Strings, QED and tonight's TV show: Bowfire

Our kids play violin at CAPA on Saturday mornings with Steven Vance. He sent this message.

Tonight at 6:30 pm, Sunday March 9, 2008, on PBS Station WQED-TV (Channel 13) airs the exciting new "Bowfire" special. This amazing 10 violin band does an incredible range of music from "Zigeunerweisen," Jazz, fiddle, Chinese erhu, and Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". All with full lights, staging, backup band, choreography, electronic instruments, and clogging. This group is one of the prototypes for our program.

It's a pledge special so members of the Extreme Strings Orchestra family will be there to answer phones, I'll have the chance to talk about our program a little bit, and we may even get a chance to play a tune or two.

While you are watching make sure you pledge to support the station and make us look good. Of course, you can watch even if you can't make a pledge tonight. The show is great all by itself.

You can see and hear more about our Extreme Strings program on our web site http://www.extremestrings.com/Site/Home.html

Bowfire will appear live in concert at Heinz Hall on Monday April 28. Tickets are still available. We are hoping to have a table and do a little playing in the lobby before and after the show. Look for us. See you there.

Sunday, new month, so settle in for some Chris Chandler time

First, a true story from me. When I went to graduate school, I hitch-hiked to get there. I had graduated from Ohio University in Athens. Next, I took a 'graduate assistantship' at Bayor University in Waco, Texas. Waco is 100-mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifiles north of Austin. I had never been there. I was moving after a couple of months at home in Pittsburgh. I had a dog. The dog didn't come at first.

So... I picked up a local writing assignment in August, covering the USA Diving National Championships. It was head at Settler's Cabin, an Allegheny County Wave Pool. filed an article to Swimming World Magazine and then headed to Texas.

So, this article from the newsletter of Chris Chandler, T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T. takes me back. Chris reports that the piece is part of a monologue from the play he is working on. When he comes to Pittsburgh, I'd love to have him perform a 'house concert' (again) with us.

By Chris Chandler http://www.chrischandler.org


From "…And I Ain't Gonna Be Treated this A-Way."
A new one man play in progress

By Chris Chandler

In this scene I am driving and have just picked up a hitch-hiker.

So, where ya headed?

"Austin." Of course… Dunno why I asked. I mean you're standing on the side of the road with your thumb in the air holding a sign that tells me exactly where your headed. "Austin." And I have to ask.

Sometimes I wish we all walked through this life holding a sign that announces where we are headed.

I guess now that I think about it, we do kinda carry one that announces where we've been – ya just gotta know how to read it. But that’s a different story,

The Female voice of the GPS: "Continue on Texas Farm Road 3721 for 437 miles."

Yea, it’s a GPS. Whoda thunk that ten years ago? A global positioning satellite in my car. Heh, I like its like carrying a sign that announces where I am.

The Female voice of the GPS: "Then prepare to turn left on US 290."

So, now that we know where we are, and where we're headed I guess the only remaining question is: Where ya coming from?

Oh yea?

I like it out in New Mexico. That’s where they filmed The Road Runner Cartoons.

The ambient music changes

Huh? The music? Oh, its satellite radio. I like it out here in the middle of nowhere. Though, I think its funny…. They call it Sirius. Named after The Dog Star – Sirius. The brightest star in the sky -- 'Least it used to be.

Now the brightest star in the sky is the Nortel Satellite.

The very thing that the "Sirius" Satellite is named from has been given second class status by… well, The Sirius Satellite itself. One of nature's greatest feats has been replaced by something manmade. Like a ski lift to the top of Mt Everest or Barry Bonds beating Hank Aaron's homerun record.

Oh sure they named the company "Sirius" after its -- casualty -- to "honor" it I suppose -- but it kinda feels like naming your sports team "The Washington Redskins," or your subdivision "Nez Perce Estates," or your town "Taos," or your state "Dakota," or your method of traveling across the high plains in search of Buffalo Wings a "Winnebago," or the bank you financed it all with "Shawmut."

The only thing I know about that is there aren’t too many Redskins that could afford to go to a Redskins game or drive a brand new Jeep Cherokee.

Next to the Sun and the Moon - nothing in the sky has been written about more than that star. The Egyptians based their calendar on when it. They used it to predict if it would be a hot dry summer or cold winter or if the Nile would reward her with her fertile flooding.

Funny thing is I do too. I use it for the weather channel.

I like this channel here. The show's called "Disorder." They play the best of everything regardless of what genre it is – as long as it's good. Like you might hear Rachmaninoff played next to The Cramps, or Pubic Enemy played next to David Allen Coe.

