[Please say prayers for my dear London friend Caroline, who suffered a stroke yesterday and is in hospital. I learned the news yesterday when I got home and received a brief voicemail from Caroline's Mum. Very upsetting news! She only turned 50 two weeks ago! Dear lord, help my friend get well soon, very soon. Amen!]


[Back on June 5th Nicholas Cage & Sean Bean were down in front of Trinity Church (near Wall Street) finishing work on the film "National Treasure". This movie is due out later this year and is a drama/thriller. These gents are two of my fav actors ... two very sexy men. The photo below was taken at recent Cannes Film Festival. Sean Bean, Eric Bana & Orlando Bloom are starring in the film TROY.]


The Fight Of Our Lives
ALTERNET
by Bill Moyers
http://alternet.org/stories/18954/

PEARL JAM To Release - Live At Benaroya Hall October 22, 2004 - First-Ever Full Length Acoustic Performance Album To Be Released At Retail July 27th

Pre-Orders Available at www.pearljam.com Beginning June 21 With Band Poster for $13. Twelve years ago, Pearl Jam performed a rare acoustic show for MTV as part of the "Unplugged" series. Although the performance was never officially released, it continues to be one of the band's most bootlegged shows. On July 27th, 2004, Pearl Jam fans can satiate their acoustic appetites with the band's first ever full-length, mostly acoustic live show on a double disc CD entitled Live at Benaroya Hall October 22, 2003.

"Live at Benaroya Hall October 22, 2003 will feature the band's 2+ hour, sold-out performance on October 22, 2003 at the intimate 2,500-seat venue which marked the first live performance of Pearl Jams Golden Globe nominated song MAN OF THE HOUR, as well as acoustic covers of Bob Dylans MASTERS OF WAR, the Ramones’ I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES and Johnny Cashs 25 MINUTES TO GO. The full set list from the evening follows:

DISC 1

OF THE GIRL
LOWLIGHT
THUMBING MY WAY
THIN AIR
FATAL
NOTHING AS IT SEEMS
MAN OF THE HOUR
IMMORTALITY
OFF HE GOES
AROUND THE BEND
I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
SLEIGHT OF HAND
ALL OR NONE
LUKIN

DISC 2

PARTING WAYS
DOWN
CAN'T KEEP
DEAD MAN
MASTERS OF WAR
BLACK
CRAZY MARY
25 MINUTES TO GO
DAUGHTER
YELLOW LEDBETTER

Pre-orders for the CD will be available at www.pearljam.com beginning June 21 for $13. Only CDs ordered through the Pearl Jam Ten Club will include a special poster featuring a photo of the band taken at the Benaroya show by renowned photographer Charles Peterson. A special limited edition vinyl box set will also be available through the band's website only and will also include the poster. The Benaroya Hall show was a benefit for YouthCare, a non profit organization providing a range of comprehensive services for Seattle's homeless and at-risk youth for the past 30 years. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD will also benefit YouthCare. For more information on YouthCare, please visit: youthcare.org.

"This was one of those special shows, but because it was not part of the 2003 tour bootleg series and fans were asking for it, and because of the unique nature of the performance itself- it being the band's first full length acoustic show- it felt like a show we should give fans the chance to own", said band manager Kelly Curtis.

Reviews from the Benaroya show were glowing:

"The concert brought especially stirring performances from Vedder and guitarist McCready, who received several ovations." Gene Stout, Seattle Post Intelligencer.

"With or without juice, Pearl Jam puts on an electrifying show." The encore provided some of the finest moments of the evening, from a bone-tingling version of Victoria Williams CRAZY MARY, to the plaintive and plainly beautifully BLACK. For the latter, Vedder turned the mike toward the audience, and with some 2,500 people singing along, it was dramatic and moving." Tina Potterf, The Seattle Times

"Things didn't quite go as advertised: McCready and Ament plugged in for a few select numbers, and [Boom] Gaspar's organ was juiced throughout. That's not to mention the full-blown, electric delivery on the night's feel good finale, YELLOW LEDBETTER. [Vedder's] solo delivery of DEAD MAN was one of the nights highlights, promptly topped, upon the band's return, with a chilling delivery of Dylan's war protest song [MASTERS OF WAR]." Ernest Jasmine, Morning News Tribune

Kucinich Progressive Values Being Widely Embraced Recognizing Campaign Achievements

The Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign has changed the American political landscape. Even though the Democratic Party appears headed to selecting its presumptive nominee, Dennis Kucinich, with the help of dedicated and determined supporters, has kept the debate on the issues alive long after others bowed out. And if you look closely at platform resolutions adopted at state conventions currently underway across the country, the progressive values of the Kucinich campaign are loudly and clearly being embraced and advanced by Democrats around the nation. The resolutions are essentially endorsements by the state Democratic parties of specific ideas and policies. With the primary season coming to an end, let's take a moment to acknowledge the hard work of our grassroots in getting these resolutions passed. Thank you to...

