apathy is boring especially when you can win free shit.
chance to win a pair of tickets to one of my shows just for answering a simple question. good deal.
http://www.apathyisboring.com/en/the_facts/news/1175
best of luck
R

first solo tour is just over a week away.
rehearsing needs to happen. there are actually a handful of songs that have never been played before so a private setting will suit me while we work out the kinks. i can also tell you that we are planning on filming the last rehearsal before we fly to Victoria. stay tuned to myspace and the .net sites for some exclusive rehearsal footage. should be interesting.
best
Raine

i guess by this point i just assume most people have seen the movie ONCE. if you havent you should. it is a brilliant little film that has moved mountains. The music from this movie isn't political or socially conscious,it isn't particularly cutting edge or new, it is simply devastating and beautiful.
For those of you that watched the Oscars tonight, you most likely heard Glen and Marketa sing their nominated song "falling slowly" as well as win the Oscar for best original song.
i was fortunate to be at a private concert last weekend at a famous old music store in Santa Monica called Mcabes. Glen and Marketa performed for about 50 very lucky people. it was a good night to be alive. so is tonight. congratulations to Glen and Marketa for their honor. i will sleep soundly knowing that music, on so many levels, still has the power to change the world. i hope Neil Young see's this movie.
goodnight.
Raine

this is the second time in the last 3 weeks that a personality in the media has used the word "lynch." i am sickened by the fact that some people feel justified using this word in any connotation. both Bill O'Reilly(fox news) and kelly tilghman (golf network) used "lynch" when describing Michelle Obama and Tiger Woods respectively. Kelly tilghman was suspended by the golf channel. i hope Fixed news shows the balls to suspend Bill O'Reilly for his use of the word. free speech can be very dangerous and evocative. this is disgusting behaviour that should not be tolerated.
best
R.M

i am honoured to announce Jared Paul,a powerful spoken word artist, will be joing the tour for a few stops starting in London. Jared appears on "the less i know" from my solo record and will obviously guest on this song as well as peform his own spoken word set. dont miss this. it's his first time performing in Canada
best
Raine

i read a troubling comment by Neil Young this morning. He stated "it would be naive to think that music still has the power to change the world." This is utterly shocking coming from the lips of Mr.Young. i can sympathize that music has lost a great deal of substance and relevance in our newfound narcissistic, ADD culture, but to give up completely on it's power?...no thanks. Maybe you, Neil,are simply not listening to the right music. Is it possible your frustration stems from the fact that your last 2 records,which were both brilliant and heavily political, essentially went unnoticed? Or is it possible that you have been preaching to the wrong people. After all, the devout hippie generation and counter-culture that followed you in the 70's are the same people shelling out a hundred bucks to fill up their eighty thousand dollar SUV's today. The only movement they're interested in is bigger hard-ons and his and her pedestal bath tubs looking out over some tranquil field in tuscany.
Your music has made a signifcant impact on my life. Ohio still reminds me of how powerful one voice and an electric guitar can be.
Contrary to your statement i faithfully wish to inform you that music has not lost this power. This is conveniently evident in the numerous email's i received this past week, all with links to the Will. i .am/Barack Obama youtube video of "YES WE CAN." It spread across the web like wildfire because people are genuinely engaged and passionate about altering the current course of America which in turn will help change the world. This timely video is but one example that you not need be so cynical. Change is coming Mr. Young and music has and will continue to be a part of that change.
in case you have not seen this video i attached the link.
http://www.dipdive.com.

respectfully,
Raine Maida

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=338

if you are an American opposed to the war and the Bush Doctrine this site might interest you. the relationship between death and taxes evolves into a powerful social statement with this proposition.curious?
enjoy.
R

First, I would just like to take the opportunity to thank those of you who read 'A soldier's story'. Regardless of your views and opinions about the war in Afghanistan, I truly appreciate your comments, I only wish I had more time to respond and for that I apologize.

As you can see from my earlier post, there is more to the Afghan than war. It is plagued by local, provincial and federal corruption, a shadow government led by the Taliban, which oppresses social liberties and basic human rights, not to mention the drug trade that supplies the world with over 93% of its opiate consumption. Clearly, the atrocities inflicted by Al Basir (President of Sudan) and his Janjawaeed militia certainly need to be addressed by the world. There are a number of places around the globe where innocent people are murdered by militias, where ethnic cleansing is almost a daily occurrence or where women are brutally mutilated and children are brainwash to become toy soldiers; Sudan, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, Nairobi or the Ivory Coast all have major issues that need to be addressed. Yes poverty, corruption, marginalization and exploitation takes place in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and central and South America. These issues also need the attention of the international community. However, 9/11 forced NATO to respond to the threat terrorism emerging from Afghanistan. At that time, the Taliban was harboring Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Prior to 2001 and as a result of Mullah Omar's (Commander of the Taliban) brutality and strict Islamic laws, only three countries recognized Afghanistan's independence, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During the earlier stages of the war, reports suggest that the Taliban had offered bin Laden up in exchange for international recognition. Unfortunately, Omar would not accept the UN's offer which entailed a less stringent form of oppression. Since then, radical Islam has spread throughout the Southeast Asia, Western Europe and North America. While not all radical Muslims will become terrorists, Islamic terrorists are radicals.

