May 2010 - Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - VOLUME SIX - #2

IMMEDIATE DESTINATIONS:


Lexington, KY
Dayton, OH
Columbus, OH
Stonybrook, NY
Kerrville, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Detroit, MI
Lake of the Ozarks, MO

See all the details below. Details continuously update at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html

You can get this newsletter delivered monthly to your email inbox by signing up at http://annefeeney.com/newsletter.html

You can buy my cds at http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid
Please forward this news on to any and all of your friends and relations!

IN THIS ISSUE:

I'M ON BILL MOYERS!!
MAY WITH DAN BERN!
IRELAND 2010
SEE YOU IN DETROIT
FAMILY NEWS AND BIRTHDAYS

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Mayday, Mayday - That's the real workers' day
Labor's history says, "Don't give your day away!"
It's time that the working class says,
"Stick Labor Day up your asses."
Oh, ain't it great to celebrate on the glorious First of May!

I hope you found some appropriate way to celebrate International Workers' Day. Evan Greer and I were in Philadelphia with Roy Zimmerman for a wonderful Mayday celebration sponsored by Crossroads Music. It was great to see Alexis Buss and John Bekken and their gorgeous daughter Sophia (or was it Sonia? two very popular names these days, I've noticed...), and Tom Herman and Jo Miller, and Marilyn Goldsmith and John Benedict among many many others...

Congratulations to the Temple Nurses for their recent strike victory!!

As I write this I learn from Ann Suellentrop that "more than 15,000 folks are marching, including 11 of us from Kansas City, here in New York City to take part in the protest march against nuclear weapons as the NPT conference begins at the UN! People here from all over the world! Peace out!"

There are a whole lot more of us than they think.

Very soon, we should have some fabulous YouTube videos from that concert, as well as the Eighth Step concert the night before in Schenectady.

The "Generations of Resistance" tour was a smashing success. I loved every minute with Evan Greer. And the hospitality on this tour was over the top! Many thanks to all our hosts and presenters.

Much love
Anne
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I'M ON BILL MOYERS!!! (VICARIOUSLY)

Yes, yes, it's true. On the last edition of Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS, he did a segment on Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement as a great example of real populism, and one of the members, John Blasingame, starts talking about their fighting spirit, and that there are words to a song “that get right to the heart of this.” Next thing you know, he’s singing a verse of “Have You Been To Jail For Justice!” Cool beans.
from the transcript:
John Blasingame: You can fight. In fact, you've got a duty to fight. There's some words to a song that get right to the heart of this.

(singing) You law abiding citizens, listen to this song. Laws were made by people and people can be wrong. Once unions were against the law, but slavery was fine. Women were denied the vote and children worked the mines. The more you study history, the less you can deny it. A rotten law stays on the books 'til folks with guts defy it.

You can buy or download "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?" at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/annefeeney2

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MAY WITH DAN BERN!

I'm very excited to be doing a mini-tour in support of my enormously talented companero Dan Bern http://www.danbern.com/ . We'll be in Lexington, Dayton and Columbus. Details appear below and at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html
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IRELAND 2010

I still have 6 seats available on the August 10-19th trip to Clare, Kerry and Galway. I have 12 seats left on the August 22-31st trip to Dublin, Belfast & Derry. This may be the last year that I am able to offer these trips, so if you want to see Ireland with me, I hope to hear from you soon. These trips are sooooooooooooooooo much fun! Drop me a line at anne@annefeeney.com or visit http://www.annefeeney.com/Pages/enchantedwaytours.html for more information. We have a lively and wonderful group of folks so far for each tour. Please think about joining us.

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SEE YOU IN DETROIT!!!

Three fantastic events are occurring in Detroit in June - The Great Labor Arts Exchange, the Conference on Creative Organizing, and the US Social Forum. Information about all three appears at the bottom of this message. I'll be there for all three. Hope to see you there.

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FAMILY NEWS & BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday today, May 3rd, to Pete Seeger, Kathleen Feeney and Antonito Blanco. Belated birthday greetings to Jim Tremmel (May 2nd).  Alex Bagwell - May 7th, Paul Eric Grefenstette and Bill Deegan  -May 10th, Eleanor Walden and Jon Fromer - May 11th, Tony Mumphrey and Kevin McCahill - May 15th, and Terry Donovan - May 23rd.

