Monthly Archives: June, 2011

Yesterday was the 96th birthday of the father of the electric guitar, the great Les Paul. In honor of his memory, Google put a "Guitar Google Doodle" at the top of their page, where visitors can drag the mouse cursor across the strings and "play guitar", and even record their performance and then play it back.

It was such a hit and is so popular, Google is leaving it up for another day in the US. "Due to popular demand, we're leaving the Les Paul doodle up in the U.S. through Friday for an encore. Thanks for jamming with us!" wrote Google designer Alexander Chen in an update on the company's blog Friday morning. This "Doodle" is rivaling the other popular doodles, such as Pac-Man.

Read bout the great life of Les Paul HERE, and to play and record your performance, head over to Google!

http://www.google.com/logos/2011/lespaul.html

 On June 6th and 7th, National Nurses United, Progressive Democrats of America, and other activists converged on Washington, D.C. to call on our elected officials to "Heal America - Tax Wall Street". The activists are proposing a fair-share tax plan on Wall Street, not on "Main Street". The nurses were there to speak out for better care of their patients, and they feel that currently, “People are suffering, because there are not enough nurses at the bedside,” said Pamela Young, 54, who traveled from Oviedo, Fla., for the event. Many nurses at the rally said they were concerned that staffing reductions in hospitals and doctors’ offices due to budget cuts could be dangerous to patients. National Nurses United has over 160,000 members.

The event lasted 2 days, and started with a Rally at Marrott Wardman Park, then on Tuesday they rallied in Lafayette Park and called on the White House to protect nurses jobs, and to protect patients. They marched past the US Chamber of Commerce, chanting "Hey Chamber you can't hide! We can see your greedy side!". The activists are upset with the US Chamber using their enormous influence to prevent corporate tax rate hikes, and feel that corporations should pay their fair share of taxes to rebuild America.

As the protesters walk by the front door of the US Chamber of Commerce, they handed in “invoices” of demands like “pension contribution increases” and “Mortgage payments” to 2 activists on the steps, one wearing a sash labeled "Goldman" and the other tuxedo-wearing billionaire playing "Sachs". Watch the video below. They then marched to the US Capital, for motivational speeches by Barbara Boxer and Bernie Sanders. Then they visited their Senators and Representatives to express their concerns personally. Many in the crowd were from the Progressive Democrats of America, and were calling for a single-payer healthcare system for patients.

For more information, check out:
http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/
http://www.pdamerica.org/

On June 23rd, Van Jones and The Roots will be launching a campaign Called "Rebuild The Dream" calling on Wall Street and the Super Rich to pay their fair share, and for government to invest in jobs and infrastructure. They will call for the need to cut oil subsidies, not cut teacher and firefighter jobs. They will be coordinating with MoveOn.org for a 50-state campaign pushing progressive values. Check back on JTMP.ORG as we will be updating you on this as it unfolds.

Van Jones: "Over the next hours and days, all who love this country need to do everything possible to spread the "spirit of Madison" to all 50 states. This does not mean we need to occupy 50 state capitol buildings; things elsewhere are not yet that dire. But this weekend, the best of America should rally on the steps of every statehouse in the union.

The American ideal most in need of defense is our most essential one: the American Dream.

The steps needed to renew and redeem the American Dream are straightforward and simple:

• Increase revenue for America's government sensibly by making Wall Street and the super-rich pay their fair share.
• Reduce spending responsibly by cutting the real fat - like corporate welfare for military contractors, big agriculture and big oil.
• Simultaneously protect the heart and soul of America - our teachers, nurses and first responders.
• Guarantee the health, safety and success of our children and communities by leaving the muscle and bone of America's communities intact.
• Maintain the American Way by treating employees with dignity and respecting their right to a seat at the bargaining table.
• Rebuild the middle class - and pathways into it - by fighting for a "made in America" innovation and manufacturing agenda, including trade and currency policies that honor American workers and entrepreneurs.
• Stand for the idea that, in a crisis, Americans turn TO each other - and not ON each other."

On their website they say:

"We grew up hearing about the American Dream. It’s the dream of a country where, if you work hard and play by the rules, you can live with dignity, provide for your family, and give your kids a better life. A country where we strive for greatness–and take care of each other when times get hard."

For more information go to:
http://www.rebuildthedream.com/

They have launched a Facebook Page, and while you are there make sure you "Like" the JTMP Facebook Page also:

Justice Through Music's Facebook Site

Coldplay has endorsed a musical single calling for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestine on their Facebook Page. The single is called "Freedom for Palestine", and is from OneWorld and WarOnWant.org, and features british musicians Maxi Jazz and Dave Randall of the dance band Faithless, and Jamie Catto of 1 Giant Leap. 

From the WarOnWant.org website:

"Palestine is in crisis. Today Palestinians face daily human rights abuse and live in crushing poverty in refugee camps and under Israeli Occupation. In response to this injustice, a group of international musicians are releasing the song Freedom for Palestine by OneWorld."

Proceeds from the single will go to UK Charity War on Want for projects in Palestine. For more information, go here:
http://www.waronwant.org/freedomoneworld/

Space Shuttle Endeavor Returns Today

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Justice Through Music, a national non-profit that uses music to inspire people to engage in social causes, has released a touching music video tribute to US Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and her husband Mark Kelly. The video, based on the Op-Critical song called "Gabby," was released on YouTube in time for the final shuttle flight of Endeavour, piloted by Mark Kelly. It begins with footage describing how Gabby watched the launch after she and her husband exchanged wedding rings, and then follows the launch and flight, trading off with moving footage of Gabby engaged in many activities over the past few years.

"Gabby and Mark are living a real life love story, which we portray in this song and video," said Op-Critical's singer and keyboardist Brian Simms. "They truly epitomize the best attributes of Americans, and demonstrate those daily with their civility, compassion, humility, honesty, love, kindness, commitment and professionalism. This video is a tribute not only to who they are, but to what they represent, and the message of the song is that we, as Americans, can learn to be kinder from their example. We are hopeful that this song will help in a small way to bring people closer together." Watch the video below.

For the lyrics, click read more...