Hard Rock International Releases All-Star Charity CD SERVE2 to Benefit WHY (World Hunger Year)

Hard Rock International Releases All-Star Charity CD SERVE2 to Benefit WHY (World Hunger Year)


Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Joss Stone and More Donate Previously Unreleased Tracks to Aid in the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty

Hard Rock and WHY Partner with The Orchard for Worldwide Digital Distribution of SERVE2

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ --

Hard Rock International differentiates itself with Rock, but philanthropy is the company's soul. Hard Rock has remained true to its "Love All, Serve All" creed since the company's founding in 1971 -- a motto that can be heard or seen at every Hard Rock location around the world. Continuing its pledge to serving others, Hard Rock is proud to announce the launch of SERVE2 -- a benefit compilation CD, featuring previously unreleased tracks from some of music's most influential artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and more -- to benefit WHY (World Hunger Year), a nonprofit organization that strives to fight against hunger and poverty in America and around the world. All net proceeds from SERVE2 will be donated directly towards Artists Against Hunger & Poverty (AAHP), a special artist-directed program of WHY -- for which, Hard Rock has proudly raised more than $1 million to date.


Photo


Joining Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and others in the fight against hunger and poverty, the SERVE2 CD features never-before-released tracks by a unique blend of major multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning and acclaimed recording artists like The Hold Steady, Mat Kearney, Brandi Carlile and more, as well as several bonus digital tracks. The songs are new, classic, electric or acoustic, and reflect the generosity of the artists that donated them to the project on behalf of serving those in need.


"We are honored to be partnering once again with Hard Rock and such great musicians for this effort," said Bill Ayres, founder of WHY. "The generosity and time committed to SERVE2 has been tremendous, and we are overwhelmed by the support for the cause."


Servin' Up Some Rockin' Charity . . .

Artist Track Title

SERVE2: Physical Album (also available digitally):

Bruce Springsteen "The Ghost of Tom Joad (Live in Dublin)"
KT Tunstall "Heal Over (Live at Gaia Music, London)"
Bob Dylan "The Ballad of Hollis Brown
(Live at Carnegie Hall, 1963)"
Joss Stone "Big Ol' Game"
Jackson Browne "Casino Nation
(Live from Melbourne, Australia)"
Citizen Cope feat.
Alice Smith "107°"
Brandi Carlile "The Times They Are A-Changin'
(Live from Boston)"
Marc Broussard "Bring It On Home To Me" (Sam Cooke cover)
The Hold Steady "Arms and Hearts"
*O.A.R. "Dareh Meyod
(Live at Madison Square Garden)"
Natasha Bedingfield "Lay Down"
Mat Kearney "Nothing Left to Lose" (Acoustic Version)
Ghosts "Stay The Night"
Andrew W.K. "This Is My World"

Bonus / Digital Tracks:

Toby Lightman "Better (Live From Joe's Pub)"
Sons of William "Bell Bottom Blues"
(Derek & the Dominos cover)
Hellogoodbye "Baby It's Fact (Live From New York, NY)"
Josh Rouse "Start Again"
Jen Chapin "You Haven't Done Nothin'"
(Stevie Wonder cover)
Eli Cook "Man-Child"
Griffin House "Love to Begin"

*Previously-released track

One Million and Counting . . .

To celebrate reaching the $1 million mark in funds raised for WHY, in addition to SERVE2, Hard Rock International will continue to offer its 21st Signature Series T-Shirt, inspired by Bruce Springsteen, and also launch a new commemorative limited-edition pin, to benefit WHY. The Bruce Springsteen Signature Series t-shirt and collectible pin feature a drawing of one of Bruce's favorite guitars. The shirt is available in black in classic men's sizes.


"Hard Rock International possesses a social consciousness that benefits a number of charities and organizations, including World Hunger Year," said Sean Dee, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Hard Rock International. "Hard Rock has actively supported World Hunger Year for years, raising more than $1 million to date, and we are proud to continue to support a great organization that envisions a world without hunger and poverty."