'Cos if its good – it lasts. Like… like evolution. If you’re a bug, or a bird or a jelly fish, or an ape and you are good at being an ape or a jelly fish – odds are you're still here. There is no "order" to it.

You can't look at the stars and see a pattern like when you can look at the wallpaper in a Cracker Barrel where you see nothing but one big pattern that blurs in to general lack of wonder.

The stars are indeed wallpaper – but they are God's wallpaper, and God doesn't shop at Home Depot.

Although he does occasionally hire Mexicans out of the Home Depot parking lot just to piss off John McCain.

The Radio plays Butch Hancock:
You can drive all day and never leave Texas
You can drive all night and never leave home
Everything's real but not everything mixes
There's somethings even love leaves alone."


Well, yea - you're right about part of that… Texas is big, but I don't think its ugly, In fact - I think it's beautiful – in its ummm… ugly perfection. It has so wholly achieved the zenith of ugliness – that it is in-fact flawless. It is perfect – even if it is perfectly ugly – and you can't argue that perfection in and of it self – is not beautiful. It's just kind of an acquired taste – like gin and tonic or the poetry of Rilke or the later films of Mel Brooks.

But I always say – you can't comment on the scenery unless take the trip.

Its like if you take a picture of any one place out here in the middle of nowhere – its ugly. Tumble weeds and dust. Cacti and cattle. But when you drive across it something cathartic starts to happen. It's hypnotizing. You see shit that’s not really there. Or is it there all the time and you have to drive for 14 hours straight to find it?

You drive from El Paso to Orange your whole perspective starts to shift. You see her as both vast… and tiny.

You see the barren bluffs and they seem to go on for ever – like this highway. But then the moon rises, and some bug hits your windshield – just below the belt of Orion And you look to Orion and you see the vastness of this landscape – our lives - as tiny.

Its like Horton hears a Hoo – only in reverse – and the elephant is traipsing around the universe trying to get everyone in the galaxy to shout at once "We are here! We are here!" So that we -- here on earth -- will know that heaven is out there too.

But the people here are too busy to notice.

She is so big. And How could they? They are surround by "big" every day of their lives. People just can't imagine anything bigger. So they like to brag about it, cos people will brag about anything. It may be the one constant in the universe. While Orion stands up there looking down on you - and me -snickering beneath his celestial breath.

"You can drive all night and never leave home."

'Cos Orion knows all about that one constant in the universe. People will brag about anything… When the state of Alaska was applying to get in the Union the people down here were complaining that Texas would no longer be the biggest state in the union. The people of Alaska said, "Oh quit your whining or we'll cut ourselves in half and you'll be the third largest state."

So, what kind of music do you play? That’s why I picked you up – the guitar case.

Really?

That’s brilliant. You just use the guitar case as a suit case 'cos people are more willing to pick up a guy with a guitar. I guess it's true. It worked for me.

I once bought a VW micro Bus in Nashville, only I was in Atlanta at the time and I had to get up there somehow. So I went down to the thrift store and bought silly costume cowboy hat – gigant-toe – ten gallons hell! It was 10 oceans – and I stuffed my cowboy boots into my jeans – then I found this ridiculous white blazer with wide lapels – 70s type -- and I got a roll of electrical tape and made a big musical note on the lapel. I carried an old beat up guitar and a card board sign that read "Nashville." And stuck my thumb in the air…

Le me tell ya – I got to Nashville faster than I could drive the microbus back to Atlanta.

I think I made it there in three rides, and I played the part for each one. But I wasn't lying to them. I mean, I wasn’t headed to Nashville to get on the Grand Ol Opery or anything. But they wanted to believe that. I just let them. It was easier for them to accept than I am a traveling performance artist. Too hard to explain. "Acclaimed by the crowded heads of Europe."

No, it's easier to fake some Hank Williams song in the front seat of a Bonneville for a stranger – and tell em I am a musician then try to explain me sittin of a stage with a video projector, pretending to drive while talking about being in the front seat of a Bonneville playing Hank Williams songs while truckling for some audience's approval in the same manner that I did when I was a child and I dipped my fingers into some mildly toxic Crayola brand soup and smeared it on a piece of news-print hoping my mother would scotch tape it to the turquoise refrigerator from which came the life giving forces of food.

But Hell, that’s the reason most of us do anything – so we can consider ourselves as important as the grocery list or the phone number of the milk man. Oh, to be held in place by a magnetic bottle opener on the Metropolitan Refrigerator of Art just ONE MORE TIME! Dunno why I am so ashamed of it that I have to lie about my own motivations.