Faith Petric is home from the hospital and doing remarkably well in her recovery from her broken hip. Thanks to all of you who sent cards!

I'll be thinking of Joanna Robinson this month. Her beloved Utah Phillips would have been 75 on May 15th if he were still with us. Utah died on May 24th of 2008.

Happy Mothers' Day to all you moms! Special Mothers' Day wishes to mom-to-be Monique Murad. We found out recently that Dan and Monique will be having a son! Monique is in Washington, DC as I write this, and I'm going down there to visit her on Thursday.

I'm so looking forward to seeing my daughter Amy when I get to Kerrville this year!

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THE TOUR!

Friday, May 14th, 2010 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney opens for Dan Bern!
Natasha's Cafe
112 Esplanade
Lexington, KY
http://www.natashascafe.com/


Saturday, May 15th, 2010 9:30 PM
Anne Feeney opens for Dan Bern!
Canal Street Tavern
308 E 1st
Dayton, OH 45402
937-228-2450
http://canalstreettavern.com/


Sunday, May 16th, 2010 6:00 PM
Anne Feeney opens for Dan Bern
Rumba Cafe
2507 Summit St
Columbus, OH
614-268-1841
http://www.columbusrumbacafe.com/


May 23rd 4PM
FRIENDSHIP HOUSE CONCERTS PRESENT ROY ZIMMERMAN!!
Pittsburgh, PA
Check out Roy at http://www.royzimmerman.com
And "Summer of Loving" at http://www.youtube.com/royzimmerman
Seating is limited. For information and/or an invitation, call or email:
LLouise & Jim Altes
412.361.6051
friendshiphouseconcerts@gmail.com
Suggested donation: $10.00. All proceeds go to the performers.

June 3rd-6th
Working Class Studies Conference
SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook , NY
631-632-7536
http://www.stonybrook.edu/workingclass/conference/2010/index.shtml
Michael Zweig is the contact.

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney at the Threadgill Memorial Theater
Kerrville Folk Festival
5600 Medina Highway
Kerrville, TX
http://kerrville-music.com/
Come see me perform at my favorite festival!!


Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 6:30 PM
Labor and Friends Banquet
The Center
4325 N.W. 50th St.
Oklahoma City, OK
Price: $65
for more info contact lljamesco @sbcglobal.net - Sponsored by the Central OK Labor Federation - Turn Around Oklahoma 2010!!!


June 18th-21st
Great Labor Arts Exchange
AFSCME Council 25
600 W Lafayette Blvd
Detroit, MI 48226
http://laborheritage.org/

June 22nd-26th
US Social Forum
Detroit , MI
877-515-USSF
http://www.ussf2010.org/


Anne Feeney
http://annefeeney.com/
http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid  - Buy CDs!
412-877-6480 (cell)

"Anne Feeney is the greatest labor singer in North America." -- Utah Phillips

Pacific Northwest Labor Arts Festival: Workers Unite With Art!

In addition to the music schedule below, the Festival featured labor art (including my husband, Julie Leonardsson's); panel discussions, workshops, films (including John Sayles' MATEWAN)... a FANTASTIC DAY.. Thanks to Wes Brain for the photos!


Here are some Photos:





Susan Lewis and Janet Stecher - "Rebel Voices" - sing with me







Saturday, November 10th

Pacific Northwest Labor Arts Festival: Workers Unite With Art!
Portland State University
Cramer Hall Room 053
Portland, OR
503-235-9444
http://nwlaborarts.org
Price: free!!!

[Schedule as of 11/01/07]
Music Stage - PSU's Cramer Hall - Room 053 (Basement level):

1:00 PM - Native American Ceremony

2:00 PM - M.C. introduces, Festival Coordinator Jim Cook, who introduces the other members of the Coordinating Committee.

