Bob Dylan to get Presidential Medal of Freedom

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Famed artists who sang ‘don’t follow leaders’ will accept the highest civilian honor from President Obama, the leader of the free world

"Don't follow leaders, watch your parking meters" - Bob Dylan 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'

The US White House announced that singer songwriter, writer, and actor Bob Dylan will receive the the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

To followers of the iconic leader of baby boomer counter culture, the award has some irony. But then we were all younger then, we’re older than that now. Continue reading →

Noah Wyle arrested marching for disabled

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Popular celebrity Noah Wyle is arrested at D.C. protest by disability rights group ADAPT

Noah Wyle is pictured in handcuffs at a protest by the disability rights group ADAPT in Washington, D.C. on April 23, 2012. - (photo National ADAPT)

Hollywood stars are coming out for social activism and the ER cast is leading.

Noah Wyle, who played medical student John Carter in ER, was arrested and taken away in handcuffs at the ADAPT disability rally in Washington. DC.

George Clooney was recently arrested for civil disobedience at the Sudanese embassy in Washington, DC protesting the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan.
Continue reading →

Would Wildrose have shut down Alberta’s Human Rights Commission

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Election win by Conservatives puts issue to rest but for how long?

Alison Redford, Alberta Premier on the phone jubilant at election win(photo credit - Todd Korol / Reuters)

Against the odds and Canada’s top pollsters and media predictions, Conservative Alison Redford has won a decided victory in Alberta’s provincial election.

Canadian human rights advocates can breathe a sigh of relief that Wildrose didn’t take the government. Wildrose leader Danielle Smith announced plans to close down Alberta’s Human Rights Commission, replacing it with a branch of the court system to weed out “frivolous” human rights complaints. Continue reading →

NY Times comes out swinging against access for disabled

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Stephen Pate

The ADA is 21 years old but the New York Times wants us to feel pity for businesses that are still inaccessible

Carr Massi, who uses a wheelchair, has sued five businesses in Manhattan for violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act. (photo Jennifer S. Altman for The New York Times)

The New York Times came out swinging against compliance with the ADA in the story Disabilities Act Prompts Flood of Suits Some Cite as Unfair.

It’s the “White’s Only Lunch Counter” and Selma, Alabama all over again, only this time blacks are escaping the discrimination backlash and the bigots are in New York. The New York Times thinks lawyers who sue for compliance under the Americans With Disability Acts are “ambulance chasers.” Continue reading →

Why doesn’t our Prime Minister support our Constitution and Charter?

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Isn’t the leader of a democracy supposed to uphold the foundations of that democracy?

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Santiago Chile, not happy with our Charter (Photograph by: SAUL LOEB , Getty Images Canada.com)

I was shocked yesterday to read that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wouldn’t support the 30th Anniversary celebration of Canada’s repatriation of our Constitution from England and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“In terms of this as an anniversary, I think it’s an interesting and important step, but I would point out that the Charter remains inextricably linked to the patriation of the Constitution and the divisions around that matter, which as you know are still very real in some parts of the country,” Harper said. (Toronto Star) Continue reading →

The 5 employment laws every manager should know

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Byline

Federal class actions under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are biggest source of private class actions in employment-related cases

By Elizabeth Hall, Business Management Daily – Wage-and-hour labor litigation continues to increase exponentially.

Federal class actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) outnumber all other types of private class actions in employment-related cases. Particularly hard hit: employers in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas. Continue reading →

Pete Seeger’s Greatest Hits – Turn Turn Turn

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Pete Seeger is no stranger to hits – Turn Turn Turn was a # 1 hit for The Byrds

“Turn, Turn, Turn” from Forrest Gump soundtrack

With words from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Pete Seeger wrote a timeless song that became a #1 hit for The Byrds in 1965.

A populist movement is working to give Pete Seeger his first personal # 1 hit with his cover of Bob Dylan’s Forever Young.
Continue reading →

Joe Perry Man of Peace

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Famed guitar hero Joe Perry rocks out Bob Dylan for Amnesty International

Joe Perry, lead guitarist for Arrowsmith, rocks out Dylan’s Man of Peace for Amnesty International on Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan. Profit from the sale of the CDs goes to support humanitarian work of Amnesty International.

The raunchy sound is just perfect – this is a song with attitude. One of 73 covers of Bob Dylan, listening to this song is why my job is so great.
Continue reading →

Make Pete Seeger the Oldest Person With a #1 Hit

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Stephen Pate

At 92 years old, Pete Seeger’s version of “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan headed for record books

“Forever Young” sung by Pete Seeger for Amnesty International.

Updated with click-able links – At 92, Pete Seeger the folk troubadour is headed for the first #1 hit of his career. Tony Bennett just had his first # 1 hit album at 85. This will make Pete Seeger the oldest person with a hit record.
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Artists donated to Amnesty International on Chimes of Freedom

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Preserving Freedom of speech is the theme for the 4-CD set honoring Bob Dylan which gets richer with each listening

The artists on Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, the monumental anthem to freedom of speech, talk about why they worked for no fees the project and what Dylan means to them.

It’s good to remember that Human Rights is not a luxury in a time when most of us are consumed with worry about jobs and the economy. Continue reading →

Rise Against Ballad of Hollis Brown video

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Stephen Pate

Punk cover of Bob Dylan song from Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International

Rise Against’s video of The Ballad of Hollis Brown shouts the anger of the poverty in America. Dylan understated the message. Rise Against hits you in the face.
Continue reading →