Hadda go outta town yesterday to help my father set up a new computer. But, sometimes that's about the same as me heading down to Cape Canaveral to help Nasa set up a new shuttle. I was way over my head yesterday. So, I came back to New York, got together with James Marino (who forsaked the laundry to help me out) ...and, got everything up and running. One more trip out to the Island and we'll be all set.

It's good to have friends.

Hey listen... I'm gonna talk to the people at Hudson River Park today, to make sure the "Sunset Concert Series" is on for this Friday night. (I'm sure that it is, but check back here tomorrow to be sure.)

One thing is almost always for sure... I will be in Central Park on Saturday afternoon. Hopefully, that heat wave is over and we can go back to our usual crowds and fun gigs out there on "The Hill".

I'm dreaming about a day in Central Park that's "as cool as the other side of the pillow."

I know there are people reading this in different parts of the country and in different parts of the world. But, if you're in or around New York City, try to make plans to come out to Central Park with us soon. We're coming up on a great time of the year to be out there.

Man! I love making music, writing songs and sharing them with you all. I'm a lucky man. But, y'know, Woody Guthrie said that sometimes it ain't enough for a song to be good... it oughta be good for somethin'.

And, so I have an awful lotta work to do today toward getting the VOICES TOGETHER concert on it's feet. I'll tell you about that in a minute. But, y'know how I did a little thing here at the website about "twinkie" Tucker Carlson a while back? Well, today I wanna throw a big, guitar-man, "Kudos" granola bar to today's "news twinkie", Anderson Cooper.

Here's what CNN calls his show.

"...fast-moving, surprising and provocative alternative to the typical network evening newscast. Backed by the global resources of CNN, Anderson's anchor desk is Central Command for a 360-degree look at world events -- covering not only the day's top stories, but the fascinating, the unexpected and the underreported."

So far, 1,852 Americans have been killed in Iraq. This month at least 55 more have died. At least 348 more ordinary Iraqi citizens have been killed in the first 16 days of this month alone. Thousands and thousands since our invasion. The war is raging. The Iraq "government" (made up of 3 religously, ethnically and ideologically divided people) is as divided as oil and water in the drafting of a nearly-meaningless constitution that they were being strong-armed into coming up with by an arbitrary deadline set by the Bush administration for political reasons. (Oh, they may come with something in a week. Doubtful... but they might. Still, the secular Shiites like criminal Ahmed Chalibi and others will demand control of the oil money and the country's only port in the south, the clerics will demand that the country follows Islamic law, the Kurds will continue to demand autonomy and control of the oil revenue in the North, nobody knows what to do with Tikrit... and, the Sunnis will continue to feel the Middle Eastern version of "payback-time".

Iraq has become the logistical and political nightmare that so many wise people foresaw.

Besides that, Gaza is a powderkeg. The Amercian trade deficit is spiraling out of control. The war has cost over 230 billion dollars to date. Famine is devastating parts of Africa. Gas is $3.00 a gallon. Protestors are gathering outside a president's summer home. (Where he's on a 5 week vacation, much like the one he took the enitre month of August, 2001... before September 11th.)

And, what did Anderon Cooper lead with on hard-hitting news program "Anderson Cooper 360" yesterday on CNN?

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Injuries in cheerleading. . . .

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And, people wonder why a singer/songwriter like myself bothers to put the "News from Iraq" in the message board.

(sigh)

How did we come to this?

Oh man!

Anyway, for the people in America who actually care about taking action and trying to make even a tiny difference for the better in this world... hopefully this week I'm going to be announcing the launch of a new website!

VOICES TOGETHER

This will be a website devoted to the effort to get direct help, medical and humanitarian aid to as many of the ordinary citizens of Iraq who's lives are being destroyed by this war. This is not gonna be political effort. This is gonna be about helping people who desperately need help... period. So, leave your shouting someplace else. (I mean, shout if you want... just someplace else!)

My buddy Dennis is working with a talented woman named Natalia who is constructing th site. I'm hoping, (Y'know, if I get half of the stuff done today that I've gotta get done) we'll be able to steer you guys that way in a couple of days.

What is the VOICES TOGETHER concert?

Y'know, I love this quote by Margaret Mead.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Well, me and a small group of friends and colleagues are gonna try to make a difference in our own tiny way by putting on this concert in January. It's already a massive project and alot of work... kinda turning into a full-time job. But basically, it will be an intimate but extraordinary songwriters circle at the Hammerstein Ballroom, with some very special artists sharing their music for a vital cause... to get direct help to as many of the innocent civilians, the ordinary people in Iraq, who are being so badly hurt by the war. It will evening of music, laughter, some tears... but, most importantly, it will be a hall filled with good people who care about making a real difference in this world. It will be a room full of people who won't ignore the reality of this war, and who know that, while war is always abhorant and immoral, this war is especially so... and that civilians and children are NOT collateral damage. Somebody's got to take care of them.

It makes such an impression on me, when people who supported this war talk and talk and talk about the "vision" that was behind the prosecution of it, and yet can be so blind to the reality of it. I'm kinda sorry for them. They just don't seem to "get it". But, y'know, that's always that's between a person and their conscience.

Well... if you wanna help us make a difference... I'll be letting you know how you can help very soon, okay?

Cool.

Hey, hope I see you at Pier 45 this Friday night. And, in Central Park on Saturday afternoon.

Thanks again.