Stand by Me

I am so happy to have seen this video of the song "Stand By Me" sung by Andy, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Friends. It is beautifully done and actually gave me chills! On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale - it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD - it's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people - to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together - the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to "we are one". BEAUTIFUL and THANK YOU for doing this to all who were involved!

Armenian Genocide Commemoration - 33rpm

April 24th is the day that we commemorate the 1.5 million lives lost in the Armenian Genocide committed at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915. To this day, the genocide is not recognized as anything more than a "tragedy" by the United States and Turkey. Hundreds and hundreds of different forms of evidence are ignored in hopes of it being forgotten. This was the first genocide of the 20th century. Adolf Hitler was quoted saying "Who, after all, remembers the Armenians today?" He used the fact that these crimes committed were not punished as ammunition for his own agenda. He thought he too would get away with it. This is solid proof that history does in fact repeat itself and that crimes that go unpunished will come back to haunt us - as we are seeing today in so many parts of the world. Due to extreme geopolitical interest in the region of Turkey, the United States presidents continuously make the promise to recognize the genocide for what it was, but are then threatened into not doing so. It is time that my ancestors and the ancestors of all Armenians are able to rest in peace, to know that their deaths were not in vain, and let this be a lesson to the world. Everything that happened during the Holocaust - everything that sickens people to hear or think about today - happened to the Armenians first. Why then is that no just as sickening to people - not enough for a difference to be made.

So now that I am done with my piece for the day, this wonderful poster was designed and printed by designer Andrio Abero,{33rpm}. It was illustrated for {The New Republic} - calling it "Armenian Coverup" - portraying the shadow of the Ottoman Turk. A graduate from the Art Institute of Seattle, Abero established 33rpm, in 2000. Recognized as a leading designer from the Northwest, Andrio has proudly worked within Seattle's vibrant music scene for almost 10 years. He now lives and works in the creative capitol of Brooklyn, NY.