What's that?

Your not really headed to Austin? Now, that’s what I am talking about. It is easier to just tell the passing traffic that your headed to Austin. People can relate to that. Who wants to pick someone up whose headed to Dripping Springs? No ones ever heard of that – and Austin is close enough to what they need to know.

One time I was flying to a gig, and I had on this preacher outfit – so sure, I played the part. The whole flight. I had to switch flights in Detroit. They asked me at the ticket counter, "Mr Chandler, what is your final destination."

I answered, "Well, heaven I hope."

My dog joined me in Texas around November after I had the house situation resolved.

My ride to Texas was in a van with a few divers from the meet.

Another Austin singing star was in Pittsburgh today doing a house concert. I missed it. Stephanie Corby rocks.

John He Is, musical video.

You've seen, I hope, the one for the other guy. Now you can check out the one for John McCain.

Dipdive.com song, for the D Senator challenging in four-four time

I've given a lot of focus to Ron Paul, of course. Here is a mention of the D side, headed into Super Bowl Tuesday.

Dipdive.com: "The Yes We Can Song
by will.i.am"

The YouTube URL:



Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates v2: "What does this say?"

special event -- to gather signatures for getting on the ballot

Special musical guests at the Signature Bomb Party on Saturday, January 26th at Scooby's in Bridgeville.

The band Poker Face will be preforming live!!

Poker Face is a group of Ron Paul supporters and Freedom Rockers from Bethlehem, PA.


The band has preformed at the Live Free or Die Festival in New Hampshire in the defense of Ed and Elaine Brown. They have also preformed at the Ron Paul rally after party in Philadelphia on November 10th, as well as for other Ron Paul meetup groups around the state such as Erie and Harrisburg.

We are certainly honored to have them in Pittsburgh!!

Check out their video on YouTube: Kontrol

Check out their website: PokerFace.com

This is the event that you do not want to miss!!! We need to get Dr. Paul and his delegates on the ballot!!

Come out and party with the Pittsburgh and Western PA Ron Paul supporters and Poker Face!!!!

Please RSVP 'YES' at our meetup site.

To RSVP and for more details go to Pittsburgh and Western PA Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group and click on the calender of events.

21 and over only please

Any questions please email ronpaulpgh@gmail.com

See you there!!!

Me &Thee Blogspot: Quick Q and A with Joe Jencks

Check out this wonderful interview with Joe. He has a new band. We've got to get him back to Pittsburgh soon.

Me&Thee Blogspot: Quick Q and A with Joe Jencks ... with one of the most relevant singer-songwriters on the scene today ...

More links:

Listen to Show #140 with Joe Jencks

Art of the Song - Listen: "Listen to Show #140 with Joe Jencks"

The song, "Come With Me" is on the radio show interview in MP3 format.
I love that song. "I will carry on!"

Twelve Days

Holiday Music from home made musicians in recent concerts

Proud dad warnings:

From Violin-Holida...

Erik and Grant, my kids, are both visible in this photo. The gathering is with musical children and adults from the Pittsburgh Music Academy while playing at PPG's Wintergarden.

Click images below to hear the sounds and watch the video. Hint: Hi-Def playback not required.

Jolly Old St. Nick and into Oh Christmas Tree View Video

At another concert, at Frick Middle School, Erik played with the strings.

Frick Middle School - Frosty The Snow Man - Strings

View Video

And for something more difficult, and not about the holidays, it is off to the races with William Tell...

William Tell ... Frick Middle School Strings - December concert, 2007. View Video

A few of the Pittsburgh Frick 6-8 musicians just after their strings concert. Erik Rauterkus, grade 7, is the one with the red tie.

From Violin-Holida...

Schenley High School topic of more letters to the editor in the papers

Letter #1:

The Schenley rush

I agree with your Sunday editorial that there are too many unanswered questions about Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's rush to close Schenley High School ("School Test: The City's New Round of Reform Comes With Risk," Nov. 11). The most troubling questions are:

Why tear apart the school district's most positive model of integrated, urban education? Why split the Schenley student body into three separate schools? The proposed Hill District school, in particular, will reinforce the de facto segregation that the Schenley community has worked hard to prevent.

Why have the architectural and construction reports never been made public? Even the PG has been quick to assume that the reports accurately justify the Schenley building's demise, but these documents are not available for public scrutiny.

The district wants to combine students from sixth through 12th grades in one building with no plans to ensure their safety. Why are parents expected to accept the district's plan for these 6-12 schools when there are no finalized plans for us to evaluate?

