST

Have you ever text messaged the wrong person? Ever heard of "textual harrassment" or "texting while intoxicated"? If not, read on. You'll get a kick out of this.

I first wanted to write an article only about text messaging the wrong person after learning I am not the only person having text messaged the wrong person. I'll get to that. However this is a topic that goes beyond this one blunder. So let's explore...

ACCIDENTLY CALLING THE WRONG PERSON

For me it all started when I acquired my first PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) phone. These phones have large touch screens and locking software is frankly a pain in most cases. Inevitably the phone would dial back in error anyone I was on the phone with last. This happened from time to time and usually it was my wife. WAS. LOL.

Nooooo! I never spoke to anyone I shouldn't be talking to, don't go assuming too much. The only story there is that I was annoyed by my phone. There is this one time when I was out to lunch with a friend from high-school, and old band buddy. We were catching up at nice sit down restaurant. My phone called my wife while it was on the table! Later she told me, "You idiot, you left a 20 minute voice mail at my office!" You'd think the joke ends there. She went on because she was angry, not pissed, but angry. Yes ladies and gentlemen my wife heard me speak things she should not have heard. And no I didn't speak ill of her. I recall telling my friend that my wife didn't know me. We were talking about how she angrily told me once she didn't want to know about my past life before her and I had to put all my photos of ... more »

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WHY MOSTLY PHOTOS OF LARS?
The answer is simple. It's to protect the privacy of friends. I'm not a narcissist. LOL

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lars Hindsley is a self-employed single full time father, a writer, a non conservative Republican, a reformed idealist (a compromisationalist), ex-musician, God fearing cynic that could more easily be described in two words as a "Rugged Intellectual".

Lars writings range from "how to" articles to commentaries and advice. You'll find movie reviews and video picks of the day side by side with serious writings.

Lars offers perspective from an Anglo-Christian moral position while never lording over anyone unlike himself. Lars is of the opinion that if you are going to complain, you should offer a solution. His perspective on the world is that many of us fight societal evolution to frustrating ends without a genuine understanding of what it is we are all up against.

Reading his articles should provide you with positive energy towards living out your day. You may not be able to change the world but you can navigate it to live a rich and rewarding life. Enjoy Lars’ works, there are years of writings to choose from.

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