If you were out in Central Park yesterday... thanks for showing up. Kind of threatening rain all day. Kind of hot and muggy. Kind of a weird energy in the air for part of the day. But, we had a great time.

Thanks.

I'm gonna be over in Riverside Park today... at the spot I'm calling the "Storyteller's Hill". (I actually sit down while I'm playing over there!)

If you can join us, head on over. I'll be there from about 1:00 or 1:30 until, y'know... around 5:00. It's a little "Hill" all the way down by the river, just north of the 79th Street Boat Basin. (I'll be the guy with the guitar.)

Hey! I don't wanna sound like a broken record, but this is BIG.

Tomorrow! I'm gonna announce the launching of the...

WEBSITE!

Y'know... you people are amazing! A few of you already sent donations in to help out with this effort. I mean.. the site isn't even up yet. And, some good-hearted people already sent donations. We're gonna call every single person who donates any amount a producer of this show.

And, what we're gonna do on the new website is this...

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PAGE FOR THE "PRODUCERS! Anyone who sends any donation at all... $10 - 25 - 100 - $500 ...or more. Everyone who helps is gonna be listed as an Executive Producer of this concert. Because you deserve it.

Okay, what exactly is the VOICES TOGETHER concert all about?

It's about... this.

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Ahmed lost both eyes and his arm in the Iraq war... but, got help here.

And, it's about this...

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Here's little Dalal, showing off her new beautiful dress... and leg.

Got news for you.

The American government didn't work this little miracle. The Iraqi "government" certainly didn't.

A handful of remarkable but ordinary people are doing this. My friends and I, and the "People on the Hill", simply wanna do something to help them... therefore, the VOICES TOGETHER CONCERT.

Listen... I'm just a singwer/songwriter. What can I do? Write another song?

I recently wrote in the "Forum" (message board) that one act of kindness, one heroic act of healing is more powerful than all the armies that ever marched, all the orators whoever uttered a word, and all the songs ever written. Some people are just not capable of getting their hearts around that simple Truth. And so, the seeds of fear and hate are sown that grow from war to war. But, that shouldn't deter those who understand.

No matter how you feel politically about the war in Iraq, the reality of the war cannot be denied. Thousands and thousands of innocent civilians have been killed. But, the survivors of these horrific attacks, the tens of thousands of the wounded, are not surviving gunshot wounds or broken bones. They are surviving horrific bomb blasts... most of the time... barely surviving.

There is almost no one helping them. And, up to this point, our government and the American news media are nearly completely ignoring them. It's unconscienable and an affront to human decency. There is almost nobody to help these people. Watch the "news". Email me and ell me how many items you see about the civilian casualties in Iraq. You will hear politicians mention the 1,863 Americans who've died since the war began. But, tell me how many times you hear a politician of any stripe address the 1,269 Iraqis who have been killed... JUST SINCE JULY 4th WEEKEND, a little more than six weeks ago.

1,269 people... killed in the last few weeks. Those who survive these attacks are... well, often maimed for life... orphaned children... widowed mothers left to fend for themselves and their families in land often hostile toward women. It's a nightmare. Well, believe it or not, despite the overall lack of attention being paid by most of our politicians, the American news media and the American public... it's a war.

Well, we found a few remarkable people who are actually going into Iraq and finding reaching people who's lives are being torn apart, especially the children, and getting them direct help. Lisa Montanti and her Global Medical Relief Fund, is actually making trips to Iraq to bring wounded children here for the medical help they so desperately need.

Click here to get a general idea of what we're planning and why.

BUT, HERE'S THE REALLY BIG THING!

This concert is gonna be an AMAZING event! And, the thrust of it... the theme of it.. the spirit of it, is this...

ORDINARY PEOPLE HELPING ORDINARY PEOPLE.

Wait and see!

It's the very spirit of "IT'S JUST US"!

If you wanna be part of making it happen... we need your help.

Yes, we're talking to a couple of very "big name" artists. And, it's most likely gonna be at the amazing Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. But, this is gonna be about YOU... the "People on the Hill"... and, people just like you.

Good people. Ordinary people. Who are capable of doing something extraordinary.

This is gonna be different than most concerts that look like this. In this case, we're going to ask for all of you who wanna be a "concert-producer" to send a donation (as much as you can afford) to help with the initial production of the event. THAT WAY... and, this is big... when people buy a ticket for the concert, they will know that their money is going directly to do some good in this world, to help someone who really needs help. The concert will have already been paid for.

AND... every dollar that you send is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

If you can send 25, or 50, or 100... or $500... ALL of it is tax deductible.

All you do is donate the money to the 501(c)(3) that is helping us do this. They're called Fractured Altlas. Just indicate your donaation is for the Voices Together Concert. It's very easy. And, very cool. And, the people at Fractured Atlas are GREAT! Really good people.

(If you are a person who can send $1000 or more, contact our friend from "The Hill", Sue, and she will walk you through the process of sending that kind of gift! Here's her email:

sue (at) voicestogether.org

Okay, I'll tell you more about the concert this weekend. But...

Y'know what?

If YOU wanna be listed as being among the FIRST to get the project off the ground... click here and send... something... either by credit card or by check. The instructions are all there, okay?

In the window that says "On Behalf Of", just look for "Voices Together Concert"

Click here if you wanna be among the FIRST to help!

Remember, everything IS tax deductible. It's more than a worthwhile cause. It will help us make difference in this troubled world...

..right now.

See you guys on "the Hill"

Can't wait to see you all.

It's just us!

Oh yeah, if you were at that book signing on Thursday night, and wanna download that song for free... go to the "Archives" to yesterday's update, okay?

Thanks again.