2:05 PM - Jimmy Kelly (Santa Cruz) - Founder of the Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival (1987)

2:15 PM - General Strike Band

2:30 PM - The Joe Hillbillies

2:45 PM - George Mann (New York City)

3:00 PM - Film: "A Union Man - The Life and Work of Julius Margolin"

4:00 PM - Melinda Pittman

4:45 PM - Citizens Band (Olympia)








Grace Cox of Citizens' Band and I join Rebel Voices





5:20 PM - Mic Crenshaw

6:15 PM - Judy O'Connor - NW Oregon Labor Council, Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Others - KBOO Radio, PNLHA, others

6:30 PM -The AFTRA Radio Players Presents - A Stage Reading of Studs Terkel's "American Dreams"

6:50 PM - Rebel Voices (Seattle)

7:30 PM -The AFTRA Radio Players Presents - A Stage Reading of Studs Terkel's "American Dreams"

7:50 PM - Dick Weissman - Folk Legend / Musician for the Oil, Chemical, Atomic Workers Union

8:20 PM - Anne Feeney - "The Best Labor Singer in North America" ---- Utah Phillips

9:00 PM - Finale









Solidarity forever!











The UNION makes us strong!!!!

Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - NOVEMBER 2007, VOLUME THREE, #8

Anne Feeney's Fellow Travelers' Advisory - NOVEMBER 2007, VOLUME THREE, #8

IMMEDIATE DESTINATIONS:

Charleston, WV
Portland, OR
Atlanta, GA
Fort Benning, GA
Schenectady, NY

details at the end of this newsletter

to unsubscribe, scroll to the end of this newsletter and click on the link.

to buy CDs, visit http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid

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This is a great time of year to take stock of all the things we have to be grateful for... I'm so grateful to have you in my life... your interest, your activism and your support of my music mean so very much to me. I'm grateful for the work that I have... I hope you'll get some time with friends and family over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Love,
Anne

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IN THIS ISSUE:

FABULOUS DECEMBER 2nd SONG FOR JACKIE CONCERT w BERNICE JOHNSON REAGON, RONNIE GILBERT and me!!!

PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY NEW CD!!

DISCOUNTS IN NOVEMBER on my CDs at CDBABY

DVDs and MUSIC BOXES

IRELAND IN 2008

A HALLOWE'EN STORY:
THE REVOLT OF THE SKELETON CREW

JULIUS MARGOLIN TRIBUTE

NORTHWEST 2008

FAMILY NEWS

TOUR DATES


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I'M IN CONCERT DEC 2nd with RONNIE GILBERT, BERNICE JOHNSON REAGON, and MANY MANY MORE WONDERFUL MUSICAL GUESTS...

My September newsletter noted with sorrow the death of my longtime Albany/Schenectady area host Jackie Alper. Jackie's "Mostly Folk" aired on WRPI for many many years and she was an extraordinary person... which is why so many luminaries will come to be part of this concert to honor her: SONG FOR JACKIE

The Eighth Step at Proctors will host a tribute concert for Jackie Alper - featuring yours truly AND Ronnie Gilbert, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen and many many more special and wonderful musical guests! If you're within 200 miles of Schenectady you'll want to get tickets immediately for this concert... scheduled for Sunday, December 2nd at 7PM

Proceeds benefit the Eighth Step.

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MY NEW CD:
Dump the Bosses Off Your Back -- You Can Help!


Part of the reason that Dump the Bosses Off Your Back has been so long in coming is because so far I only have 30 sponsors for this recording, instead of my usual 200... Check to see if your name is on the donors' list below. If not, please, please, consider being an 'executive producer/angel/enabler' of this new CD - $100 gets your name (or the name of someone else of your choice... now there's an unusual holiday gift...) into the liner notes of my CD.

If you can, please send $100 to:

Anne Feeney
2240 Milligan Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218

If you can't, don't sweat it. Consider buying one of my CDs for a friend... that'll help too. Still, there must be 170 people left on this list who can spare $100 to help me out here.....

(If you sent me $100 for "If I Can't Dance," thank you thank you & please disregard this message.)

Here is the list of my angels-to-date - If I forgot anyone, please let me know, ASAP!!!


Amy Newell, Kay Magill, Jeanine Malito, Jack O' Malley, Rosemary Trump, Rosanna Lane, Candice Carter, Stan Swart, Joel Henderson, Rich Shriver, Shelley Kessler, Tom Herman and Jo Miller, Rose Feurer, Pat Bennett, Berk Snow, Jeanne Clark & Tim Sullivan, Michele Samuels. Courtney Derwinski, Dexter Arnold, Corliss Olson, Charlene Torok Cannon, Martha Shunn, Michael Ruscigno, David Newby, Jan Boyd, Jim Tremmel, Millie B, Sue Vilbrandt, Noel Beasley, Ron Berlin


The new CD will include:

Preacher and the Slave (Pie in the Sky)
Dump the Bosses Off Your Back
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
Brave New Christmas
Ya Basta!

plus my three new ones:
You Will Answer
How Much for the Life of a Miner?
How Long?

plus these favorites from my cassettes:

No Man's Land
Here's to You Rounders
Whatever Ya Say, Say Nothing

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Special Discounts at CDBaby, this month only!

