Singing in the Light

2006-03-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

The Man Who Shot Baghdad Hussein

Here's a piece written by Richard Nathan and performed by the Living Legends Theatre. It was taped at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network sometime during the presidential race of 2004, but was not edited together until after the election. It lives on here in the vlog world and is still fun to look at.

Francesca Fortunato plays the damsel in distress. She is the leader of this merry band of thespians. She was also recently ordained as a deacon, and will be the celebrant at my wedding coming up on May 28. That means she has the power to utter words and bind people together. Sort of what she does with her actors. This crew is ususally known as the Living Legends Radio Theatre, reading classic radio scripts from the golden past. I get to play Dennis Day when invited to read Jack Benny Show scripts with them. Most of the crew you see here performed as the "Riot Act" sketch comedy ensemble in an early episode of Songs of Freedom.

2006-03-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Speak Out! Save Public Access.

Watch the video

Thanks to Public Access Television in this country, you and everyone you know is entitled by law to make television programs and messages and have them seen.

Did you know that? It's true.

Now this right is being threatened by telephone companies seeking to offer video content via phone lines and their successfully lobbied friends in Congress.

Public Access is television made by everyone who is not a millionaire or a billionaire. When a cable company comes to your town, tears up your streets and uses the public rights of way -- they must pay for the privilege, according to laws in place today across much of America. The charge for this "franchise fee" translates into money for your city. Part of this money is then used to create, furnish and maintain public (or "community") access centers, along with channel space, equipment, staff and training.

If the laws disappeared providing the franchise fee to cities and towns, not only would cities lose much needed and deserved revenue, in addition, people like you and me would lose the ability to make messages seen in our towns and around the world.

Please contact your elected officials and ask them to fight for your right for self-expression in the 21st century, and freedom of choice on your tv. The alternative is more of the same from corporate message makers and their non-diverse, non-listening, non-alternative agenda.

Speak up and speak out before your voice is taken from you.

What you have to say does matter.

peace and empowerment,

joel

Beginnings

2006-03-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone.

This is my first post in this new world of video blogs. New to me anyway. This is actually my first blog post of any kind. I am grateful to my friends at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network teaching me how to express myself and share with you this way.

I will be using this space to show you the work of artists and activists originally seen on the Songs of Freedom television program I produce, in addition to video pieces contributed by friends and welcome others.

I welcome your participation in this exchange of ideas, thoughts, videos and spirit, and invite you to express yourself as well. I look forward to seeing your comments.

peace
joy
self-expression

Aloha.

Joel Landy