In addition to Hard Rock's Rock Shops throughout the world, the SERVE2 compilation, Bruce Springsteen Signature Series t-shirt and pin will also be available for sale through Hard Rock's Web site at www.hardrock.com and WHY's Web site www.worldhungeryear.org beginning November 6th, 2007. All songs featured on the SERVE2 CD, as well as bonus tracks, will also be available for download at major online retail stores via The Orchard's digital distribution network.


"We applaud Hard Rock and the entire WHY team for their passion, commitment and dedication to harnessing the power of music to fight global poverty," said Greg Scholl, President and Chief Executive of The Orchard. "We are proud to be a part of this project and to help spread the message of SERVE2 to fans around the world."


About WHY


Founded in 1975, WHY (World Hunger Year) is a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. WHY is convinced that solutions to hunger and poverty can be found at the grassroots level. WHY advances long-term solutions to hunger and poverty by supporting community- based organizations that empower individuals and build self-reliance, i.e., offering job training, education and after school programs; increasing access to housing and healthcare; providing microcredit and entrepreneurial opportunities; teaching people to grow their own food; and assisting small farmers. WHY connects these organizations to artists, funders, media and legislators. WHY is a not-for-profit registered 501(c)(3) organization founded by radio talk show host and present Executive Director Bill Ayres, and the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin.


About The Orchard


The Orchard is a leading supplier and marketer of digital music and video to digital retailers and mobile operators throughout the world. The Orchard controls an unparalleled catalogue of music from thousands of artists and labels, encompassing all genres, eras, and regions. With localized marketing in 27 countries serving all major music territories, The Orchard designs global sales programs that are executed by local experts, who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to each country's unique market dynamic. The Orchard functions as a true business partner with its clients by providing retail sales and marketing support, an extensive suite of online promotional programs, song placement, global royalty collection, global publishing administration, and in select cases, co-production investment capital. The Orchard also provides strategic media services to an impressive roster of digital retailers and leading consumer brands, ranging from publishing research, licensing and administration through comprehensive online and offline branding programs. The Orchard was founded in 1997 to provide independent artists and labels with broad and fair access to distribution. For more information, please visit us at www.theorchard.com.


About Hard Rock International


With 123 high-energy Hard Rock Cafes and eight Hotels/Casinos in 46 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the world's most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, Pattaya and Bali, with San Diego scheduled to open later in 2007. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Macau, scheduled to open in 2009, and Palm Springs, scheduled to open in 2010. Hard Rock International, Inc. is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For more information on Hard Rock, visit www.hardrock.com.


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071009/NYTU006
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Hard Rock International

CONTACT: Brian Siemienas, Hard Rock International, +1-407-445-7625;
Deborah Sierchio or Meredith Miesieski, Coyne PR, +1-973-316-1665; Lisa
Batitt, WHY, +1-212-629-8550 Ext. 22; Sarah Miller, Axis Marketing-PR, for The
Orchard, +1-310-276-2220


Web site: http://www.hardrock.com/
http://www.theorchard.com/

Hard Rock launches SERVE2 - a benefit compilation CD, featuring previously unreleased tracks from some of music's most influential artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and more - to benefit WHY (World Hunger Year), a nonprofit organization that strives to fight against hunger and poverty in America and around the world.

Star Watch: Lovelyn Loves the Big Picture

This lovely young Nigerian actress, LovelynChrist has her beautiful brown eyes on the big picture of the silver screen.



She played her first role in a Nigerian movie, Jewel of the Kingdom directed by Holy Steve in 2006.
She wants Nollywood to move on to the higher ground of the film industry like Bollywood and compete with Hollywood.

She is presently on location on Bonny Island in Nigeria.

"We can make it!" Lovelyn said.



She loves sports and is very good in swimming, soccer, volleyball, body building and track and field. She is also a good dancer.


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Are Women More Sensitive Than Men?

They say men hardly shed tears.
But women are very quick to break down and shed copious tears.

I do not think shedding tears makes any man less brave than the hard men who would rather choke their emotions than let them out.

Women are really more emotional than men. But that does not mean they are more loving.

I am as sensitive and loving as any woman on earth. And in fact, I believe I can prove the true meaning of love than most women.