For November only I have discounted all my CDs at CDBaby for gift-givers... (if you buy more than one)... Please visit http://cdbaby.com/all/unionmaid ....

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Music Boxes & DVDs

While supplies last, I have a small quantity of those darling hand-cranked Swedish music boxes that play "The Internationale." Too cool. The perfect holiday gift for the leftie who abhors commercialism. $40 while supplies last. Send check to Anne Feeney, 2240 Milligan Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

And, I have a small quantity of the "This is What Democracy Looks Like" DVD in stock. This latest edition includes recent interview with Noam Chomsky and Vandana Shiva. $20 by check to Anne Feeney, 2240 Milligan Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

If you want to pay by credit card or Paypal, email me... anne@annefeeney.com

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Ireland 2008


The Ireland trips for 2008 are going to be fantastic. I can only take 20 people at a time. I've got 13 signed up for June, 11 signed up for August and 5 signed up for September/October ... If you're interested in touring the west of Ireland with me in 2008, drop me a line - anne@annefeeney.com - and I'll send you all the details. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the "real Ireland." Music, politics, poetry, history, scenery ... and, of course, Guinness...

You're all welcome!

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A HALLOWE'EN STORY
The Revolt of the Skeleton Crew

After months of dwindling staff due to attrition and layoffs, Heartland Human Services in Effingham, IL was finally down to a real skeleton crew.

Thirty five workers were doing the work of 70 by the time they finally said, "Enough is enough," and went on strike.

These thirty five AFSCME members (Local 3494) have been on strike since July 2nd - almost four months without a paycheck ... The board at Heart(less) (In)human Services is ignoring the recommendations of its own chief negotiator and its attorney ... cruelly prolonging the strike. These workers deliver mental health services to inpatients and outpatients in Illinois.

Evan Greer and I helped to raise $800 for the strikers while we were in the midwest. The 100 delegates at the AFSCME education conference I played at last weekend donated $125 to the strike fund. Can't you help by sending a donation - how about $35??? - to:

AFSCME COUNCIL 31 SOLIDARITY FUND
615 S. Second St.
P.O. Box 2328
Springfield, IL 62705

heartland@heartlandhs.org is the email address of the employer...
The Board Members are:

Roger Marshall President
Jeff Bloemker Vice President
Pat Green Secretary/Treasurer
Deborah Mahon Director
Debra Owen Director
John Perry Director
George Westjohn Director
Terri Phillips Director

Email them all at heartland@heartlandhs.org and tell them "Enough is Enough!" Time to return to the bargaining table with promises of adequate staffing, livable wages and security and dignity on the job!

Thanks!


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Julius Margolin Tribute Concert

The Julius Margolin Tribute show was a smashing success... The lovely auditorium at 1199 - the Health and Hospital Workers' Union of New York was a perfect setting for an inspiring show. Julius was in great form and sang a couple songs with George Mann. He was very touched by the turnout and the music. We raised about $1800 for a scholarship fund to help young trade union activists attend the Great Labor Arts Exchange and the Western Workers' Labor Heritage Festival.


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Northwest 2008

I'm trying to decide whether or not to tour the Northwest in Jan/Feb of 2008. My new CD should be ready by then, and there's a good chance that my summer tour to the Northwest will be very very short this year. Does anyone know of anything going on in the NW (or the great Canadian SW) in Jan/Feb 2008?

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Family News

November 6 - Kimberly Sever's birthday phatchick(@)gmail.com

November 12 - Julie Leonardsson picasso77750(@)yahoo.se

Turkey Day plans...

Julie and I will host Amy Berlin and Jesse Dalton, Dan Berlin & Monique Murad, Ron Berlin, Kate Feeney, Kimberly Anne Sever, Bill Feeney and Tod Faller for Thanksgiving dinner.

And in Aiken, Aunt Claire will get to enjoy all seven of her grandchildren and all three great-grandchildren ... Olivia Grefenstette from Chicago, Charlie Warren from Greenville, SC, and newest great-grandchild Marlo Mary of Denver.

