I’ve been working with Union Rescue Mission (URM) recently. It’s the countries oldest and largest homeless shelter in the country serving over 20,000 meals to the poor and homeless of Skid Row weekly. The homeless community in LA County is at epidemic proportions with numbers ranging from 70-90,000 and URM and the other missions on Skid Row are leading the charge to equip individuals with skills and services to break the cycle. What I’ve been learning over the last few months is that homelessness is a complex issue. The reasons for a man, woman or family on the street are as diverse as the people themselves. One of the staggering statistics is that the average age of someone who is homeless on the streets of America is 9! I’ve had a chance to be at URM a lot more recently and what always strikes me when I come into their facility is that people are fighting for life and death on the streets all around them. It feels like the country gas station on the side of the road after a long journey and you’re almost out of gas. Having just recently traveled through the desert and almost breaking down, I can really appreciate that.

Over the past 6 months Chronicle Project has been working with URM capturing some of the stories of what’s happening at their facility and a glimpse into the lives of their residents. A few weeks back we launched a video podcast of these stories and the iTunes staff selected it as “New and Notable” and since then it’s been in the top 100 of Non-Profit Podcasts on the iTunes Network.

So here’s my encouragement - subscribe to this podcast, especially if the issue of homelessness is important to you. In the coming weeks we’ll be adding a video FAQ hosted by URM’s CEO Andy Bales as well as some seriously great stories about Skid Row’s finest.

Check out Stories from Skid Row and don’t be afraid to share it

So the rumors are flying about what Apple will be releasing this September. Alleged phone calls of insiders saying that financially they would be having an explosive quarter. And then it’s reported that Apple stores aren’t renewing iPod stock. Plus, subscription based iTunes and Leopard for PC’s!!!

Is it true and what does it mean?

iTunes Unlimited - The subscription thing sounds totally on the level, Apple is changing before it has to and that is always a good thing. It’s going to hurt current monthly music subscriptions like eMusic, Rhapsody, Amazon and other providers. If the reports of $129.95 for a year of the service are on the level I don’t think that’s too bad - but I may be on the far side of the pendulum swing. I haven’t bought a CD in years and my download dollars are in the thousands. Depending on how the service would work, users could see some real value. The ramifications would launch AppleTV well ahead of the pack. Even to the point that there wouldn’t be a need for regular cable, satellite, etc. It has potential to usher in the full TV On Demand model. If you gain access to all the shows listed on iTunes by paying for your subscription why wouldn’t the masses flock to get the HD Appliance. I tend to think there will be another shoe to drop on that. That’s too much to my benefit for what I think Apple normally does, but then again it would really do some hurt to Comcast and Cox and if they could do the same thing in the TV market as what they’ve done over the last year to the phone market - I’m in.

The 2nd quarter results - With the new iPhone 3G and over a million phones sold in 3 days kind of seals the deal, don’t you think?

New iPods - Pretty standard for September in Apple’s history. My guess would be that a newer larger iPod touch would only accentuate the iTunes Unlimited service. The larger size would accommodate for HD movies easier and allow for more music storage. Plus with touch, it allows all the 3G goodies of maps, GPS, and widgets.

Leopard on a PC - Why wouldn’t Apple make it’s move against Mojave, ahem, Vista? Microsoft got ginormous on software and with out the platform architecture limitation I think it’s a golden opportunity.

As with any kind of rumor there’s a good possibility that it’s all a house of cards and Apple is notorious for doing the “end around” drill. What do you think about Apple TV? What are the implications?

I’m starting some work with The Chronicle Project out of LA and with an upcoming project I’m doing music supervision for a series of short films. Chronicle Project got popular with their groundbreaking documentary on the HIV/AIDS situation in Swaziland. After scoring some seriously street cred at the film festivals it was picked up by Showtime.

Still being the relative newbie to L.A. Bands, I’m doing a bit of an open casting call in looking for some music for an upcoming shorts on the homeless situation in LA County. As far as style the big thing is that it’s instrumental. Hip-hop beats to experimental funk - I could use it all. The moods of the shorts varies from hard edged to really emotional.

If you’re band fits this criteria - I’d be very interested to hear your art.

Qualified Musicians will have:
Located in LA or call LA home.
A high quality record of their music.
Instrumental tracks or instrumental versions of current tracks.

Send me an email with a link to you myspace, website or ftp to listen to the tracks.

…out for now..
Dan Portnoy

This past week I had the chance to explore my inner nerd very publicly via The Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton. (Pictures coming soon) I was sent this today and thought I should share.

Thanks Grete!

I got a delivery of some goods in the mail yesterday and I’m looking forward to digging in. I get a fair amount of music for The Drop and that really makes my heart smile but yesterday I got some books. I’d been watching the mailbox for about a week waiting for Mark Batterson’s Wild Goose Chase . I know it sounds a little out of place for a guy like me but here’s the deal.

6 months ago when I debated making the move across the country and Mark Batterson’s first book (In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day) was recommended to me not just once but 3 or 4 times in the course of a couple of weeks. I read it on the plane out here and I’ve come back to it a few times during my time in L.A.

Now on a personal note, Mark is the pastor and friend of my brother Joe and he’s got nothing but nice things to say about Mark, I like that. In addition I’ve been hearing about the process from some of the other crew in the office at National Community Church in my travels over the last 6 months and it’s all been good. So I got the book and I’m looking forward to reading it but here’s the best part - I’ve got one for you too

The Books title is Wild Goose Chase, Why? I’m glad you asked, “Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’” I think this calls into question the whole “Old wives tale” thing - maybe there was more to that. You can pick up the book at Amazon.com or check out the site for the book here

The publishers sent me two and sharing is a good thing.. interested in a free book? OK.. then leave in the comments -here on or facebook- why you want the book, what’s your wild goose chase? It doesn’t have to be spiritual or even super deep, just honest. Give it a shot.