Women love eye service and lip service. And they have been falling in love with more liars and deceivers. And many women love bargains. I mean they want you to bargain for their pleasures.

अन्य Wound कान बी ताकें कारे औफ़ ब्य Love

Any Wound Can Be Taken Care Of By Love says Bob, the Editor of 123Greetings. Just click on the title to read the post. It only two sentences long, but very profound.

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You can watch The Oddly Worldly and top videos on the latest things, people and places in the world.

थे Greatest Prize On Earth

The Greatest Prize On Earth

The greatest prize is not the Nobel Prize and it is not the Oscar.
No, it is not the Grammy or the Emmy. It is not the Cannes Palm d’Or and it is not the Leone d’Oro of the Biennale Venice. It is not the Booker or the Pulitzer.
In fact, the greatest prize is the most precious, yet the commonest prize of all, and it is priceless. It is more precious than silver and gold. It cannot be bought or sold. Yet, it is the most abused, misused, violated, and wasted on earth. As I have since realized that the bottomless is fathomless, such is the depth and the worth of this prize.

The world froze before my very eyes yesterday morning. And this was not the first time, but the last time was over ten years ago. The memories still linger on my mind and I never wished to go through the flames of the crucible again. But yesterday morning I gazed at it eyeball to eyeball as my younger sister and the only daughter of my beloved mother collapsed and was foaming in the mouth.
Her eldest daughter Bombom had raised the alarm, as she was about to leave for school. Her only son in Kindergarten was sobbing and crying, “Mommy, come now.” The boy is only five years old. He must have been confused to see his mother slumping and jerking.
“Uncle, come and see mommy!” Bombom screamed.
Her mother was in the bedroom and I rushed inside to see her slumping over the bathtub with a small pair of scissors in her right hand. She was not having her bath and she was fully dressed in her house clothes. She was jerking with seizure and collapsing. I shouted her maiden name and raised her up. She collapsed in my arms and foaming in the mouth with her teeth about to clench and she could bite her tongue. So, I quickly put my forefinger in-between her teeth as she gritted them. The daughter was panicking in fear and trembling.
“Call the emergency number!” I shouted.
She was nervous and forgot that the emergency numbers were already pasted on the handset.
“Bombom! Hurry! Call 1007! And tell them that there is an emergency! That your mother has collapsed!”
“Oh, my God! Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!” I exclaimed at the frightening sight of my sister.
Only God could save her now.
Bombom frantically called the number and I could hear her answering questions. She is only 10 and in such a state of shock, she could not say much.
“Jesus, please save my sister’s life! Do not let anything happen to her!Jesus! Blood of Jesus. Jesus have mercy on my sister. She is your daughter. Oh, God! Save your daughter’s life!” I was shouting my SOS prayer to the only one I could call to save her life now.
“Go and call any of our neighbours in the next house!” I shouted.
She ran and soon returned with Uluoma, a girl in her late teens, who is staying with her family.
“Please, call the hospital for an ambulance!” I told Uluoma.
She acted like a much-matured young woman. She called the right emergency number.
I told her to call Emma, who could reach my sister’s husband who was not in and was in Lagos.
The ambulance came with the paramedics armed with their emergency First Aid kit and stretchers. Four of the female paramedics were in white tops and white pants and white shoes. And one of them was in a blouse, blue denim pants, and canvas shoes. She seemed to be the leader. She did not waste time to attend to my sister. Three men accompanied them. They put the oxygen mask on her and we lifted her up and placed her on the stretcher. They carried her into the waiting ambulance and rushed her to the hospital nearby. I followed in another vehicle from the hospital.
Inside the ER, the paramedics handed her over to the waiting doctor and nurses and they knew what to do and did so without wasting time. I was standing by in the corridor praying for divine intervention. Later, the doctor asked me what happened to her. And I explained how I found her slumping in her bathtub after her eldest daughter raised an alarm that her mother was in trouble. The doctor and nurses told me she was now stable and I thanked them one after the other as they were going in and out of ER. Then I knelt on the floor to thank God. At this moment, nothing mattered most to me, except the precious life of my sister. All my great dreams of winning an Oscar, Nobel, and other highly coveted prizes evaporated in the state of emergency. They became meaningless to me. Even the sight of two beautiful and well-endowed young women walking along the corridor did not delight or excite me. The prettiest women were the nurses in white helping the doctor to revive my sister. The nurses and doctors at the Nigeria LNG RA Hospital on Bonny Island were God sent angels. The Chief Medical Officer who bought two of my medical books last year and I gave him the complimentary medical books and journals for their library, also came to pay attention to my sister.

