Alan Rickman - Truly Madly Deeply

I miss and am still mourning actor Alan Rickman who died this past January. This is a favorite moment, a song from the movie Truly Madly Deeply, which seems apropos, missing Alan, here performing with Juliet Stevenson. "The sun ain't gonna shine anymore" but there IS some sunshine on YouTube.

Lord Of The Dance - Jim McCann

This is one of my favorite Celtic sounding songs sung by the awesome Jim McCann who I just learned died this past March 5, 2015 at the age of 70. He had lost his beautiful voice to throat cancer in 2002 after a remarkable singing career, including a stint with The Dubliners. He lives on in such music. Thanks, Jim, for sharing your gift with the world!

RIP Howard Zinn -- 1922-2010

My friend Thomas Gallagher said it well, with a brief statement and a quote from Howard:

Thomas Gallagher: I will miss your voice Howard. We will all have to speak up that much more to break the silence...

"The challenge remains. On the other side are formidable forces: money, political power, the major media. On our side are the people of the world and a power greater than money or weapons: the truth. Truth has a power of its own. Art has a power of its own. That age-old lesson – that everything we do matters – is the meaning of the people’s struggle here in the United States and everywhere. A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think, when we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress. We live in a beautiful country. But people who have no respect for human life, freedom, or justice have taken it over. It is now up to all of us to take it back." - Howard Zinn

I count myself blessed to have heard Howard in person. I pledge to join Thomas and our friends in speaking up more.