Updates Blog

The launch of 1Friend2Another attracted little attention, so I’m reprogramming it for a second launch soon, hopefully by Friday January 2. I need to reprogram the site to make it less about the site, and more about friends appreciating and helping each other. The site needs streamlining, it needs to start with one friend’s message to another in the opening screen, and it needs to be a simple statement of faith in humanity instead of a graphics-intensive site that looks like a mini-game.

I’ve decided to give away “The Book Of Time” to support charity. The success of the new site design will hinge on three simple questions:

1. If you could read a free book in 30 minutes and gain hundreds of hours of free time to live life, would you read it?
2. Are there others in your life that you care enough about to email them the good news about this book?
3. If you could support deserving charities by merely “passing the word” — would you?

It’s a race against time with the inauguration approaching on Jan. 20, but hopefully the race can still be won!

President-elect Obama has made it a point to encourage conservation during the campaign. Earlier this summer, he mentioned that we could save million barrels of oil just by keeping the tires on our cars inflated, more than we would gain by drilling for offshore oil. On the other hand, defining a new energy policy will be like walking a tightrope for him. Environmentalists who have supported him oppose offshore drilling and nuclear power plants. But those would be very useful in reducing our dependence on middle east oil.

How well his health care plans will work remains to be seen, but I’m guessing that in these cash-strapped times he’ll come up with something that emphasizes preventive care and savings to consumers, two things that are sorely lacking under our current hodgepodge of private insurers and government mandates.

As for your financial freedom and mine, that’s the biggest question mark. If he creates a lot of tax-and-spend government programs, it could spell economic disaster. He can’t afford to do that, but programs that genuinely invest in developing “human capital” skills that lead to increased workplace viability could be of overall benefit to our country without requiring excessive spending. The main questions are whether government is really competent to do that, and whether increased dependence on government will ultimately lead to decay in our social fabric.

Ultimately, it will be up to individual Americans to decide how we’re going to contribute to our economy in a humane, pro-consumer, globally aware manner. As you and I increasingly do that without needing hand-holding from Washington, we can assure a great future for ourselves and our families.

But if we rely on government too much, we may eventually have to pay the price. As I wrote last month, social turmoil will increase considerably over the not-too-distant future. Those who live their lives wisely, virtuously and happily will be best positioned to get through those tough times.

(Part I of this blog entry was published October 29.)

Imagine John Lennon	Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one	A classic song of hope and the brotherhood of man.
Dirty Laundry Don Henley	Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies We got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pie Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing When it’s said and done, we haven’t told you a thing We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry Kick ‘em when they’re up, kick ‘em when they’re down…	The media game is one of titillation with occasional crumbs of human interest stories. Unfortunately half the people aren’t wise enough to tune in to something more beneficial, like this site for example.
Get Over It The Eagles	You drag it around like a ball and chain You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown Got your mind in the gutter, bringin’ everybody down Complain about the present and blame it on the past I’d like to find your inner child and kick its little ass Get over it, get over it All this bitchin’ and moanin’ and pitchin’ a fit Get over it, get over it	People are ultimately responsible for themselves. (Disclaimer:  No asses were kicked or otherwise harmed during the recording of the Eagles’ Hell Freezes Over album. ;^)
Takin’ Care Of Business Bachman-Turner Overdrive	And if your train’s on time You can get to work by nine And start your slaving job to get your pay If you ever get annoyed Look at me I’m self-employed I love to work at nothing all day And I’ll be taking care of business every day	A great way to be responsible for oneself is to operate a small business, at least part-time.
Land Of Confusion Genesis	There’s too many men Too many people Making too many problems And not much love to go round Can’t you see this is a land of confusion. This is the world we live in And these are the hands were given Use them and let’s start trying To make it a place worth living in.	A very excellent social-action song, one of my favorite songs on this comp.
Conviction Of The Heart Kenny Loggins	I’m tired of living this life, Fooling myself, believing we’re right, when I’ve never given love With any conviction of the heart One with the earth, with the sky One with everything in life I believe we’ll survive if we only try…	This song is about what it takes to really achieve something with any kind of social action.
Let’s Get Together The Youngbloods	If you hear the song I sing, you must understand You hold the key to love and fear, all in your trembling hand Just one key unlocks them both — it’s there at your command C’mon people now, smile on your brother Ev’rybody get together Try and love one another right now Right now, Right now!	The comp ends with a couple of songs having spiritual overtones, this one with a social emphasis.
Higher Love Steve Winwood	Think about it, there must be higher love Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above Without it, life is a wasted time Look inside your heart, Ill look inside mine Things look so bad everywhere In this whole world, what is fair? We walk blind and we try to see Falling behind in what could be Bring me a higher love	One of the best love songs ever written, partly because it has such an introspective, searching-for-meaning spirituality.

