YES!!!

There will be a brand new update today!

AND A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF "I LOVE THE COMPANY"!!!

(Just check back in a little bit, okay?)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, KIDS!

I will do a great update to start off the year. It will be a really fun look back at some of the personal, national and global events that took place during our most recent lap around the Sun.

But, for now if you're looking for something to read while you get over last night's party... I just had to post something two days ago.

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Y'see...

I had just spent a beautiful afternoon with Mr. Sid Bernstein. (The man who brought The Beatles to America, put The Rolling Stones in Carnegie Hall, booked James Brown as the very first rock 'n roll show in Madison Square Garden, smashed color barriers and changed both music and the world.) We had a gentle and thoughtful conversation about music, Life, Love, Hope. We talked about his life, his day, his plans for 2007... my life, my plans. We spoke from our hearts. And our conversation drifted, as it usually does, to much wider issues in the world.

That afternoon, I was once again touched by the gentle beauty inside this man. (I will bring you a small piece of our very personal conversation on one of next week's "I Love the Company" episodes.) In 2007, on the podcast I'm going on be introducing you to people who make great music, sharing interviews with amazing and interesting personalities... we're gonna have a blast. It all makes me look forward with such hope and... possibility. (You know me.... possibility junkie.)

But in stark contrast to that feeling, I turned on the cable news a few days ago and was moved to post this.

(Now... if you don't wanna start off your day with a dose of reality...

...WAIT FOR THE UPDATE LATER!!!

We're gonna have a ot of fun.

But, this was a goodbye thought for 2006. (Uy! What a year!)

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December 30th, 2006

I am sad today.

Quietly sad.

It's a good, sweet, sweet sadness, though.

So many people live in America and have no idea that we were founded as a secular nation in which people could be free to seek spirituality and meaning, worship any diety they wish, practice any religion they want or none at all. That was one of the most beautiful and enlightened principles the nation as founded upon. Freedom of religion, and freedom from religion.

Little by little many, many people in this country, with flags flying and drums beating, have been marching backwards into a dark ages mindset in which the religious is somehow intermingled with the civic.

I think it is one of the most disturbing waves and dangerous forces facing this nation as the beautiful idea it was meant to be. At times this trend, coupled with the vivid hypocrisy that envelopes it, inspires me to write, to speak out... sing out. (After all, I'm the guy who wrote "JesusLand" and "The Religion Song".)

The Religion Song
JesusLand

Now, "The Religion Song" speaks for itself. But despite the title, "JesusLand" is an often misunderstood song which is specifically about this kind of hypocrisy.

Today, this verse came to mind:

Now, "W" is a marrried man and Laura is his wife.
Of their family values and beliefs we sing.
He's against a woman' right to choose, cuz he say's that he's PRO-LIFE!
(An execution? Well, that's a nuther thing.)
George goes to church where he sings from his hymnal,
Cuz Jesus once protected him from harm.
But, if you're a convicted deathrow crim'nal,
He's been known to stick a needle in yer arm.

Sadly, he calls himself a Christian. Even sadder, he leads and garners the support of a mindless population, many of whom misguidedly think they somehow live in a "christian" nation. (If you have friends like that, please point them at this page today.)

Y'know, I'm comforted by the truth that the founders of America laid the foundation for an enlightened nation to take it's place in the evolution of civilization.

So, this is for those who are rejoicing or gloating somehow over the hanging of one horrible man across the ocean.

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Over a half million innocent Iraqi civilians have been killed in this immoral and unAmerican war...

...a war which is totally unrelated to the mass murder of 9-11.

More Americans have now lost their lives in Iraq because of George W. Bush than were killed by Osama Bin Laden in 2001.

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Here is a partial list of civilized nations who have ABOLISHED the barbaric practice of the death penalty.

Australia (1984)
France (1981)
Germany (1949)
Austria (1950)
Belgium (1996)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997)
Bulgaria (1998)
Cambodia (1989)
Canada (1976)
Colombia (1910)
Czech Republic (1990)
Denmark (1933)
Ecuador (1906)
Finland (1949)
Greece (1993)
Hungary (1990)
Iceland (1928)
Ireland (1990)
Italy (1947)
Mexico (2005)
Nepal (1990)
Netherlands (1870)
New Zealand (1961)
Norway (1905)
Poland (1997)
Portugal (1867)
South Africa (1995)
Spain (1978)
Sweden (1921)
Switzerland (1942)
Turkey (2002)
United Kingdom (1973)

Here is a partial list of the countries that STILL put people to death.

Iran
Cuba
Egypt
Ethiopia
Somalia
India
Jordan
North Korea
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Pakistan
Rwanda
Saudia Arabia
Sudan
Syria
China
Iraq... and the United States of America

Of all the people put to death in executions in 2006, 94% were in 4 countries.

Iran
China
Saudi Arabia... and, The United States of America.

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Don't it make you just wanna dance in the streets.

Don't it just make you proud.

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If you feel like me, then... "I Love the Company".

We have a whole lot of Good to do in this world in 2007. In my own small way, I promise to do my best with the good people around me here at "That Guitar Man". We will have a lot of fun, we will share a lot of smiles, and I guess most importantly... we will make a lot of music together.

Please... if you wanna chime in and be heard, if you have something to say about this update, if you have differing thoughts on the subject, if you have anything you need to share, pick up the phone and leave a message on one fo these numbers. (Maybe I'll talk about your comment and even get to play it on the next "Weekly Wake-Up Call". Here are the numbers.

Anywhere in North America

646-224-8162

In Europe:

+44 845 280 6622

Okay I'm outta here. But, here is a show from last week to listen to as an example if you're new at this. (From last week's "Weekly Wake Up Call") Just click on the logo and listen.

Or download it to listen whenever you want.

Thanks for another great year in Central Park.