Hey, I know there are a lot of people reading this in other parts of the country and other parts of the world. If you're new here, stop into the new "Forum" (message board) over there and say "Hi". Let us know where you are from and how you made your way here, okay?

If you live in New York City and you're gettin' on the subway today, smile at each other... okay?

Just smile. Relax, it's only life.

Meanwhile... I don't know if we're gonna get any music in the park this weekend. I've been watching the satellite images, and I gotta say... if we have shot for an outdoor concert it will be on Sunday, I think.

"The Hill" in Central Park

This might be a good weekend for me to buckle down and start putting some serious thought into the two big gigs I've got comin' up this winter... the annual "Year-End Holiday Concert" at Merkin Concert Hall in December, and the VOICES TOGETHER Concert at Symphony Space on January 28th.

Might also be a good weekend to finish up a couple of new songs I've been workin' on... and, to order a HUGE pizza and watch some baseball.

Let's Go Yankees!

Oh, hey... listen. I recently did one of my newer songs for a whole new audience here in New York City. I figured, I don't know, by way of introducing my work to a new audience, I might as well hit 'em with "JesusLand" right off the bat. (Just to take the temperature and see how much fun I could have with them.) Fellow songwriter Christine Lavin, (A wonderful singer/songwriter and new friend.) heard the tune and started passing it around the country. Well, alot of you know that I wrote that song to specifically give a way for free... for all of you to pass around.

So, here it is again. Click on the link below and the song is yours for free. Send the link to as many friends as you want. (Send it to people you don;t like, too.) In fact... why don't you all send it to Bill O'Reilly!

Here's the link:

"That's it, David! You're goin' to hell!"

Anyway, listen. About the subway "terror alert" here in town. Y'know what's kind of a huge shame?

I'm one of the good guys. But, I'm not an idiot. And, I like to consider all possibilities in any situation. So, I don't completely trust that there is even a threat. I just can't anymore.

Y'see... I've become very close to completely cynical about this "Alert" crap. It's the savvy New Yorker in me. I mean, maybe it's legit. But, maybe it's more nonsense like the run-up to the presidential election.

Do you guys remember how many national "terror" alerts there were in the run-up to the presidential election in this country? Remember? "Non-specific" threats. " They might attack a fanancial institution one week. They might attack the mass transit system the next week. They might attack Smalltown, USA! Nobody's safe! Every time Bush slipped in a poll, we got another "terror alert".

How many have been issued since Bush got back into the Oval Office?

How many?

Oh.... none?

Right.

Meanwhile, that's all I could think as I watched Bloomberg at the podium for 30 minutes yesterday. "Isn't he up for re-election?" (sigh)

Anyway, here's some GOOD NEWS! I just saved a bunch of money on my car insur.... AHHHHH!

No... the tickets for the VOICES TOGETHER Concert are on sale!!! You can get yours today by clicking on this link!

Peter Norton SYMPHONY SPACE website

Yeah, yeah. This concert isn't until January 28th. But, as we begin announcing the artists who are gonna be in the lineup, I think tickets will go faster and faster. And, if you wanna be one of those who get to attend the VIP reception after the gig, hang out with the artists, get all kindsa goodies and stuff... you can go to the VOICES TOGETHER website right now and find out how.

What is VOICES TOGETHER?

A small, but growing, circle of friends, artists, and just plain ordinary people like me getting together to try to make a difference for the better in this world right now. Y'know, Margaret Meade said...

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

Whether you feel the war in Iraq is a bad thing or... uy... a good thing, (I can't believe I just typed those last 3 words!) - (sigh) ... anyway, it's an undeniable fact that people who are paying the dearest price are the innocent civilians, the ordinary people in that part of the world.

Y'know, Hurricane Katrina claimed 972 victims. In just this past month of August alone 1,524 Iraqi civilians were killed... many women and children... children.

August alone. ONE MONTH!

Does it surprise you to learn that?

1,524

Any idea what happens to the other innocent people who were standing near them when the bombs went off? The ones who survived? They are suffering terribly... injured beyond description, children orphaned, wives widowed with no means of support. And, they are being ignored by the most of the world... by our government, most of the news media, and nearly all of the American people.

I'm a writer of songs. I'm a musician. What can I do?

What can we do?

THAT'S the reason for the...

CONCERT!

We're still looking for support as far as the production costs of the concert. You can be a real part of this amazing and worthwhile event. All you have to do is reach into your heart, and then into your pocket and send us a few bucks, or whatever you can afford. (We're still looking for that angel or two who can afford to help us with a few thousand dollars or more, but every donation means soooo much.

Seriously.

And, if you help us with the production, you will be listed as a "producer" of the show on both the website and in the program that evening.

Hope you all join us in this effort in whatever way you can.

Well, maybe I'll see you guys this weekend with my guitar in the park... but, maybe not.

If you see me on the streets on Manahattan... say "Hey".

Thanks again.