For Halloween, here’s a song compilation that’s all about the exhilaration of busting loose:

Also Sprach Zarathusra Born To Be Wild Another Brick In The Wall Der Kommissar Roam All Right Now Turn Me Loose Dancing In The Dark Danger Zone (Top Gun soundtrack) Venus Young Turks Bad To The Bone Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress Xanadu Through The Fire (Top Gun soundtrack) View To A Kill (from the Bond movie) Veteran Of A Thousand Psychic Wars Indian Reservation And When I Die

Richard Strauss Steppenwolf Pink Floyd After The Fire B-52s Free Loverboy Bruce Springsteen Kenny Loggins Bananarama Rod Stewart George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Hollies Olivia Newton-John Larry Greene Duran Duran Blue Oyster Cult Paul Revere And The Raiders Earth, Wind & Fire

Here are some other wild ‘n’ crazy tunes you might want to include in your own comp:

Roll On Down The Highway • Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Smooth • Santana
Hot Blooded • Foreigner
I Love Rock & Roll • Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
The Heat Is On • Glenn Frey
I Can’t Drive 55 • Sammy Hagar
Wild Thing • The Troggs
Stairway To Heaven • Led Zeppelin
Axis, Bold As Love • Jimi Hendrix
We Will Rock You • Queen
You May Be Right • Billy Joel
Don’t Ask Me Why • Billy Joel
Some Like It Hot • Robert Palmer

It feels good to have all these crazy-fun songs on one CD. It’s sort of like a vicarious rebel romp through all of space, time and human experience.

As I mentioned a few months ago in The Songs Of Songstresses post, you can get good deals at iTunes or Rhapsody.com for about a buck a song.

I’ve used this space to publish a couple of earlier music compilations, The Songs Of Songstresses and The Songs Of Summer. Over the next week I’ll publish another two comps, which will probably be all for this year and quite some time into the next year. Today I’ll publish the first half of a “songs for consumers” CD. On Halloween I’ll publish a “Born to Be Wild” comp, which you might say represents the middle word of Consumer Freedom Alliance.