Many of those arrested in connection with terror plots and bombings actually trained in either Afghanistan or Pakistan. Some Madrassas, or Islamic schools, in Afghanistan and Pakistan teach radicalized interpretations of Islam at the same time they teach students how to build bombs, fire weapons or defend themselves in close-quarter combat. These teachings are then brought back to western countries where they are instilled upon Muslims. One of those arrested in connection with the alleged terrorist plot in Ontario, migrated from Pakistan and taught a radical interpretation of Islam at a Mosque in Mississauga, Ontario. It was here where he met a number of the 'Toronto Seventeen' would be bombers. As their relationship grew, this individual was able to act as the group's spiritual guide and helped the young men progress to the next stage of radicalization, which is self-preparation and operational planning of a terror attack. I think that its also worth noting that five of the seventeen people charged in connection with this terrorist plot were under the age of eighteen at the time of their arrest. This demonstrates that Islamic radicals in Canada are targeting and influencing Muslim youths to engage in terrorist activities. Not only does this occur in Canada and the US, but in England, Denmark, Germany, and to a lesser extend France, Italyand Spain. The arrests in England after the July 2005 London bombings revealed that at least two associates trained in either Afghanistan or Pakistan. There is clearly a threat of persons traveling to Afghanistan and Pakistan with the intention to acquire the knowledge on how to construct bombs and employ them against targets in western societies. Whether or not these connections are financial or in the form of physical training are subject to those involved. However, more often than not, intelligence gathered domestically against those planning to conduct a terror attack or have staged an attack often leads to connections outside the host country. Many of these connections brings us back to Afghanistan.

So where is the Afghan authority to prevent radical Islam from turning into terrorism? Unfortunately, it has some major issues to work out before it can tackle that issue. Within the provinces there are various districts and each district has a center were the Chief of Police and local politicians operate out of. Unfortunately, many of these throughout southern Afghanistan are often attacked or overrun by Taliban. Others don't have much authority or local support outside of the immediate area. In some cases, side deals are made between district leaders who have their hands in the narcotics trade and Taliban transiting the area. Over the past couple of years, insurgents have facilitated harvesting, processing and transiting opium to Pakistan. Revenues collected through a transiting tax often go to the procurement of weapons, supplies and ammunition. As I mentioned in my last writing, there are eradication programs installed, but corruption within the government and national police force has greatly affected the benefits of the programs. Aside from the issues of corruption the national police service lack funding and supplies. They are also routinely targeted by the Taliban who falsely impose themselves as police officials and kidnap, attack or raid police check points. Obviously, this plays on the minds of Afghan police officers. As a result of all this, some police officers are fearful for their lives; others turn a blind eye to Taliban activity or engage in criminal activity themselves to earn a decent wage. Unfortunately, the end state is the ability for the Taliban to recruit, finance and train future sympathizers, supporters and members some of which, bring these tactics back to our societies with the intent to harm more innocent people.

The topics that I choose to discuss were not intended to undermine the socio-economical and political problems of other countries. They were addressed simply because there is more to the Afghan problem than people think. Having responded to 9/11 we have the ability to help provide a stable enough environment for the Afghan government to ensure its civilians safety and prosperity. This will only happen if we fully understand the problems we face – that is what I have tried to do. Once this is achieved we can help implement the measures needed to sustain a relatively peaceful society. During this process we need to educate others that multicultural communities and different religions can coexist that we can work together collectively towards the same goals. Everyone requires water to live, but not everyone is educated on how that water is delivered from the stream to your household. It is a complex system of purifying and processing and if you had a group of people who controlled, diverted and prevented your community from accessing drinking water, like the Taliban do in some areas of Afghanistan, what would you do?

Thanks again for your comments – Happy New Year!

Tyler

as some may know we have finally announced a proper tour. i apologize if some cities have been left out. i can tell you we are planning some East and West coast US dates this spring as well.
so... i've been thinking about the shows and trying to decipher some sort of set list. obviously i'm going to perform the Hunters Lullaby but i'm curious to know what everyone is expecting or anticipating seeing as 10 songs does not make for a proper rock show. i understand by putting this question out there i am asking for trouble but...i'm asking.
R