Massachusetts Democrats:
-clean and publicly funded elections
-universal pre-kindergarten care
-and universal single-payer healthcare!

Colorado Democrats:
-stronger regulation and labeling of organic and genetically modified organisms
-LGBT civil marriage rights
-universal pre-kindergarten care
-the use of medical cannabis as prescribed by a doctor
-U.N. in, U.S. out of Iraq
-universal single-payer healthcare
-a cabinet-level Department of Peace
-the elimination of the use of depleted uranium in the U.S. arsenal and the repeal of sections of the Patriot Act

Minnesota Democrats:
-U.N. in, U.S. out
-repeal of the Patriot Act
-LGBT civil marriage rights
-universal single-payer healthcare and opposition to a military draft!

Washington Democrats:
-canceling NAFTA and the WTO
-repealing sections of the Patriot Act
-universal single-payer healthcare
-U.N. in, U.S. out
-stronger regulation and labeling of organic and genetically modified organisms
-the use of medical cannabis as prescribed by a doctor
-affirming a minimum living-wage
-LGBT civil marriage rights
-a Department of Peace and publicly financed political campaigns

Maine Democrats:
-instant runoff voting
-affirming a minimum living wage
-universal single-payer healthcare
-repeal of the Patriot Act
-universal pre-kindergarten care
-U.N. in, U.S. out and canceling NAFTA and the WTO!

Oregon info:
-canceling NAFTA and the WTO
-repealing segments of the Patriot Act
-universal single-payer healthcare
-U.N. in, U.S. out
-stronger regulation and labeling of organic and genetically modified organisms
-LGBT civil marriage rights
-the creation of a Department of Peace
-publicly financing political campaigns
-the elimination of the use of depleted uranium in the U.S. arsenal and opposition to a military draft

We've had a strong and positive impact on the policies of the Democratic Party at the local and state levels, and now it is time to take it to the national level. With the June 8th end to the primary season behind us, the focus and energy of the Kucinich Campaign is turning towards Boston and the Democratic Convention. We are currently the only organized group lobbying the DNC on platform issues. So, thanks to everyone for all of their hard work and passionate energy over the past year. We have made so much progress, but that is only the beginning. Our long-shot campaign has evolved into a powerful movement! Please join us during this exciting phase of our work together.

Update From The Frank Barbaro Campaign Here In NYC

Bush's Rubber Stamp, Vito Fossella, is sweating bullets, and it's not because of the weather! Frank Barbaro's campaign for the 13th Congressional District seat had another great week, canvassing events throughout the district as part of our petition drive, as well as our general efforts to raise awareness of the Barbaro campaign. This week, we're going to be continuing in both those efforts, and we like your help in doing so. We need to spread the message that Frank Barbaro is ready and willing to fight for the issues Staten Islanders and Brooklynites care about: quality, affordable health care; an increase in the minimum wage; preserving Social Security and Medicare; giving our police, firefighters, and other first responders the support they need and deserve; and many other issues that Vito Fossella has ignored during his terms in Congress.

We have a constant need for people to attend events throughout the week, handing out literature and getting people to sign petitions. If you're interested in helping us out, our office is at 36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 215 (right across from Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the SI Yankees, and just a few blocks from the ferry.) Our office is open from 9:30AM to 8PM every day. The petition drive is especially important at this point in the campaign; we really need volunteers willing to come in, pick up petitions and walksheets, and canvas areas to ensure that we're on the ballot in November. We're having a special major mobilization event this Saturday, June 19th, so we really need people to come to either our Brooklyn or Staten Island offices, any time after 10AM. We also need volunteers to help out around the office, so if you want to help out, but would prefer to stay somewhere with a semblance of air conditioning, we can accommodate you. We had a great response to our last e-mail call for volunteers, and our thanks go out to those of you who came in to help out over the weekend. But unseating Vito is going to be a long, hard fight, and we're going to need your help if we want to put somebody in Congress who cares about the average person, rather than the huge corporations. We look forward to seeing you at the office. Our Brooklyn office is now open! It's located at the Starts and Stripes Democratic Club at 8411 15th Avenue.