Song and artist	Key Lyrics	My Comments
1. Born Free Andy Williams	Born free, as free as the wind blows As free as the grass grows Born free to follow your heart Live free, and beauty surrounds you The world still astounds you Each time you look at a star	A song to celebrate freedom, as well as animal rights issues (it was in the movie Born Free that starred African lions.)
2. Danny’s Song Loggins & Messina	Now I see a family where there once was none Now we’ve just begun Yeah, we’re gonna fly to the sun And even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you, honey And everything will bring a chain of love.	All about the importance of families and kids, also about living happily even without much material wealth.
3. Taking It To The Streets The Doobie Brothers	You don’t know me but I’m your brother I was raised here in this living hell You don’t know my kind in your world Fairly soon the time will tell You, telling me the things you’re gonna do for me I ain’t blind and I don’t like what I think I see Takin’ it to the streets…	The other side: Poverty, unrest, distrust… and an ill-defined desire for social justice.
4. Fly Like An Eagle Steve Miller	Feed the babies who dont have enough to eat Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet House the people living in the street Oh, oh, there’s a solution I want to fly like an eagle to the sea Fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me I want to fly like an eagle till I’m free Fly through the revolution	A song that (quite amazingly) unifies freedom and compassion. It’s main weakness is that it doesn’t address the spiritual needs of the impoverished.
5. Mr. Roboto Styx	I’m not a robot without emotions — I’m not what you see I’ve come to help you with your problems, so we can be free I’m not a hero, I’m not a saviour, forget what you know I’m just a man whose circumstances went beyond his control… Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For doing the jobs that nobody wants to And thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For helping me escape just when I needed to… The problem’s plain to see: too much technology Machines to save our lives. Machines dehumanize.	I suppose most people wouldn’t have included this song in an album of this kind. I did because it’s absolutely how I feel about my career, especially the part about having to deal with computers.
6. Peace Of Mind Boston	Now everybody’s got advice they just keep on giving Doesn’t mean too much to me Lots of people out to make-believe they’re living Can’t decide who they should be. I understand about indecision But I don’t care if I get behind People living in competition All I want is to have my peace of mind.	People sometimes get into careers that don’t mean much. Let’s downshift from the “rat race,” at least occasionally.
7. Nikita Elton John	Oh I saw you by the wall Ten of your tin soldiers in a row With eyes that looked like ice on fire The human heart a captive in the snow… And if there comes a time Guns and gates no longer hold you in And if you’re free to make a choice Just look towards the west and find a friend	This and the next two songs are really about the international situation. The song was originally written in the eighties as sort of love/compassion letter to people (especially women) trapped behind the Iron Curtain. But it really is relevant to any unfree country. And I think a social prevalence of primitive family structures is a leading cause of war.
8. Top Gun Anthem	(instrumental tune — no lyrics)	The movie Top Gun was about hotshot naval-aviation pilots. I included it because the military factors into the resolution of foreign policy problems that affect everyone. Hopefully leaders will find more diplomatic methods, and when deemed necessary, learn to use military power more wisely.
9. Peace Train Cat Stevens	Now I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come And I believe it could be, something good has begun Oh, I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one And I believe it could be, some day it’s going to come ‘Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again	A peace song should follow a military song. I picked this one because it was passionately sung, and besides I couldn’t resist the irony:  Cat Stevens converted to Islam in 1976 and now splits most of his time between London and the United Arab Emirates. He emphatically denounced the 9/11 attacks and does a lot of charity performances.

Two days ago I posted my predictions I made during the year 2000, which weren’t far off in predicting the declining economic times we face today. Rather than taking the time to make more predictions (which would require painstaking analysis), I’ll post a few quotes form Charles Hugh Smith, whose book “Weblogs & New Media: Marketing in Crisis” I read just recently. He runs a good blog at his author’s site at OfTwoMinds.com.

Smith says “the world is entering an extended era of disruption caused by the intersection of four mutually reinforcing cycles:

1. Peak oil, or the depletion cycle/end-game of the global economy’s complete dependence on inexpensive, readily available petroleum/fossil fuels.

2. The cycle of credit expansion and contraction (approximately 60-70 years), which is now beginning the transition from unsustainable credit expansion (bubble) to renunciation of debt (credit collapse) and global depression.

3. The generational cycle (4 generations or approximately 80 years) of American history which leads to nation-changing social, political and economic upheaval. (The American Revolution: 1781 +80 years = Civil War, 1861 +80 years = 1941, World War II + 80 years = 2021)

4. The 100+ year cycle of price inflation and stagnation of wages’ purchasing-power which began around 1901 is now reaching the final stage of widespread turmoil, shortages, famine, war, conflict and crisis.”

Perhaps that is too pessimistic — but by perhaps not much. He does strike this note of optimism: “…the current young generation (the so-called Millenials) is already rejecting the artifice and in authenticity” of todays marketing messages, and “It may well be that their eventual rebellion will manifest itself as a focus on trust, teamwork, optimism, and action, the very traits most needed as the old worldview of limitless resources and credit disintegrate in an extended, turbulent transformation to scarcity and conflict.”

While America is clearly in some trouble, and probably greater troubles lie ahead, I’m grateful to be living in this country. Other countries have their advantages, but no other country has our uniquely powerful combination of amazingly resourceful people, fairly abundant natural resources, and last but not least our greatest resource:  dynamic democratic traditions (I consider them “the worst in the world — except for all the others!”)

Author’s note:  This forecast was originally published at the turn of the 21st century, before Bush and Gore were nominated if I recall correctly.  When I last reviewed it on Halloween of 2005, I left it unchanged.  I predicted a Dow devaluation from 11,500 to 5000 (actually it went down to just over 7000.)  The overall annual rate of return was warned to be less than 5% this decade; so far it is around 2%, factoring in dividends — less than the inflation rate.  My prediction of an above-average president was too hopeful; either Obama or McCain would be better, but I’m afraid neither will have a very good hand to play.  I mentioned terrorism and a Middle Eastern war as serious possibilities (they occurred, and were even more serious than I forecast); but I correctly (so far) estimated that America could forestall “concerted” attacks in this first decade of the 21st century.