How will high school students be transported to the Reizenstein and Hill District schools? Right now, there are many Port Authority buses that transport our students to Oakland. There are relatively few routes, however, to the two proposed locations. Why has this situation not been addressed and resolved?

We are expected to accept the district's plans without question or debate. Yet this rush to action looks like another Pittsburgh Promise -- an academic theory that does not involve the community or hold up to careful scrutiny. I urge the school board to delay splitting Schenley into three schools. And I demand that the district present us with real answers, not more empty promises.

JOAN STEVENSON Point Breeze

Letter #2 comes from Jen. Jen called into Marty's show Friday (blogged about below.) Her letter ran in the paper today. She is on the front lines in this quest for more info and accountability.

Show us the proof

I would like to clarify some of my remarks to the press over the last few days. I understand remarks need to be pared down for brevity's sake, but in the process my position has been distorted ("A Compromise for Schenley Students?" Nov. 15).

I am concerned that the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the board are pushing through radical reforms including the creation of 6-12 schools, elimination of neighborhood high schools, allowing uncertified and nonunion people to teach (at Milliones), eliminating Schenley and more -- all without fully informing the public and receiving input on the plan.

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt claims he received information eight weeks ago convincing him the situation at Schenley reached emergency status. Why wasn't that information made public? He claims that research shows 6-12 schools improve achievement. Where can the public see that research? He claims painful reform is necessary. I want him to prove to the district's children and parents that the trauma of having your school disbanded and reformed is necessary and preferable change through an open process that encourages community input and buy-in. My 15-year-old could have gotten those documents posted on Facebook in about 10 minutes. Why can't the school board and the district officials share?

I am not anti-reform. I simply want the board and the district to let the public make informed decisions and not waste more taxpayer money on ineffective reforms.

JENNIFER ENGLAND, Greenfield

Comments from Amy via email.

Many thanks to Joan and Jennifer for keeping the issues in everyone's mind. Saturday's Post-Gazette printed both letters to the editor. Joan's very clearly listed the main issues:

1. Why tear apart the school district's most positive model of integrated, urban education? The proposed Hill District school will reinforce the de facto segregation that the Schenley community has worked hard to prevent.

2. Why have the architectural and construction reports never been made public? Even the PG has been quick to assume that the reports accurately justify the Schenley building demise, but these documents are not available for public scrutiny.

3, Why are parents expected to accept the district's plan for 6-12 schools when there are no finalized plans for us to evaluate? (Amy's note: and we can find no documentation that combining these age groups is beneficial; we are still searching. If there are any education people out there who have any research sources on this subject, please let me know)

4. How will the high school students be transported to the new Reizenstein and Hill schools?

Jennifer strongly reinforces the point that we NEED accurate information. And she is so right about Facebook; in this electronic age, there is no excuse for not getting information out to the people concerned in a timely manner.

Another meeting was held today. I could not attend.

We did go to a nice concert today at CAPA. The boys were playing violin with Extreme Strings and Chello Fourte. What a gas.

At the end of the concert, I was not happy to hear all the gushing of thanks for the staff and administration. Sure, the parents got thanked too -- but they don't seem to understand a few important facts. That school is our building. We own it. We operate it. We pay for it. It isn't that of the janitors, the principal nor the superintendent. Certain people get paid -- because we pay them. They are not 'letting us use the building' as the building isn't theirs in the first place. Oh well. I'll rock the boat with another letter another time about that.

Calling our Senior Senator with the message: SaveNetRadio and outfits like Pandora

Get this, Congress is doing too little and it is taking too long.

The pressure created by the amazing outpouring from listeners has forced Congress to sit down with all sides and ask them to negotiate a solution to ensure the long term viability of the Internet radio industry. However, these negotiations are proceeding at a much slower pace than anyone had hoped for, and, therefore, we need your continued help to keep the pressure on.

Senator, Arlen Specter heads an important committee with the power to move this issue forward. We are asking that you contact him immediately to ask for his sponsorship of the Internet Radio Equality Act, S. 1353.

Senator Arlen Specter: (202) 224-4254

Even if you have already called these offices once, please take the time and call again to ensure your voice is heard. If you have friends or family in your state who support Internet radio please ask them to call as well.

Without your support this bill would never have been introduced; your continued support will enable it to get passed into law.

There are SEVEN notes in a musical scale. Seven, Seven, ohh Seven.

Chandler style poetry for 7-7-7 from Kansas City:

Hey everybody – it is that time of the year again.

Happy Seven-Seven-Seven!

