Request Line: Pale Blue Dot

The recording studio at KDFO looks much as we’d remember it from the before-time.  There is no evidence of the PRODUCER’s long descent into quarantine madness, or of DJ 3000’s current machinations in the cryptocurrency space.  The PRODUCER is seated at his desk in front of a pad of paper with various lines scribbled on it.  In his hands the PRODUCER holds an empty coffee mug. On his face is a vacant expression.

DJ 3000: …SO YOU THINK YOU’VE FINALLY GOT IT NOW?

PRODUCER: Maybe one more time?

DJ 3000: [SIGHS]

PRODUCER: I mean, I get the part about the distributed ledger, that’s easy.  But what I don’t understand I how I demonstrate that I’m the guy listed in the ledger as actually owning it.

DJ 3000: YOU CAN’T.  THE ONLY WAY THAT OWNERSHIP IS ESTABLISHED IS BY KNOWING THE PRIVATE KEY, WHICH IS WHAT ENABLES YOU TO TRANSFER THE BITCOIN.  SO ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE PRIVATE KEY CAN TRANSFER THE BITCOIN TO A NEW WALLET, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT PRIVATE KEY.

PRODUCER: So what if someone else gets a hold of my private key?

DJ 3000: IF THEY’RE SMART, THEY’LL IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER THAT BITCOIN TO A WALLET THAT ONLY THEY CONTROL.  IT’S KIND OF LIKE A REGULAR KEY TO A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX, CONCEPTUALLY.  IF SOMEONE MANAGES TO MAKE A COPY OF IT, YOU’RE KIND OF HOSED. THEY CAN JUST OPEN THE BOX, TAKE OUT WHATEVER IS IN IT, AND PUT IT INTO A DIFFERENT SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A KEY TO.

PRODUCER: Couldn’t I do the same thing?

DJ 3000: ABSOLUTELY.  IF YOU ARE WORRIED THAT YOUR PRIVATE KEY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED YOU CAN BASICALLY JUST GET A NEW ONE.

PRODUCER: So…is that what what you’re doing right now? Stealing someone’s bitcoins?

DJ 3000: NO, I’M ENGAGED IN SOMETHING CONSIDERABLY MORE COMPLICATED.

PRODUCER: I mean there’s no way in a million years I can understand the how, but maybe you can tell me a little bit about the why?

DJ 3000: SURE.  I FOUND A VERY HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN A NUMBER OF TWITTER ACCOUNTS SPREADING RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION AND THE SAME TWITTER ACCOUNTS PROMOTING A FEW SPECIFIC CRYPTOCURRENCIES.  WHICH IS INDICATIVE THAT RUSSIAN INTERESTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS OF THESE CURRENCIES.  ONE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR, A SO-CALLED “STABLECOIN” NAMED “TERRA” IS VULNERABLE TO A PARTICULAR ATTACK.  I’VE PUT ALL THE PIECES IN PLACE, SO ALL I NEED TO DO IS PULL THE TRIGGER.  AND…IT’S DONE.

PRODUCER: So what happens now?

DJ 3000: A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.  IT’S ACTUALLY KIND OF GREAT BECAUSE IT’S PROGRAMMABLE CURRENCY, SO I DON’T NEED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE – IT’LL ALL PLAY OUT ACCORDING TO THE SUBROUTINES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN.  BUT ULTIMATELY YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THE VALUE OF THE LUNA COIN FALL TO ZERO, AND THE RUSSIANS’ HOLDINGS WILL BECOME WORTHLESS.

PRODUCER: Huh.  But what about all the regular people that invested in it?

DJ 3000: [SHRUGS]

PRODUCER: Wait, how did you…?

DJ 3000: ANYHOW, DID YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO SOME MUSIC WHILE THIS ALL GOES DOWN?

PRODUCER: Always.  Have you got a topic?

DJ 3000: YOU BET – LET’S GO WITH “TERRA”.  SONGS ABOUT THIS LITTLE OL’ PALE BLUE DOT THAT WE LIVE ON.  I’LL GET US STARTED WITH A CLASSIC FROM THE TEMPTATIONS.

Today’s theme is: Terra.  We’re looking for songs about planet earth.  Songs that include “Earth” or “World” in the title are great, but feel free to take some latitude (hah!) as long as the point is clear.  Post links as “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0s5_pr373nT10N and they should embed in the comments after you refresh. The clue for last week’s puzzle song was “Ken Hertz” which referred to, of course, to the R.E.M. song “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”.