In 2005 I judged it to be “a pretty good forecast although I would certainly make some minor adjustments:  I would darken my predictions regarding terrorism and America’s deteriorating politics and economics (could the decade starting in 2010 resemble the 1940s more than the 1960s?)  I would talk about how the real solution for humankind is to love each other and get closer to God (balanced by skepticism of religious dogma.)

Fast-forward to now-time in 2008. First let me comment on my original remark “Around 2007, Internet technology will have matured, and can not be counted upon to continue to grow the economy.” While that’s come true to some degree (and perhaps the Internet is now immaturing faster than it’s maturing), it’s still possible to use the Internet to create great benefits for society — which is what I’m trying to do with this site.

As for my comment “These projections lead me to estimate that peaceful and prosperous conditions will generally prevail through about 2010″ (albeit a mediocre prosperity and a shaky peace) it appears that we have become entangled in a more difficult and prolonged war than analysts foresaw. And then we stumbled into an economic ditch with the sub-prime lending crisis. It’s amazing to consider how many things had to go wrong for the sub-prime debacle to occur… if any one (maybe two) of the following groups of people had acted sanely, it wouldn’t have had to happen:

1. Sub-prime borrowers who couldn’t afford a home and, with lemming-like unreasonableness, bet on futile hopes that home prices would continue to go up
2. Lending brokers that sometimes misled borrowers into thinking they were getting a good deal and/or misled the loan companies they represented into thinking borrowers could repay their loans
3. Loan company executives and investors who looked the other way and got rich, knowing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would “take the fall” for their bad lending practices
4. Bond rating companies who said the mortgage securities were okay
5. Securities brokers who reassured investors that these mortgage securities were okay — inventing complicated “derivative” and “swap” schemes that few people understood, convincing gullible investors that the risk had been mostly taken out
6. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others who blindly bought bad mortgage loans
7. Financial institution executives who blindly trusted the bond rating companies
8. The Securities and Exchange Commission, which a recent investigation found haphazardly enforces existing regulations and has a “culture of being unwilling to take on the ‘big boys’” of Wall Street
9. Congressional leaders of both parties who did little or nothing
10. A president who did not insist on adequate reform or oversight

Did I leave anybody out? ;^)  It leaves me wondering if America has more corruption-related problems than we would like to believe.

Maybe this coming Wednesday I’ll come out with some new predictions. And now here is the original article from 2000, which I still stand by, except as noted above. –David Snell, SmartConsumerTips.com Editor

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Most people focus their investing efforts on short-term speculation that can make a quick buck, or mid-term investments that will make money over the next 5-7 years.  Yet, some investments are necessarily long-term: homes, for instance, often are financed with a fixed 30-year mortgage.  And building a business is a long-term proposition, one that we hope will benefit our kids and grandchildren.

Here are the main points to consider:

1. Socio-Economic Trends:  A prime reason for the economic success of America in the 1990s is the maturation of the baby-boom generation.  As they entered their thirties and forties, they attained their highest productivity.  Since the baby-boomers are such a large demographic segment, this had a supercharging  effect on the American economy.  Many of them outgrew their jobs, and became more interested in starting and/or managing businesses.

   The new businesses had to compete for employees, many of whom were tech-savvy X-geners who installed new high-tech programs that could make businesses run more efficiently.  All this had the happy effect of raising wages, maximizing employment, and enriching America.

   This trend of increasing productivity will continue for approximately ten years.  Around 2010, the retirement of baby boomers will create a downward pressure on America’s economy: they will exit the workforce, and the increased cost of providing medical care to this large demographic segment will probably drain financial resources from other sectors of the economy.  Americans have less than 2 children per family on average, and that worsens this problem.  Another problem may be increased cost of imports, when foreign wage rates rise as third-world countries industrialize.

