We Californians can watch the Weather Channel for images of winter's brutality unleashed upon our fellow Americans and thank our lucky stars we don't have to contend with it.

Without the blues, modern music would be nothing like it is now - not remotely.

I enjoy helping. I like doing benefits and things like that, but don't feel the need to be thanked or even meet the people I am doing the benefit for.

I got three letters today telling me that I'm god. Why can't I pay the rent?

I work pretty much every day. I can't really separate it from life, so I guess the work is my life.

No magic. I do believe you might have taken it all with you when you went away.

Since the last tour I have done a lot of extensive travel to Iraq, Kuwait, Siberia, South Korea and other places and picked up some hopefully interesting stories. We are living in interesting times and as bad as things are, I draw considerable inspiration from some of the things I'm seeing and people I'm meeting. I'm looking forward to getting out on the road and talking about it all.