Sunday, June 26, 2016

Beauty Left the Room



Charlie Peacock is a gifted song-writer and jazz player known best for his song “In the Light,” recorded by himself and by DC Talk. One of his lesser known songs is called “Beauty Left the Room.” The lyrics follow here.

Beauty Left the Room
(Lyrics and Music by Charlie Peacock)

The sky had a heartache
The truth couldn’t wait to slip out
And miss little-black-checkered-pants
Was clutching a new Coach bag

Then Beauty left the room
Beauty left the room
And the smell of America took its place
When beauty left the room

I wanna go home
Back to the house by the river
Live in the time-honored way
Owing no debt but love

When beauty leaves the room
When beauty leaves the room
And the smell of America takes its place
Oh when, Beauty leaves the room

You’ll know it when you see it
When you smell it, when you feel it, smells like
Burnt toast and repetition, Ah the repetition
All alone with a mission
We’ve got so good at saving face

The sky had a heartache
The truth couldn’t wait to slip out
And miss little-black-checkered-pants
Was clutching a new Coach bag

Then Beauty left the room
Beauty left the room
And the smell of America took its place
When beauty left the room
Beauty left the room

You can rise before the morning sun
End the day and not be done
That’s the way it is in the work of finding courage
You gotta ask yourself
Hey what’s the rush, what’s the hurry?

Here I am again, with my pencil and my paper
Listening, for a sign, for a word from my Maker
The sky had a heartache
The truth couldn’t wait to slip out
And miss little-black-checkered-pants
Was clutching a new Coach bag

In one interview, Peacock spoke of these lyrics and said that they were mostly about the smell of America, the materialism of Florida, nice Coach bags, girls in short skirts, and coffee. However, I will take a turn at interpreting the words of this song. My philosophy is that a songwriter has many meanings in his head as he writes a song, some are known to him and a few are not. Of course I am also speaking of the songs that I have had the good fortune to write. Others can always interpret a song in its relevant culture and come up with further meanings inherent in the lyrics, even if the author would not interpret the song precisely that way.

“Beauty Left the Room,” sounds like a song about what happens when we stop recognizing and appreciating beauty. The first stanza speaks of the beauty of a sky as it is about to give way to lightning and rain and the beauty of a woman in black checkered pants with a Coach bag in hand. These are things that need to be recognized for their beauty and the author is very much aware of these things in his view.

The chorus speaks of what happens when we let go of beauty and of what takes the place in the vacuum that is left behind. The “smell of America” is what replaces beauty, and one gets the sense that it is not a pleasant aroma. Verse two is like lines from a Wendell Berry book as Peacock is thinking nostalgically and wishes for times past when he lived a simpler life and owed no one anything but the debt of love. The next stanza gets explicit about the smell of America: burnt toast and repetition, mission without vision. It goes on to talk about “saving face”: looking good in front of others and following the crowd.

The song goes back to the first verse and the chorus before challenging us to ask ourselves, “What is this all about? Why are we in such a rush? The last lines challenge us to come back to beauty, come back to poetry. The poet waits with pencil in hand, waiting for the muse of his Maker to give him the words to describe beauty. It is not about facts and figures, rising before the sun, rushing to a job, or working hard. Those are part of life; but the real message of life is in the poetry. It is in the beauty.

Beauty left the room. Have we become so pragmatic, so utilitarian that beauty has left the room? Even in our churches, has beauty left the room? Beauty, poetry, and songs, have they left the room because we no longer pursue them? How do we invite this beauty back into the room?

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Robotic Laws


Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics"
  1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
  2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
  3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.[1]

Conversations about driverless cars just got a little more difficult. Isaac Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics" cannot help robotic cars in situations where they must choose between harm to passengers or harm to pedestrians. A recent article[2] in Science News includes the following graphic and explanation to illustrate the point.

J.-F.Bonnefon et al/Science 2016
"Driverless cars will occasionally face emergency situations. The car may have to determine whether to swerve into one passerby to avoid several pedestrians (left), swerve away from a pedestrian while harming its own passenger (middle), or swerve away from several pedestrians while harming its own passenger (right). Online surveys indicate most people want driverless cars that save passengers at all costs, even if passenger-sacrificing vehicles save more lives."

Of course one might argue that, on average, humans are no better at such moral dilemmas. Perhaps the issue is that with a robotic car we know exactly what we will get. Programming will determine the choices a driverless car will make in any given situation, whereas humans are much less predictable and the choices they make are dependent upon the degree of altruism resident in the individual driver. Many times, in a moral dilemma, we do not know how an individual human will respond. Will they choose to sacrifice themselves for the sake of strangers? Will they sacrifice themselves and their child for the strangers? What about the scenario in which their pet would be sacrificed for the sake of unknown pedestrians? We may do surveys and get a statistically accurate average on the answers to these questions but we know that there would be outliers and unique decisions made at the spur of the moment. With robotic programming, the driverless car does not make a choice, it simply follows the program with which it was built. This puts the onus on the manufacturer rather than a driver or a car or a robotic brain. In a litigious society, this may be the problem that slows the progress of driverless cars.