   The downside is that we may have a “bubble market”, meaning that stocks are overpriced and this bubble may burst at some point.  The real value of stocks can more realistically support a Dow of 5,000, about half its value in 2000.  Some smart investors are simply selling every last stock they hold, and waiting for the Dow to crash so they can go bargain-hunting for attractive stocks again.  Investors don’t seem to care much about price-to-earnings ratios anymore, and often don’t even consider the tight labor market or rising interest rates in their purchases.  Many of them seem to be looking at the future through rose-colored lenses.

   The overall rate of return from the stock market for 2000 through 2010 may not exceed 5%.  If you want a safe place to park your cash and still earn decent interest, look to Certificates of Deposit, federally insured money market accounts, and government I-bonds.

2. Technological Trends:  Another prime reason for America’s economic explosion in the nineties has been the information-technology boom.  It has made the world economy much more efficient and dynamic, and will continue to have a very positive effect over the next 5-10 years.  Around 2007, Internet technology will have matured, and can not be counted upon to continue to grow the economy.

   One technological “wild card” is molecular engineering.  In perhaps 15 years, scientists will be able to build machines at the molecular level: for example, a microscopic seed implanted in a mass of silicon could literally grow itself  into a computer.  The implications boggle the mind!  I cannot predict the consequences at this time, so I can only advise that you keep an eye on these new technologies.

   Another possible development is that before 2010, we may develop scientific methods to manipulate our own genetic makeup.  For example, we may be able to grow “replacement organs” for the parts of our body that are starting to fail.  This might reduce medical costs if it can be done cheaply enough; alternatively, medical costs may go through the roof. 
   

3. Political Trends:  Political influences on the economy are less important that politicians would like us to believe.  However, I do give credit to both parties where it is due.  Clinton should be credited with competent economic management.  The Republican victory in the 1994 elections bolstered business confidence, and stock values have tripled since that time.

   The election of an incompetent or aggressive president could seriously harm America’s future.  That happened in 1965 when President Johnson maneuvered America into the Vietnam war, while erecting a bloated and inefficient welfare state.  However, it seems likely that America will have a somewhat above-average president through 2008.

4. Moral Trends:  America is like two trains going in opposite directions.  On the one hand, many people are becoming more conscientious: crime and divorce are down, while church attendance is growing.  On the other hand, the popular culture is coarsening: our educational system is mediocre, and pornography and other vices seem to be on the rise.  Media airwaves are filled with scandal-mongering and vulgar programming.

   For at least the next ten years, it seems that these two trains will be content to allow each other to pass in the night.  America is a tolerant and forgiving country.

   However, I must observe that weakening societies tend to go through some type of scourge, whether it be war, plague or famine.  Our memory of destructive wars gives us the wisdom to avoid major conflicts, and America’s military forces are probably strong enough to deter the enemies of democracy.  Medical science remains strong enough to cure almost any infectious disease, and food supplies are plentiful in America.

   Before 2015, I see no scourge that will plunge America into a major disaster.  If and when such a scourge does erupt, those people who have preserved their health (physically, emotionally, socially and financially), will be the ones who come out of it unscathed.

5. International Trends:  America has exported much of its industrial base to foreign countries, where labor is cheap.  For this and many other reasons, the global economy is becoming much more interdependent.  Widespread disruptions in foreign countries (political and/or military) would have a significant impact on the American economy.  These disruptions may occur in or near countries governed by self-aggrandizing autocrats.  However, financiers seldom invest money in countries with unstable political systems.

   America relies heavily on imports of crude oil, and to a lesser extent, other imported natural resources.  Oil is in such high demand that a small decrease in the oil supply could lead to skyrocketing prices and prolonged economic instability.  The Middle East is perpetually unstable, and is a major supplier of much-needed crude oil.  However, American power should continue to limit this politically weak region to petty bickering, and perhaps a minor war or two.  A meltdown of the Chinese economic and political system is unlikely, because their government has a tight grip on a traditionally peaceful populace.  An invasion of Taiwan by mainland China would be a desperate gamble, unlikely to either occur or succeed.

   The extent to which democracy prevails in this world depends largely on America: our country must deal with tyrants sternly enough to minimize their predatory actions, while encouraging free-market reforms that may ultimately lead to more democratic freedom.