San Diego Cousins Dodge the Wildfires

My cousins Jim & Mardy McCahill and Peggy and John Duncan (parents of Connor & triplets Emma, Colin and Tara) live in the "voluntary" evacuation area of the San Diego wildfires. You can imagine the bedlam which ensued when Peggy and John had to uproot the two year old triplets and big brother Connor to new surroundings. At last report, alll are safely back at home.

Hole in One for Birdman

On Wednesday, October 17, my Maryland cousins Kevin (Birdman) McCahill his brother Denny (Yo Daddy) were playing an afternoon round at The Timbers at Troy golf course, in Elkridge, MD. This is an outstanding course, and a very difficult challenge, as witnessed by the Slope Index of 134 from the blue tees, which they were playing that day. The fifth hole is a par three requiring the tee shot to carry over an expanse of open natural wetlands, which extend right up to the heavily trapped green. The course considers this to be their signature hole, and has a picture of it on the front of the scorecard.



It is an exceptionally beautiful and demanding par three.

Denny hit first, and produced a pretty good shot, that hit on the left side of the green, and then bounced into one of the many sand-traps surrounding the hole. Kevin then stepped up, and with a classically smooth swing, launched a high flying seven iron that, after a sweet and delicate draw, landed three feet in front of the pin, took one bounce, and rolled smoothly into the center of the cup! Yeaaaaaay! Hooray for Kevin! A lifetime goal achieved, in the most elegant fashion. Kevin turned after watching the shot go in, and with an incredulous look on his face, rushed across the tee to embrace his cheering brother in exultation.

As if by magic, the beer cart girl showed up as they reached the green, and Kevin immediately bought his first (of many, I expect) round of drinks in celebration of his exploit. The young lady was astounded to receive a five dollar tip just for handing out three beers, but she soon discovered why, and ended up helping with the celebration.



Thanks to Yo Daddy for the exciting account, which I adapted for this month's Family News.

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TOUR DATES

Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 8:00 PM
Anne Feeney in Concert
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
520 Kanawha Blvd W
Charleston, WV
304-345-5042
Price: $7-12 suggested

Friday, November 9th, 2007 1:00 PM
Pacific Northwest Labor Arts Festival Retreat
Bonneville Hot Springs
Portland, OR
503-703-1693
This festival is sponsored by the NW Oregon Labor Council and others.

Saturday, November 10th, 2007 1:00 PM-9PM
Pacific Northwest Labor Arts Festival
with Dick Weissman, Rebel Voices, Citizens' Band, George Mann & Julius Margolin, Mic Krenshaw, Robert Johnson & a dramatic reading of Studs Terkel's work by AFTRA Members. Plus Art/Murals/Oral Histories & More!
for more information: 503-703-1693
Portland State University
Portland, OR


Thursday, November 15th, 2007 7:00 PM
Benefit Concert for SOAW
Eyedrum Gallery
290 MLK Drive, SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
http://www.eyedrum.org
Price: $5-25 sliding
with a very distinguished cast ... don't miss it!

Friday, November 16th, 2007 12:00 PM
SOAWatch Vigil
School of the Americas
Fort Benning, GA
http://soaw.org

Saturday, November 17th, 2007 8:00 PM
SOAWatch Vigil
School of the Americas
Fort Benning, GA
http://soaw.org

Sunday, November 18th, 2007 12:00 PM
SOAWatch Vigil
School of the Americas
Fort Benning, GA
http://soaw.org

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 7:00 PM
Song for Jackie:
A Fabulous Tribute Concert for Jackie Alper!
Eighth Step at Proctors
432 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 434-1703
http://eighthstep.org
Price: $tba
This concert will benefit the Eighth Step and features Ronnie Gilbert, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Steve and Cindy Gillette and many more special guests. I'm ecstatic to have this opportunity to honor the memory of my friend, Jackie Alper, and to benefit the Eighth Step.

Please check with the venue to confirm times, etc. Information is continuously updated at http://annefeeney.com/calendar.html

If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe at http://annefeeney.com/newsletter.html

Thanks!