As my world froze yesterday morning, I now realized how insignificant and irrelevant are the vanities of life. Because, the jeeps, cars, houses, plots of land, million naira bank accounts, trips to the US, UK and Singapore and shopping in Dubai, did not matter anymore. What mattered most was the revival and survival of my sister. And when she came around, I experienced the kind of peace of mind I have never felt before. I sighed in great relief. Then I returned to the house to have my bath and put on new clothes. The husband arrived with his colleagues and went to the hospital to visit her.
“Thank God, she is alive and recovering fast. Thank God. Thank God,” he said.
He returned to the house with her soiled clothes and washed them like a nursing mother washing the dirty diapers of her baby.
I was overwhelmed by his tender loving care for his wife and this is the same man who once beat her up and swore to deal with her, but now very sober and loving. What a life.
Thank God, I advised my sister to forgive him and love him.
They have come a long way, from their one room bed sitter in Lagos, to their four bedroom flat in Ibadan and now living in a big house with guest rooms and building houses in Port Harcourt and Uyo, and driving two jeeps and one car. And they can afford to spend vacations anywhere in the world.
I am very glad and grateful to the Almighty God for blessing them with abundant life and prosperity. I wish them longer life with their five beautiful and wonderful children and more prosperity.

What happened yesterday confirmed my hypothesis on two of my so-called female companions who confess and profess so much love online and offline.
“I love you. I am missing you. When are you coming to Abuja?”
“Oh, darling. I am bored without you. When are you coming to Lagos?”
I called the one in Abuja first and told her that I was in the ER with my sister in critical condition. But till date, she has not even called to ask me how she is faring.
I called the one in Lagos, and told her. She called me as I hung up and I told her what happened. How my sister slumped in her bathtub. She said, she would call back to know how she fared, but till date, she has not called.
The one in Abuja is the most disappointing. Only last week, she called me, to whine over how a wicked Muslim man beat her up and I kept on calling her to know how she was feeling. I reported the incident to the Muslim Association of Nigeria and another Islamic NGO for Muslim women in Nigeria.
The one in Lagos was writhing in pains a year ago, and I was by her side to care and comfort her.
It is in critical situations of emergencies that you would really know those who are fair weather friends and those who are truly your friends.
Anyone who does not appreciate your welfare and the welfare of your family is not a friend.
The person is only a selfish fair weather friend who only wants her own bargains and selfish interests and selfish pleasures.
The sooner you separate the goats from the sheep, the better, and safer you would be.
Do not waste the precious quality time of your precious life with such selfish and uncaring people.
Jesus Christ said:
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.
If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

~ Matthew 7:6 (The Holy Bible, New International Version)

Your life is very precious and sacred, therefore, do not give them to the dogs of this world, and do not offer your highly valuable skills and talents to the pigs of this world, lest they turn around to spite you and vandalize your genius.
There are humans who behave like dogs, pigs, and you must identify them, beware of them, and do not waste your precious life with such dogs and pigs of the earth.

There are great lessons to learn from the problems and the troubles in this world.
There are great lessons to learn from the storms of life.
Make sure that you are not ignorant of these vital lessons of life. Because, they will guide and guard you safely the rest of your life.

Life is too precious and too valuable to be toyed with.
Do not let anyone or anything mess up, toy with, or waste your precious life.

How much we appreciate our life and the lives of others shows how much we appreciate God and our existence on earth.