6. Military Trends:  America stands virtually unchallenged as the world’s supreme military power.  Russia is a military and economic basket case.  China is upgrading their armament, but its pace of development is not fast enough to challenge America for at least 10-15 years.  Military funding is likely to increase for the year 2000 and beyond, so the military situation can be expected to improve.  However, if America becomes more complacent about its military situation and economic structure, foreign aggression becomes an ever-greater possibility.

   Nuclear proliferation will spread small numbers of nuclear weapons to a few dozen countries.  Nuclear or biochemical terrorism against America is a possiblility, but concerted terrorist attacks are unlikely because no other nation is likely to conclude that America can be defeated by terrorism.

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   These projections lead me to estimate that peaceful and prosperous conditions will generally prevail through about 2010.  After that time, our prosperity will depend on how well we can meld revolutionary new technologies with humane values, and apply that towards the overall well-being of humankind.  The decade between 2010 and 2020 will probably be the most fascinating and troubled decade since the 1960’s.

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Two lawyers enter a bank, and armed robbers suddenly burst in. While several of the robbers take the money from the tellers, others line up the lawyers and the other customers against a wall and start rifling through their pockets.

While this is going on, one lawyer presses something into the other lawyer’s hand and whispers “Here take this, it’s important!”

He takes it without looking down and whispers, “What’s this?”

“It’s that $500 I owe you.”

Spent the past week thinking about how we could convince more people to take advantage of our sites. Nearly everyone would do well to take advantage of the really useful tools and pro-consumer tips we’ve created, but few do so. I’ve sometimes wondered why more people don’t join us.

I think it’s because everyone’s first need is to connect with other people. I could shout helpful advice from the top of my lungs, but it would do little good. That’s because nearly everyone prefers to do something with their friends rather than take the time to find out about the great stuff we have on this site.

So from now on, this site will be all about “connecting friends and family in productive ways.” Sites like FaceBook.com and MySpace.com got noticed partly by creating a useful product, but that was only the minor part of what they did. The real key was that they encouraged friends and family to connect with each other using their service.

The Consumer Freedom Alliance will emphasize three efforts in the next two months, as we prepare for a vigorous expansion campaign in November to provide the best possible benefits to many more visitors and customers. First, we will expand our audience by helping people connect in fun ways. Second, we’ll continue to improve the quality of our online tools and our published consumer tips. Third, we will reach out to consumer advocates, media opinion-influencers and other experts, to encourage them to publicize our efforts (and hopefully also join with us.)

That’s the best way to reach millions of people.

Last month I posted a song compilation for The Songs Of Summer. One reason for today’s post is that women tend to be more interested in consumer tips, and they also spread information on the Internet 50% more than men do. We need to listen to women to better understand what they want and what they would be happy to spread to their friends. Here’s 80 minutes of songs I like from the great sonstresses:

Unwritten I Hope You Dance Flashdance - What A Feeling Magic Man I Honestly Love You Cherish The Day Hero Fernando No Ordinary Love Have You Never Been Mellow Butterfly A New Day Has Come Magic Suddenly Simple Things Heaven Is A Place On Earth Valentine

Natasha Bedingfield Lee Ann Womack Irene Cara Heart Olivia Newton-John Sade Mariah Carey Abba Sade Olivia Newton-John Mariah Carey Celine Dion Olivia Newton-John Olivia Newton-John, with Sir Cliff Richard Rebecca Lynn Howard Belinda Carlisle Martina McBride

So there you have it… I suppose it gives some insight into what men like to hear from women. Who would make your starting team of divas, and what would you like to hear them sing? Here are some other songs I like:

Listen To Your Heart • DHT
Roam • B-52s
Colors Of The Wind • Vanessa Williams
You Saved The Best For Last • Vanessa Williams
Smooth Operator • Sade
What About Love? • Heart
These Dreams • Heart
Venus • Bananarama
Bubbly • Colbie Caillat
Heart Of Glass • Blondie
Breathe • Faith Hill
Make It Happen • Mariah Carey
Dream Lover • Mariah Carey
Xanadu • Olivia Newton-John
I Love Rock And Roll • Joan Jett
You’re Still The One • Shania Twain
Someday We’ll Be Together • Supremes
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher • Roberta Flack
Walking On Sunshine • Katrina and The Waves

As I mentioned last month, you can get a good deal at iTunes or Rhapsody.com for about a buck a song.