Fellow Travelers' Advisory from Anne Feeney - FEBRUARY 2007, VOLUME TWO, #11

Fellow Travelers' Advisory from Anne Feeney
FEBRUARY 2007, VOLUME TWO, #11





Taken in front of the Fulford Community Hall on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia





In this Issue:

Helen Hill
The Curious Case of Jennifer Strange: A Groundhog Day Parable
Molly Ivins, George Becker - Presente!
Family News
Nice Review of If I Can't Dance in Fort Worth Weekly
Great Source for Bumper Stickers, Tees, Posters & more!
Those Oscars


Immediate destinations:

Fort Worth, TX
Denton, TX
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
College Station, TX
Sunset Valley, TX
Steelton, PA (near Harrisburg)
Pittsburgh, PA
and on to Florida--
then New England!

complete up-to-date tour details on my tourdates page

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Thanks for being on my list, coming to my shows & buying my recordings (and in many cases, hosting me at your home, forwarding this email to your friends, telling me about upcoming conferences, conventions and riots in your area)!!! I could not do this without you.


CDBaby has all my CDs. Visit CDBaby to get them.
Amazon is a terrible place to buy music and books. They give authors and artists a terrible deal.


You can sign up for the Fellow Travelers' Advisory at one of my concerts, or online. Click to subscribe

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Here I am almost a week late getting the February news out. I'm back in frigid Pittsburgh after a great tour of the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Southwest. I'm going to put a tour journal up on my news page soon but suffice it to say I am overwhelmed by the generosity, hospitality, solidarity and friendship extended to me on that tour.

I hope you can curl up with a cup of something warm and catch up on my news, and that you'll drop me a line and let me know what's up with you when you've finished reading this.

HELEN HILL

At http://helenhill.org you'll get a belated chance to become acquainted with a dynamic 36 year old filmmaker, songwriter, wife and mom who was senselessly murdered in New Orleans on January 4th.

Those of you who are enjoying my newest CD, "If I Can't Dance" are familiar with the catchy opening number - "Emma Goldman." It was written by Helen Hill and her husband, Paul Gailiunas.

The gunman also shot Paul three times in the course of this random act of violence in the city that America seems to have forgotten. Luckily, their adorable two year old son, Francis, was unhurt.

I hope you will be moved to make a donation to one of the funds set up to memorialize Helen's all-too-brief life.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF JENNIFER STRANGE

While I was in Sacramento I heard a story about a radio contest sponsored by KDND that reveals some interesting truths about America at the dawn of the 21st century.

the background

KDND "107.9 The End" had gotten hold of one of the highly advertised Nintendo Wii game systems. You've probably seen commercials or news stories about the lines waiting to buy these things. KDND's contest was "Hold Your Wee for a Wii."

The winner would be the person who could drink the most water without urinating.

One of the twenty contestants that morning was Jennifer Strange - a married mother of three young boys. She knew that her children really wanted this expensive game system. The contestants were given 8 ounces of water to drink every fifteen minutes for two hours. After three hours of this, all but two contestants had given up... Jennifer Strange and a woman named Lisa.

You can listen to Jennifer joking with the DJs during the contest. She loses the contest to Lisa. A few hours after leaving the station she was found dead from "water intoxication." She had consumed 7.5 liters (almost 2 gallons) of water during the contest.

the reaction

While everyone agrees it was sad that this young mother died, there were many voices (including the Sacramento newspaper) talking about her 'free will,' her 'personal responsibility' and the 'release' that she signed. It set me to thinking.

I think it is our nature to trust others. We think, "Would the radio station invite me to do this if it could kill me?" But perhaps our trust is misplaced.

Every day United States workers are told to do things that are dangerous and unsafe. (Every year 60,000 death claims are paid to the families of those workers.) Every day soldiers are ordered to do things in Iraq, Guantanamo and elsewhere that violate the military code of ethics and the Geneva Conventions. Every day we open the newspaper or turn on the television and we hear about climate change, about the cost of the war in Iraq, about the violence in New Orleans. We certainly have more information about the life-threatening dangers facing us than Jennifer Strange did about the 'dangers' of drinking water.

Do we speak up? Do we refuse unsafe work? Do we support soldiers who are refusing to violate international law and the dictates of their consciences? Do we demand an end to the war? Do we demand responsible planning for a sustainable future? Do we demand housing and social services and law enforcement for the people of New Orleans?