[1] In 1942, the science fiction author Isaac Asimov published a short story called "Runaround" in which he introduced three laws that governed the behaviour of robots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaround_(story)
[2] “Moral Dilemma Could Put Brakes on Driverless Cars,” Bruce Bower, June 23, 2016, Science News, https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moral-dilemma-could-put-brakes-driverless-cars

Monday, June 20, 2016

Frog Song


Key of Zed has been back in the studio. Always seeking to be innovative, and never shying away from new genres, the duo decided to try writing a children's song. Three year old Clayton K. Smith helped out with some of the lyrics so we are pretty sure it will be a number one hit with the preschool crowd!

Not only is the song fun, but it has a basis in science. More details are available here, but allow me to give a few clues to how the song connects to real frog biology. There is a pond close to where I live where frogs sing through the spring and summer and then must prepare for winter. The pond is drained each fall, so the frogs must burrow down into the mud and vegetation and wait for spring. They winter in hibernacula created with soil, water, their own excretions, and a type of sugary anti-freeze that flows through their blood. All summer they live and reproduce while eating bugs from the pond and all winter they sleep in a death-like trance and await the flood of water back into the pond accompanied by the warmer spring air. Now that you have heard about the science, sit back and have some fun with the lyrics and melody.

The Frog Song
(Lyrics and Music by Mike Charko, Clayton K. Smith, and Keith Shields; SOCAN 2016)
(Listen to the song here.)

Ribbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all sing

Down by the bog
Underneath a log
He was a thinking
‘bout being a frog

The wonder of
Water and soil
Mixin it up
With some froggie oil

Ribbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all sing

Buzzes Buzzin and
And fuzzes fuzzin
Geese a flying
Robins Hi-Hi-in

Bunnies a thumpin
And bees a bumpin
Smells of pollen
Coyotes callin

Ribbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all sing

Wishin for a fly,
He licked his lips
Good old bug juice
Gonna have a sip

Oh croak your best
You’ll always be blessed
Just thank the Lord
He’ll take care of the rest

Ribbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all sing
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, let’s all sing

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Hope

 
Hope is what gets us through difficult times. Depression is the result when we face challenging circumstances without hope. Hope is not about knowing for sure that a good result is ahead; it is about having a reasonable faith that a good result is ahead. There are a variety of approaches to faith, but those of us who live by faith do indeed find hope. The Reverend Billy Graham once said, “I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right.”

Graham has hope because he has put his faith in an ancient story. The words of the Bible, written by many authors, over a period of many years, tell many stories. Yet, the theme that binds the stories together is this: “God, the one who made the universe, has a good plan for the universe and those who agree with God and seek his good plan for the universe can have hope of a good ending.” It is all going to turn out all right.

I know that faith is an unpopular idea right now. Faith is not in vogue. Rather, it seems that, protest, argument, standing up for one’s rights, atheism, and humanism are trending. Some would say that if we just love everybody, the world would be all sorted out. Can we love without hope? Can we love without faith in something? Can we love soldiers in Syria who believe they fight for a cause by using men, women, and children as shields in the civil war? Can we love a man who walks into a gay bar and kills innocent people in Florida? Can we love his wife? Can we love without hope for change? Can we love without faith that our love will make a difference?

I have faith that there is a plan for the universe. I have faith that God holds the plan in his hands. I too have read the last chapter, the last page, the last instalment. It really does have a happy ending. The ending is redeeming, just, loving, sacrificial, and triumphant. It’s all going to turn out all right.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Last Man on the Moon


“If you begin to think you're something you're not, you're looking in the wrong mirror.” - Eugene Cernan

I have been watching the Mark Craig directed documentary, Last Man on the Moon (2014). It is great educational entertainment for an Apollo junkie like me. It describes the career path of Eugene (Gene) Cernan as he was transformed from a Navy aircraft carrier, jet pilot to an astronaut during the heyday of lunar exploration from the time of the Gemini missions and right up to the last Apollo mission. The title of the movie comes from the fact that Cernan is the last person to have stood on the surface of the moon which was on December 14, 1972, more than 42 years ago.

Cernan is fascinating. He is both ordinary and extraordinary. He is an ordinary citizen with a Texas Longhorn cattle ranch who enjoys watching a good Texas rodeo. He is an outspoken proponent of space exploration who believes that America has lost something important by not returning to the moon since he last set foot there.

