Chicks Rock, Chicks Vote

Our Chicks Rock Chicks Vote! webpage has a journal---check it out!

Another way you can help the troops.

http://www.anysoldier.us/

Nader won't run


Ralph Nader has ruled out a run for president on the Green Party ticket in 2004.

Sign up for the Rock the Vote MeetUp

Get signed up now for the January 6 MeetUp---and attend!

Support the troops

Learn How Americans Use Frequent Flyer Miles to Support Our Troops.

Hip Hop stop-and-search

An article from the Village Voice talks about how hip-hop artists are routinely stopped by police and searched, without cause---turning up "weapons or weed." Rappers are fighting back with lawsuits.

Good article about the youth vote

A nice piece about the youth vote from the Patriot News, including this quote:

"From e-mail to Web logs, where campaign staffers and average Joes across the country can comment on issues or candidates in freewheeling and open debates, the Internet is allowing the candidates and political groups to bypass the traditional media and directly connect with voters of all ages."

Sorry about that.

The newspaper in Florida has apologized for that wack column.

Nickle and Dimed






USA Today is running an online poll---would you want Reagan to replace Franklin Roosevelt on the dime?

That's a proposal that the leadership in Congress is considering now.

(Don't they have homework to do??)

J.Lo is doing it online




A Reuters article: "According to Us Weekly, the 33-year-old entertainer herself registered to vote via Rock the Vote's Web site on the day she filmed the public service announcement."

Kucinich criticizes Dem rivals on gay marriage

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who said during the Rock the Vote presidential candidates forum that "in order to Rock the Vote, you have to rock the boat!" is criticizing many of his fellow Democratic candidates for supporting civil unions for gays but not actually supporting gay marriage itself.

Meanwhile, an antigay group is taking a poll to send to Congress on this topic.

Say what you really think...

We get some interesting email from the haters. Since we're all about free expression, we'll give them occasional space here on the blog:

"Most of my generation may not be able to think for themselves but I can. I see how you are breaking down the morals and very fiber that made america great. I hope that my generation does NOT get out and vote because they can't see past stupid catch phrases and damaging presidents like cliniton. (sic)" (Name withheld by RTV)

Attention single women: get ready to rock!

According to a new study, if single women in 2000 had voted at the same rate as married women, there would have been 6 million more votes to fight over. That's a lot of votes---size matters!

Women are underrepresented in politics. That's why we launched our Chicks Rock, Chicks Vote campaign.

Not very nice

Muslim headdresses and Jewish skullcaps are going to be banned in the schools in France?

Designers---help us promote online voter registration

Are you a graphic designer? We need help designing provocative web banners and other materials to promote online voter registration. Either a single banner or a series of them around a theme.

Send an email to our blog address (see top right) if you can help. See our current materials here.

Thanks!

More on the rap industry

A provocative MSNBC article about the rap industry that's making its way around the internet today...

"Chuck D once called rap the CNN of the streets.  It still is, but the mainstream is only seeing the make-believe, seedy side of rap music. ... If popular rappers really want to "keep it real," they need to tell the truth. Nobody parties 24/7 - try talking about real experiences, love, pain, sorrow, happiness."

Arab-Americans get organized in Iowa

This is cool. The Arab American Institute is getting out the vote in the primary process.

A new no-nukes agenda

One of they key reasons that the U.S. went after Saddam Hussein was in order to prevent him from getting Tha Bomb.

Okay, so, it now appears that he never had one---our ongoing efforts at that time to stymie his weapons program were working. Nevertheless, the essential idea that a bloody dictator like Hussein---and there are many other Husseins around the world---should not be allowed to get Tha Bomb was on point.

If you think the Iraq war was justified or unjustified, we think you would have to agree that, going forward, it is in our interest, and the world's interest, to prevent Hussein-like regimes him from getting nukes.

Now, there are lots of ways to do that, and putting all the pieces together is a real agenda for the future---an agenda that will require U.S. leadership and global cooperation. Call it the new no-nukes movement.

The goal is to prevent the spread of weapons, and for the U.S. to rally the world to the cause. If it is done effectively, we can prevent crises, and Iraq-like wars, from arising. At the same time, it legitimizes the idea that, if all else fails, military action may be required. Its not war-mongering, but its not pacifist either.

The issue could be big in the presidential election. Senator Edwards, for example, is proposing a new agenda that's worth taking a look at.

See what you can find out about what agenda the other candidates, and the President, are offering to prevent the global spread of nukes---let us know. We'll try to keep tabs on this issue.