Or do we sit at home and just keep swallowing, swallowing, swallowing the platitudes coming out of the White House? Why? in order to continue our lifestyle? We have the information we need to save our lives and the lives of future generations. If we ignore it and keep swallowing the lies coming to us from Washington and FOX (sic) News, how are we different from Jennifer Strange? How can we expect to avert her fate?

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MOLLY IVINS and GEORGE BECKER

We lost two great fighters.....

Molly Ivins - August 30, 1944 - January 31, 2007

Molly Ivins was one of the brightest, funniest, and fiercest women I have ever known. I only had the pleasure of one evening with her in 2003 at the Debs Dinner ... and she was not well, but she was brilliant. Up until almost the end, Molly was at Camp Casey listening to opponents of the war and offering her own insights. Let's end this war for Molly.

check out this wonderful footage broadcast on PBS


George Becker - died February 3, 2007 - age 78

My friend George Becker led an extraordinary life. He started on a labor gang in the open hearth at Granite City Steel in Illinois when he was 15 years old. He went on to become the President of the United Steelworkers' Union of America in 1993. He became labor's voice in the anti-corporate globalization movement. He brought thousands of Steelworkers to Seattle for the WTO demonstrations in 1999. The USWA presence was essential to the impact we had there.

I performed at the convention where the Rubber Workers Union merged with USWA (on my birthday) ... it was a really close vote. Rev Joseph Lowery spoke. Rich Trumka spoke. In the end, I think that merger was approved by seven votes. My dear brothers from Bridgestone Firestone in Decatur may have cast the pivotal votes... I'd like to think I had a small hand in that outcome.

During President Becker's tenure I worked on the lockouts at MSI and A/K steel. He never failed to inspire and empower his members. And he had a great sense of humor.

George was the voice of the rank and file. He never lost touch with them. Read his obituary in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Rest well, comrades.

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FAMILY NEWS

I'm trying to put together a family phone/email/website directory with birthdays, anniversaries and snail mail included. Send me names, addresses, phone, birthday, anniversary, website, blog... and some jpgs...

You can follow Dan and Monique's June 15th wedding plans at moniqueanddan.com

Karen McCahill is planning a move from San Francisco to Park Slope at the close of this school year to be near Kristin & Anthony (expecting in May!!! mazel tov!), Erin & Paul (and Henry and James), and Jody ... all in the Big Apple. I guess I'll be looking for new San Francisco accommodations now.

Cousin Erin Grefenstette and husband Mark are expecting a baby too! Congratulations!

Kevin McCahill has retired from Social Security... Congratulations!

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"IF I CAN'T DANCE" reviewed in Fort Worth Weekly

Tom Geddie wrote a nice review of "If I Can't Dance" which was published in the Fort Worth Weekly. Thanks!


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A GREAT SHOPPORTUNITY

Northland Poster Collective is a great source for posters, buttons, tee shirts and so much more ... and unlike the merchandise available from most suppliers, Northland's goods are sweat free and collectively produced... Shop with a clean conscience!

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OSCARS 2007

What a great year this has been for films! Since last month I saw Pan's Labyrinth, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Children, Running with Scissors, Venus, Volver, The Devil Wears Prada and Notes on a Scandal.

Pan's Labyrinth was my favorite movie of 2006 in a very very tough year to make such a decision. Set in 1944 in Spain, while resistance fighters are still taking on Franco's fascists, the central character is a lonely and frightened 10/11 year old girl. Her father has been killed and her mother is in the last stages of a very difficult pregnancy. The coming baby's father is the fascist military ruler of the village. There were about 4 minutes of this film where I could not look at the screen because of some graphic (but appropriate) violence. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the film beautifully explores the concepts of free will, submission to authority and fascism. It's definitely not a movie for kids, although the young woman in the film is amazing. Should be a shoe-in for best foreign language film (but, alas, I haven't seen any of the other nominees).

Letters from Iwo Jima would be a somewhat formulaic war film if the heros were Americans. As it is, the heros are Japanese soldiers defending Iwo Jima. It makes for a very powerful anti-war film. It is impossible not to realize the ways we are manipulated into believing wars are just. My pick for best film of 2006...

Little Children was a surprisingly good film. Kate Winslet turns in the performance of her career to date. I've always thought of her as kind of a lightweight ... I thought she almost ruined an excellent film - Finding Neverland. She's utterly compelling in this film. And Jackie Earle Haley is fantastic. I still think it's Helen Mirren's year for best actress in The Queen.