“After Apollo 17, America stopped looking towards the next horizon. The United States had become a space-faring nation, but threw it away. We have sacrificed space exploration for space exploitation, which is interesting but scarcely visionary.”

He believes that humanity as a whole needs a greater degree of curiosity and pioneering ambition. He suggests that we need to ask questions about who we are and our place in the universe.

“Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't know. I don't have any answers to those questions. I don't know what's over there around the corner. But I want to find out.”

I may be a bit of a product of my own generation (I was 9 years old when Apollo 11 landed on the moon) but I tend to agree with Cernan. We do need more pioneering spirit; we do need more curiosity; we should be looking toward the next horizon. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when the horizon is just one goal before reaching toward the next goal. Horizon after horizon after horizon will allow anyone to encircle the earth. Gene Cernan is also very practical and does not see himself as special. He says that, “People try to typecast astronauts as heroic and superhuman. We're only human beings.” May we and all of humanity be as ordinary as Gene Cernan.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Dirty Jobs and Dirty Truth


Lately, I have been thinking much about my career journey and how it relates to the advice I have given others. I have been one of those fathers who told his daughters to "follow your passions and get good at what you like to do. Eventually, someone will pay you to do those things at which you have become good." This line of reasoning does make sense in certain job markets and economic situations. In other scenarios, it may not be as good. Thomas Edison and Mike Rowe have some different advice.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas A. Edison, US inventor (1847 - 1931)

Passion is too important to be without, but too fickle to be guided by. Which is why I’m more inclined to say, 'Don’t Follow Your Passion, But Always Bring it With You.' - Mike Rowe 

Terrible Advice: “Follow your passion.” . . .
Dirty Truth: “Just because you are passionate about something, it does not mean that you are good at it.” . . .
When it comes to your hobbies: “By all means, follow your passions.” . . .
Dirty Truth 2: “Follow opportunities not your passions.” . . . 
Dirty Truth 3: “Don’t follow your passion, but always bring it with you.”

Occasionally, someone has the good fortune of being able to do their hobby and get paid for it. Perhaps this is when passion and opportunity align. That may be a worthwhile pursuit; yet, I suspect that following legitimate opportunities, over following legitimate passions, is the more probable road to success.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Saint Columba Day 2016



Today is the traditional celebration day for Saint Columba, an Irish missionary who did the work of God in Scotland. The following quotes are attributed to this man of God.

Alone with none but Thee, my God, I journey on my way; what need I fear when Thou art near, Oh King of night and day? More safe am I within Thy hand than if a host did round me stand.

O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen.

Columba is one who modelled the ability to rest in the hand of God and shine the light of God into the darkness of the world. May we follow his example.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Jupiter Through the Eyes of Juno

 
In August of 2011 a NASA rocket launch occurred. The rocket carried the Juno spacecraft on top of it and hurtled it out into space. Ever since then, Juno has been traveling toward Jupiter. In July of this year (July 4th to be precise), Juno will arrive and settle into an orbit around the largest planet in our solar system where it will begin analyzing Jupiter and sending information back to NASA scientists on earth. It is expected that the spacecraft will orbit Jupiter for approximately 20 months and then be purposefully burned up in the upper atmosphere of the planet. NASA scientists expect the craft to render information about the amount of water in the atmosphere, measure cloud motions, map Jupiter's magnetic and gravity fields, and explore the northern and southern lights of the planet.

Once again, NASA is on the verge of amazing discoveries. We truly are in the golden days of planetary exploration. In 100 years people will look back on this time and see that it was very significant to our understanding of our place in the solar system. Humans have a healthy curiosity about our world and our universe. This is as it should be. When we look down at a blade of grass or look up into a starry sky, it is natural to wonder about how these things are made and the material out of which they are made. It is natural to ask questions about what is out there beyond what we can see with our naked eyes. Let’s celebrate this latest NASA achievement.

Timeline of the Juno Mission
  • Launch - August 5, 2011
  • Earth flyby gravity assist - October 2013
  • Jupiter arrival - July 2016
  • Spacecraft will orbit Jupiter for 20 months (37 orbits)
  • End of mission (de-orbit into Jupiter) - February 2018

Tomorrow, You're Always a Day Away




How do we go about living in the present? It seems that we are always either living in the past or looking at the future. How do I stay focused on this moment right here as my fingers dance over the keyboard of my laptop computer?

Wendell Berry speaking of universities said, 
“It was preparing people from the world of the past for the world of the future, and what was missing was the world of the present, where every body was living its small, short, surprising, miserable, wonderful, blessed, damaged, only life.”
 We all too readily race ahead to tomorrow, only to find that the tomorrow to which we raced has become yesterday. Jesus of Nazareth said, 
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34 New Living Translation.
Those are good words by which to live.