Rockers and Labor get together

Here's the lead from an article on MSNBC:

"Iconoclastic rockers Billy Bragg, Steve Earle and friends recently wound down the first month-long leg of a group tour at the unlikeliest of venues: the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the AFL-CIO. Unlikely, that is, if this were your run-of-the-mill pop concert. But in an era of mega-tours organized and sponsored by soft drink and SUV-makers, the labor-backed ï?.ï?.ï?.Tell us the Truthï?.ï?.ï?. tour is the unlikeliest of shows."

Rock the Vote street teamers are registering voters on this tour---its kicking butt!

Why would rockers and workers get together? Cause we all rock? We all work? And none of us have health care? Maybe!

Musicians lack health care

As we mentioned earlier, a lot young young people don't have access to health insurance---because they work in jobs where it is not provided, they don't qualify, or they can't afford to make payments.

Well, being a musician is one of those jobs, as this article in the Chicago Reader discusses.

"For many musicians, however, health insurance remains something they'll worry about later; members of all three bands on Friday's bill are currently uninsured. Eternals singer Damon Locks, 35, was covered through a day job he gave up about five months ago, but since then he's gone without. "I haven't organized myself to get insurance on my own," he says. "I know it's going to be expensive, but it's easy to put it on the back burner."

Will Ralph Nader run again?

In the 2000 election, Ralph Nader got about 5% of the youth vote. Gore got 48% and Bush got 46%.

Well, Nader is "testing the waters" for a new bid for President in 2004.

And we WIN!

About a month and a half ago, I received an email asking for submissions of essays from our web hosting company, to pick the best use of the website. So I set out on a quest to win an essay contest explaining why Rock the Vote's website benefitted so much from our web host, and deserves to win the $5000 prize for being the best of the best (I love that movie with Eric Roberts btw).

After an hour of compiling data and ideas over the weekend, I began putting the amorphous mass of information on paper. I submitted what I thought to be a quintessential piece of essay contest work. A month later, or last week, I received a call from Sharon over at the company.

Sharon: "Hey, guess what...we picked you as the best charity website!".
(and yes, Rock the Vote is a charity...501-C3, tax-exempt...bring the donations in! it's a charitable contribution and tax write-off!)

Daniel: "Awesome!"

I didn't quite know how to articulate my enthusiasm, but with that single word, "Awesome!". Nevertheless, the company sent out a press release, and there we were, recipients of the $5000 cash prize, for an essay contest! I feel like I'm back in junior high school again on the podium for winning the best essay for my report on "Dances With Wolves". (Another great film with Kevin Costner!)

So the moral of the story is, take the initiative and make things happen for you in your life, in the world. First and foremost, register to vote and vote. Then the rest will come a little easier.

intransit,
Daniel

More on Outkast, Rosa Parks




The Washington Post story about the Outkast/Rosa Parks suit has a good quote from a representative of the "Free Expression Policy Project" in NYC.

"This case is not about her trying to prevent the unauthorized use of her fame and good name to sell a product," Heins said. "She's trying to suppress a song and message that she considers offensive. She may be offended, she may be insulted, but the First Amendment really protects that."

NPR show archived on their website

If you missed yesterday's NPR special on young voters and the New Voters Project, you can listen here.

Steve Jobs interview in Rolling Stone




Who ever would have figured that Steve Jobs would become a leader in the music industry.

He is.

Read his new interview in Rolling Stone---its very provocative.

He says, "We're never going to top the illegal downloading services, but our message is: Let's compete and win."

That's about as simple as you can make it.

What do you think.

New York Times profile of Dean's young activists




The New York Times Sunday magazine had a nice article about those new generation activists who are busting their tails to get Howard Dean elected. (Reg req'd)

Spike Lee giving rap industry the biz

Spike Lee continues to speak out against aspects and impacts of the rap industry.

Rosa Parks gets to sue Outkast

Rosa Parks got a pass from the Supreme Court to sue Outkast for using her name as a song title.

As AllHipHop.com explains, Parks (with the help of lawyer Johnnie Cochrane) claims that people bought Outkast's album thinking it had something to do with civil rights. Since she views her name as a business asset, she is suing for false advertising.

Outkast says they were exercising free speech. Sampling history.

3PM on NPR: Major segments about young voters

NPR's "Talk of the Nation" is going to do a show on young voters at 3pm (EST) today. Tune in!

And the Grammy nominees of 2003 are....