I've ordered "Half Nelson" from Buzzflash. I'm hoping that Ryan Gosling is worthy of best actor out of this field. I thought VENUS was little more than an overblown homage to Peter O'Toole - I don't care if he's Irish or that he's been nominated a gazillion times before without winning... I didn't like it. I don't think I'm going to see Blood Diamond in a theater either... The reviews convinced me I would hate it. I usually have no use for Leonardo Di Caprio, but he really dazzled me in "THE DEPARTED." He should have gotten a nomination there.

I loved Volver. It might have been my favorite film of 2005 if it had been released then. This year was just too tough. Devil wears Prada was entertaining, but out of its league here. Sorry, Meryl -- it's Helen.

Notes on a Scandal had me engaged throughout ... but when it was over I felt kind of embarrassed to have been so engaged ... the way you feel if you get teary-eyed watching an AT&T commercial... in the end, I found the plot completely incredible. Judi Dench was great, but it's Helen. Now Cate Blanchett is quite wonderful in this, but I'd rather see Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE - hilarious!) get it. Apparently every TV viewer in America wants Jennifer Hudson. If anyone wins from DREAM GIRLS it should be Eddie Murphy... but that crop of nominees is the toughest pick I think... ALL the supporting actors were terrific!

If Scorcese isn't best director this year I'll be astonished.

Well, that's it for this month. I'm looking forward to the Lone Star State and testing out my daughter Amy's newly acquired massage skills! Let me know what you're up to.


UPCOMING CONCERTS


Friday, February 9th, 2007
Live on Voices@Work on KPFT-FM
90.1 FM or streaming at link below
Houston, TX
713.526.5738

listen in to this fabulous labor radio show from 8-9PM and phone in a pledge! 713.526.5738 - KPFT is a great Pacifica station!

Saturday, February 10th, 2007 7:30 PM
Last Minute Add! B-There or B-Square
1919 Hemphill - CD RELEASE PARTY for IF I CAN'T DANCE
1919 Hemphill St
Fort Worth, TX 76110

Price: pay what you can
Don't be late for this show - If there aren't 10 people in the house by 8PM I'm taking the folks who show up on time out for drinks. I love this venue. They're doing great work. Check out the website! and also the review in the FORT WORTH WEEKLY

Sunday, February 11th, 2007 5:00 PM
Anne Feeney in Concert
B@nter
219 W Oak
Denton, TX
Price: $10 suggested

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007 8:00 PM
Red Hot (Grand)Mamas (Anne Feeney and Lu Mitchell) do Valentine's Day at
Poor David's Pub
1313 SOUTH LAMAR ST
Dallas, TX 75215
(214) 565-1295
Price: $10 adv/$12 at the door
This show is with the fabulous Lu Mitchell



Friday, February 16th, 2007 8:00 PM
Broken Hearts' Ball with Laura Freeman
Cafe Caffeine
909 West Mary Street
Austin, TX 78704
Price: $10 suggested
possible special guests

Saturday, February 17th, 2007 7:30 PM
House Concert
Danny Yeager's house
College Station, TX
(979) 777-8758
http://brazos_progressives.typepad.com/news/2007/02/anne_feeney_hou.html
Price: $10-20 - pay what you can
email address is touchst(@) cy-net.net
Call or email Danny right away to reserve a seat!

Sunday, February 18th, 2007 3:00 PM
House Concert
Carol and Peter Knight's house
Sunset Valley, TX
512-892-7305
Price: $10-20 sliding-pay what you can
call or email cknight99@mindspring.com to reserve a seat and get directions...

Saturday, March 10th, 2007 7:00 PM
Benefit Concert for United for Progress -
Harrisburg's Fabulous Labor Radio Show
Steelworkers' Local 1688 Hall
200 Gibson St
Steelton, PA 17113
717-448-1953
Price: $10
Rick Smith's show on WHYL, 960 AM airs on Saturdays from 2-5 - and also streams on the internet, so you can listen or call in from home - WHYL Call in (717) 960-0960 - all shows are available as podcasts, too, so that you can get your labor news on the run!

Sunday, March 11th, 2007 4:00 PM
Friendship House Concerts Presents Anne Feeney
Jim and LLouise Altes' House
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Price: $10
more details soon.

Your moment of Zen:

My husband Julie Leonardsson posing with Seattle's underpass troll