Thanks for checkin' in today.

Hey! Just a reminder! This Friday evening... 7:00 to 9:00. The "Sunset Concert Series" begins on Pier 45, at the end of Christopher Street in the Village. "Dodger" (guitarist, Roger Bartlett) is gonna join me again this year. We head out to the end of the pier aand play as the Sun says goodbye behind us. It's a very New York thing. If you're not doin' anything, it's kinda cool.

Then, of course, depending on the weather, I'll be out in Central Park on Saturday... from 12:30 'til around 5:30. (Or, y'know, until I fall over.) And listen, I've gotten a bunch of emails from people who can't make it out to the park on Saturdays. Don't give up. We're still workin' on a couple of fun venues to play on Sundays this year.

Man! I love makin' music! We're gona have alot of fun this summer. But y'know, hopefully, we're also gonna do alot of Good for some people who really need our help. (Tell you all about that in a minute.)

Hey... I know there are people reading this all across the country and around the world. If you're new here... welcome. Take a look around. Stop in the "Forum" (message board) and say "Hi". Actually, you can talk about whatever you want in there... music, Love, sex, movies, world events... whatever. If you've been hangin' out in Central Park with me, go on in there and meet other people who do the same. We have a lot of laughs at those concerts. And, like I said, this year... I'm hoping we can do some real Good, too.

Y'know, regardless of your politics or feelings about the war in Iraq, the facts of the war don't change.

Oh wait, I'm sorry.
(Let me put on my "Deep Throat" hat.)

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psssst.

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(whisper) There's a horrible war raging on the other side of the planet.

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Yeah. I know. I know. You wouldn't know it by the way the American "news" media, politicians on both sides of the aisle, and much of the American public are ignoring it. But, yes.... there is a war going on. And, the brunt of the casualties in a country gripped by fear and violence is being borne by ordinary people... civilian fathers and sons, mothers and daughters... children.

Yes. 80 more American soldiers died in Iraq last month alone. But, some estimates report that over 800 Iraqis were killed in May.

So, along with some good, good friends and a growing circle of colleagues and other ordinary people, I'm working on putting together a benefit concert, hopefully a really special event in the Fall sometime, to raise awareness and a shitload of money to help those people directly.

Regardless of your politics, I'm gonna be asking for help from oridnary people like you. Y'know? The overwhelming number of civilians, men, women children... babies... who are being killed, horribly wounded and orphaned is morally obscene and unconscienable. I hoping this concert we're planning will be an evening of wonderful music, smiles, tears... but, above all, a chance for us to make a direct difference in their lives.

(I'm also hoping to ask a lot of genuinely wonderful artists to help out.)

No... this is NOT about politics. In fact, NO politicians of ANY stripe will be invited to publically lend their support. (We will, of course, accept their money as private citizens!) But, no one will be permitted to make any hay with this effort. This will be about ordinary peoople like you and me... helping people who need help.

(Look, if you supported this war... it's my sincere feeling that you should be first in line.)

I will be letting you all know how you can help as this thing progresses. Right now, we're looking to raise money for an organization called Mercy Corps... one of the few humanitarian organizations that are still on the ground in Iraq, helping these people directly. (Most of the other organizations have pulled out because it just too dangerous.) And, maybe we'll be able to help Gary Sinise's group called OIC. (Operation Iraqi Children) We'll see what develops.

But, these people need help... desperately.

Maybe it's time for the rest of us ordinary people in America to do something extraordinary for those people.

Gotta run right now. I'll probably stop in the "Forum" later. Maybe I'll see you in there. Maybe I'll see you on the streets of Manhattan today.

Thanks for everything.