Record of the Year

"Crazy in Love," Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z
"Where Is the Love," The Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake
"Clocks," Coldplay
"Lose Yourself," Eminem
"Hey Ya!," Outkast

Album Of The Year

"Under Construction," Missy Elliott
"Fallen," Evanescence
"Speakerboxxx/The Love Below." Outkast
"Justified," Justin Timberlake
"Elephant," The White Stripe

Song Of The Year

"Beautiful," Linda Perry, songwriter (Christina Aguilera)
"Dance With My Father," Richard Marx & Luther Vandross, songwriters (Luther Vandross)
"I'm With You," Avril Lavigne & The Matrix, songwriters (Avril Lavigne)
"Keep Me in Your Heart," Jorge Calderon & Warren Zevon, songwriters (Warren Zevon)
"Lose Yourself," J. Bass, M. Mathers & L. Resto, songwriters (Eminem)

Best New Artist

Evanescence
50 Cent
Fountains Of Wayne
Heather Headley
Sean Paul

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

"Beautiful," Christina Aguilera
"Miss Independent," Kelly Clarkson
"White Flag," Dido
"I'm With You," Avril Lavigne
"Fallen," Sarah McLachlan

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

"Any Road," George Harrison
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Michael McDonald
"Send Your Love," Sting
"Cry Me a River," Justin Timberlake
"Keep Me in Your Heart," Warren Zevon

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

"Misunderstood," Bon Jovi
"Hole in the World," The Eagles
"Stacy's Mom," Fountains Of Wayne
"Unwell," Matchbox Twenty
"Underneath It All," No Doubt

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

"Can't Hold Us Down," Christina Aguilera & Lil' Kim
"La Vie En Rose," Tony Bennett & k.d. lang
"Gonna Change My Way of Thinking," Bob Dylan & Mavis Staples
"Feel Good Time," Pink featuring William Orbit
"Whenever I Say Your Name," Sting & Mary J. Blige

For the complete list, visit: Grammys List

---

Congratulations to the Artists who Rock the Vote for the noms:

Sting
Mary J. Blige
Black Eyed Peas
Beyonce
Jay Z
Outkast
The Neptunes, Pharrell and Chad Hugo
Lenny Kravitz
Dave Matthews
Madonna
Michelle Branch
Foo Fighters
Matchbox Twenty
Brian McKnight
Floetry
TLC
MC Lyte
Madonna
Queen Latifah
Nelly
P. Diddy
LL Cool J
Snoop Dogg
The Roots

We'll be lookin to see them grab the prestigious gramophone come February 8, 2003.

---

Speaking of the Grammys and February...
Keep your eyes and ears open for the Rock the Vote Awards coming at ya, crazy like a freight train on February 7th in LA. Get ready for some off the hook partying for the cause.

Cold Turkey. Talkin' Turkey. (Insert Turkey Joke Here)




It was a great photo. Warmed the heart. Bush serving turkey to the troops in Baghdad. Only one problem...

Talk about a jive turkey.

Health care system is going to get worse for young people

Young people have the worst health insurance coverage of any age group. About one-third of all young people don't have health insurance. Mostly that's because we work in jobs that pay less and offer benefits less frequently, and we can't afford premiums on our own. See studies about this from the Center for Economic and Policy Research and also the Commonwealth Fund.

Well, now things are going to get worse. A new article points out that "The new law President Bush will sign Monday holds big changes for younger workers that could prompt employers to pass on higher health-care costs and move the country away from work-based health coverage to a system that has you fending for yourself."

Young people already have to fend for themselves more than other generations--and that is why our health care coverage rates are so damn poor!

The whole point of insurance is that you should NOT have to fend for yourself.

Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Congress.

This is bad news.

New young voters mobilization project

The Washington Post writes about the new young voter mobilization project orchestrated primarily by the State PIRGs, called the New Voters Project. The project will register young people to vote and then turn them out in six states, with a goal of increasing their turnout by 5 percent.

Read the Washington Post article here.

Rock the Vote is a partner in this initiative. We're pretty excited about it. Politics is partly and art and partly a science. The New Voters Project is all about the science of politics. Register the voters, build the lists, knock on their doors, turn them out.

Check it out. Tell us what you think.

And now there is Click the Vote

And now there is Click the Vote.

Click the Vote article

We always enjoy take-offs on our name... is "click" a strong enough term? Time will tell!

The Hip Hop Political Convention

The Boston Globe has an article today about some political work going on in the hip hop community, particularly with the Hip Hop Political Convention. Its good to see some movement towards the kind of nuts and bolts organizing that this effort is all about.

Check it out.

The Hip Hop Political Convention article

Don't forget to vote for your favorite candidate video

The contest to pick the winner of the candidate video contest ends on December 9th. Don't forget to vote. The contest is competitive...

Rockers Get Agitated About Bush

Rolling Stone has a sweet article about how music artists are getting politically organized for the upcoming election. Its a must read.

Rolling Stone article

It would suck to lose overtime pay.

It happens from time to time: your boss asks you to put in overtime. It can be a real drag -- especially if you have school, or another job, or a family to look after. But one thing helps: getting paid extra for those overtime hours.

Well, believe it or not, you might lose your right to overtime pay---right now.

See more information here: www.saveovertimepay.org