Sorry to break my pledge of only bothering you once a month.

But since 01-01-01 I have written something for the date and this year should be no exception –

I warn you that on the 8th of August I will do it again.

So this little missive is brought to you by the number Seven.

For the past Seven hours I have been on I-70 doing 70 miles an hour.

Why was 6 afraid?

Because Seven ate 9

God created the world in 6 days and on the Seventh he rested.

Seven is the 4th prime number – and the first number to have two syllables – unless you count zero – and well… you don’t count with zero – which makes zero – if you believe in a circular universe - the highest number doesn’t’ it?

But I digress. There are Seven days in a week

The seven seas and the Seven Continents

The seven wonders of the world

There are seven holes in you face - and seven deadly sins.

Chastity, Moderation, Liberality, Charity, Meekness, Zeal, and Humility, and the seven virtues: sloth, letchery, gluttony, pride, envy, wrath and

In Proverbs 6:16 – 19, it is stated that "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:"

There was The Seven Year Itch, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, “Seven Plus Seven Is,” SeSevenen, seven swans a-swimming, 00Seven, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Seven come eleven.

Seven Eleven, A touchdown and an extra point, Lucky seven, Michael Vick, The atomic number of nitrogen – which I think Michel Vick inhales a little too much of lately.

The Seven ages of man

The Seven colors in the rainbow

The Seven cities of Gold

Seven UP

Diet Seven-UP

Seven hills of Rome

Seven Liberal Arts

Seven Sages

Seven emperors Julius Caesar, Augustus, Galba, Hadrian, Nerva, Sallust, Vespasian

A Sabbatical comes every Seven years - A jubilee Seven xSeven years – 49.

David is The Seventh son of Jessie

And Jesus in SevenSeventh in a direct line to David.

Seven blessings made beneath chuppah

The Seven cul-de-sacs of hell, or The Seven terraces of mt purgatory – depending on which book you read.

The Seven heavans of Islam – Seventh heavan

Jesus says to Peter to forgive seventy times seven times.

The Seven joys of the blessed Mother Mary

And of course, The Seven sorrows of the blessed Mother Mary

There are Seven palms in a cubit

The Buddah took Seven steps at birth

The Seven Hindu Sages

The Seven islands of Atlantis

The Seven notes in a scale

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Samuri

The Magnificant Seven

The Seventh Son

The Seventh Inning Stretch

Flight SevenSeven was used to attack the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001 – which ummm – has 5 sides, a top and a bottom – OH My GOD! That’s Seven that proves it – there is a conspiracy.

I am sure at least seven of you will writ me back and tell me much better ones than those.

Seven more of you will unsubscribe to this news letter – because # Seven is so lame.

I have Seven dollars in my pocket.

Drop by my website and review the archives if ya wanna read 01-01-01 thru 06-06-06

See ya later,

chandler

So much for brevity and the soul of wit.

Amy Carol Webb gets some buzz with her songs and music in competitions

Great news today comes from a singer/songwriter and dear friend, Amy Carol Webb.

From Amy Carol Webb

She posted:

Unisong International 11th Annual Songwriting Competition just announced its 2007 winners and I'm THREE of them! Yep -- finalist in two categories and third in another. Here's the scoop!

"With You Without You" -- finalist in AAA/Americana
"Narrow Places" -- finalist in Topical/Political

and ...

"Lay the Shovel Down" -- Third Place in the L.U.N.C.H. category.

The L.U.N.C.H. category is for social issues songs, which is teamed up with the L.U.N.C.H. Project [Local United Network to Combat Hunger], which continues the legacy of Harry Chapin! Doncha love the synchronicity!

Upcoming, there will be a "People's Choice" award on-line, so I'll send out that link and info when it's launched!

Here's to a wonderful weekend -- and I am ever grateful for your support, encouragement and enthusiasm for this music we love so much!

Anne Feeney's email blast -- speaking of two recent deaths, Jennifer Strange and George Becker

Snips of Anne's email blast include:

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 mother of three. 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.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/newsroom/kdndslides/ 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?

---

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. His obituary is at http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07036/759517-122.stm

---

Anne is playing a house concert at 4 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2007. The Friendship House Concerts Presents Anne Feeney at Jim and LLouise Altes' House, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, Price: $10. Be there if you can.

www.myspace.com/chrischandlerorg

www.myspace.com/chrischandlerorg: Chris Chandler's song, Letters, (<5 minutes). Dear Mom & Dad, ... I'm being sent around the world to ... in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The first letter is from Alex. The second letter is about Alex. Tune and story told by a Great American Storyteller.