This is President Obama’s inaugural speech as issued by Times Online : http://www.timesonline.co.uk

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.

The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land – a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America – they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.

Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things – some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began.

Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished.

But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions – that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act – not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions – who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans.

Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account – to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day – because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill.

Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control – and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart – not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.

And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort – even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.

With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment – a moment that will define a generation – it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

Please feel free to copy / rip / forward and send on my VIRTUAL BUSKING email to all the guys from ‘HOUSE’ that you are still in contact with . ha ha . long time.

its so awesome to have you guys all over the world supporting this innitiative and getting my music out there.

chat soon .

T

1 – Register your email address above and click submit.
2 – Check that you have been successfully subscribed on the confirmation page. It will have a little yellow notice saying that you have been successfully subscribed.

3 – Check your email INBOX. Your personal download email should be waiting for you . You can download the music at anytime and you can forward the download email to your friends who will also be able to download the album. just like you can. The email is also small so it wont block their in-boxes with the music.
4 – Click the Download Full Album link. This will take you to MEDIAFIRE where you will be able to access the files for download.
5 – MEDIAFIRE hosts my music and will list all the various songs that you can download. So… Click the individual TRACK NAMES.. the track names for each track will take you to the download page.

6 – Simply Click the Download LINK for each track and repeat the process for the other tracks. Save the downloaded tracks to your computer. Add Tristan’s music to your library of music and remember to share it with all your friends.

7 – REMEMBER – Send the download email on to your friends all over the world so that they can download it too.
Leave a nice comment on this website and make a donation if you can.

Thats it.. if you have other difficulties accessing the downloads please leave Tristan a comment and let him know so he can fix it.

Its a really wonderfull experience to open a letter.. and discover a CD that is not only being sold for a good cause but that also contains one of my songs .  ‘The Mack‘ from the ‘Hay day’ album has made a surprise appearence in this Sweedish fundraising project.

Its a charity fundrasing compilation album by Afrika Grupperna that contains both South African and Sweedish artists.

My very special thanks to Maja and Lisa for including me in their project.  Thank you.

Visit their website here http://afrikagrupperna.se or read the website translation below.

Please support this cause and order a copy .

Order the CD!

“Africa is not a country”

For the second year in a row, we have Färnebo Students produced a support disk with a beautiful collection of songs from the Swedish and South African current artists.

By purchasing this CD, you’ll help us raise money for African communities Southern Africa Collection.

Who are Färnebo folk High School?
We who compiled this disc are at the Gothenburg branch of Färnebo folk High School.  Schools want to arouse interest and commitment to fair questions, but also spread knowledge about the opportunities to influence and change locally and globally. We are 16 students who made a four months long training courses in South Africa. Back in Sweden we have looked at outreach information and collection campaigns. This disc is part of this work. For a great price, you can listen to Miss Li, Jens lay, Zoro, The Tough Alliance and many more in the entire 19 tracks!

Order the CD!

What does the money go from the disc to?
Africa group supports fifty projects in five countries in southern Africa. Here are some of the projects the money goes to:
Angola: Malanjeprogrammet operated in cooperation with the Angolan rural development and environmental organization ADRA. The program includes counseling and micro-credit for rural development and training for the development of local associations.

Mozambique: In Cuamba comprises the activities of a clinic for voluntary hivtest and a Young. Activists have been trained and cooperation are of different compounds for outgoing information via radio, in schools and in society. From 2008, the African Group’s support focused on the two patient associations of HIV-positive, in cooperation with health care is developing a home program. Education on HIV / AIDS, sexuality and gender is an important part of work.
South Africa: Africa Groups supports four country organizations working for the South African government’s land reform program must be implemented, for local democracy in rural areas and to the people there to be able to create a better life.

thank you thank you .. today i received my largest donation to date for my music $50 . how awesome is that?

Thank you for helping me to keep making music and for allowing my music to travel.

Mr Neil .. you rock . thank you. thank you.. USA here i come.