No price you place on your life is too much. Because, as I said earlier, life is priceless.
You are more precious and worthier than all the status symbols, worldly acquisitions, and possession on earth.
You are the image and likeness of God, the greatest being in the whole universe and who reigns in awesome majesty in eternity. And He wants you to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life on earth.
Do not let anyone steal your greatest prize.
Do not let anyone take away your precious and priceless life.
You have won it, you deserve it, therefore cherish, and treasure your life with every breath you have.

When I returned from the hospital yesterday, I knelt down in my sister's bedroom and praised God for saving my sister. Then, I went to my room and went on my knees again to thank God for His benevolent divine intervention in the emergency and saved the beautiful and wonderful life of my dear sister.

Autumn Blues in The Romance of Life

Well.Well.Well.

How many of you missed my regular posts of Kisses & Roses?

I have been sharing my love with hundreds of thousands of people who have been visiting my popular Nigerian Times International Forum and Nigerian Times International and other websites. I have some more plugins and the largest Nigerian media network online will be ready for launch before Christmas.

My passionate article, "An Open Letter To Nigerian Girls And Ladies" is still making some of the affected and concerned Nigerian girls and ladies very uncomfortable. But I have moved on to focus on more universal issues.

My "Memories of a Refugee Child" published and distributed by Amazon Shorts is still making the rounds as one of the latest memoirs on refugees and other victims of bloody conflicts.

The Christams season is here and the early bird savings for your Christmas shoppings should be well spent and I have recommended that we should include good books in our Christmas hampers and gift packs. And Amazon has recommended "100 Hot Books" you should not miss.

I am still the one who was born to love.
But love begets love.
And those who do not have love cannot receive love.
Jesus Christ said, we should not throw our precious jewels to the dogs or swine.

Watch The EMMY AWARDS Live On Sunday

Hollyscoop.com & NowLive.com Make Broadcast History on the EMMY(R) Red Carpet Hollyscoop TV Teams with NowLive.com to Become First Online Media Outlet to Broadcast LIVE and Interactive Call-In Show from TV's Biggest Award Celebration.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ --

Hollyscoop.com, a popular online media outlet bringing millions of fans up-to-the minute celebrity, entertainment and fashion news, has announced today that they have teamed up with NowLive.com, a premiere social broadcasting network, to mark the first time in history that an online entertainment website will broadcast LIVE, interactively from the EMMY(R) AWARDS Red Carpet this Sunday, September 16, 2007.Hollyscoop's Interactive coverage of the 2007 Emmy(R) Awards, hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will kick off this Sunday at 2:30PM (PST), LIVE from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on both http://www.hollyscoop.com/ and http://www.nowlive.com/.

For the first time ever, Hollyscoop.com will bring its viewers the action from the Red Carpet as it happens. Powered by NowLive.com technology - viewers will have the ability to call-in and ask questions of those being interviewed on the Red Carpet through Hollyscoop.com's on-air talent, who will be plugged into an interactive module operated by Now Live Media. The LIVE call-in number for viewers and fans is 310-984-7600.

Hollyscoop.com was launched in 2006 by three LA native entertainment and fashion enthusiasts. What began as a blog run by Diana Magpapian, Nora Gasparian and Ani Esmailian, quickly grew into a hot fix for millions of entertainment and fashion news junkies from around the globe. Through deals with such popular online websites as YOUTUBE.COM, IMEEM.COM, LIVEVIDEO.COM and others, Hollyscoop's coverage reaches millions of eyeballs from around the world. Always ahead of the curve in the online media market, Hollyscoop.com was the first to bring its fans video coverage from red carpet events, exclusive back stage access engagements, top fashion shows and celebrity exclusives. Hollyscoop.com will once again make history this Sunday changing the way online entertainment news coverage is delivered forever.

For more information on Hollyscoop.com and Hollyscoop TV, please visit http://www.hollyscoop.com/.

For additional information on Now Live Media, please visit http://www.nowlive.com/. Source: Hollyscoop.com

CONTACT: Phil Viardo of VBX Group, +1-310-499-4848, phil@vbxgroup.com,

for Hollyscoop.com; or Crisel Ortiz of MSR Communications, +1-415-989-9000,crisel@msrcommunications.com, for NowLive.com
Web site: http://www.hollyscoop.com/ http://www.nowlive.com/