T

What is Virtual Busking?

busk - to entertain by dancing, singing, or reciting on the street or in a public place for donations. Virtual busking is to entertain via the internet for donations.

Hello everyone.  So as you can tell im trying something completely new.

I have come to realise that music and its distribution is rapidly shifting form . Gone are the days of the standard ‘get your music in a store’ model.  Further more getting your music out and around the world is far more important than having a couple of albums sold..

The manufacturing costs of physical albums can make physical distribution too expensive etc etc..

Most of the music that people have on their little ipods they have copied from their friends and thats just they way it is.

There is little point in moaning about the fact that people arent buying music any more either.

The only real option is to get your music out into the world as best as you can. The internet is the obvious way forward.

So .. download my album and share it with your friends and family.. The email is nice easy to forward.

Im traveling through my little life and i love the idea of my music traveling arround the world too.

Think of someone far away that you think should have my music and send them the download email.

Please leave me a comment and let me know where you are from .

This is going to be an adventure for me and my music.

PANSA Western Cape’s We All Benefit Sunday 1 June, raised over R70 000 for Victims of Xenophobic Violence

“Our artists opened their hearts and in doing so touched those of the audience. From Brett Bailey’s provocative display in the foyer, to Mbali Kgosidintsi’s honest and touching poem, to Oliver Mtukudzi’s quiet genius, to “Corne’s” swapping of audience shoes… we went on a very unique journey. Melodic sounds, foot stomping, tears, raucous laughter: the We All Benefit was a tribute to the wealth of culture born in Africa, and available to us in South Africa… ”

Quite an experience .. the red velvet opens and suddenly i find myself confronted by 1500 people who are expecting me to sing…. what the…?

Overtone Music is proud to announce that Tristan Waterkeyn Trio has officially started a mini tour in the Western Cape area of South Africa. During the next two months, the band will be promoting compositions from the album “Hay Day”, with a newly arranged show that promises to captivate even the most skeptical of listeners. Covering Cape Town, Rondebosch, Muizenberg, Stellenbosch and Durbanville, the trio plans to create awareness of their “not so conventional”musical approach before hitting the road nationwide in mid August.

Through the combination of styles such as Pop, Funk and Bossa with splashes of Latin and Rock beats, the band is capable to adjust their performance to the most intimate venue or the rockiest music club. This power trio performs a compilation of smooth compositions, shown off at their best courtesy of the exquisite clarity of the production and the simplicity of its arrangements.

With years of expertise in the American music industry, producer & performer Jay Sandoval has assisted the band for the live performances of “Hay Day” creating a more dynamic and up-beat approach in each song, trying yet to keep the original sound of the album in which participated musicians of the caliber of Tony Cox or Steve Newman to name a few.

Tristan Waterkeyn Trio has recently finished a 3 week residency at Zula Sound Bar, where bands like Mama Know Nothing, The Beams and Joshua Grierson were featured as opening acts. The band’s upcoming shows are:

- Sun Jun 1st, Joburg Bar (Cape Town)

- Wed Jun 4th, Mercury Lounge (Zonnebloem)

- Thu Jun 5th, Durbanville Kunskafee (Durbanville) with Joshua Grierson

- Sat Jun 14th, Fogeys Railway House (Muizenberg)

- Wed Jun 19th, Cafe Sofia (Rondebosch)

- Tue Jun 24th, Die Boer (Durbanville)

- Sat Jun 28th, Dorp Straat Theatre (Stellenbosch)

- Fri Jul 4th, Corner Bar (Durbanville)

For more information about Tristan Waterkeyn Trio, please visit:

www.overtone.co.za

www.myspace.com/tristanwaterkeyn

The simplicity of Tristan’s music is supported by the quality of the musicians in this international band. Together, they provide audiences with a delightful experience, especially to those who are looking for a touch of classy instrumental style.

Make sure to check one of the Trio’s shows near you, it’s not just another show, it’ll definitely be… something else.