Sting Gets the Picture; Stones Get Out Their Ya Ya’s

Last week, around the time Sting told the AP’s Nekesa Moody how much he loved Barack Obama, he also did something unusual: launched a book of photos by pal Bobby Sager, the Boston mover and shaker who inspired NBC’s summer series, “The Philanthropist.” He even played a couple of songs for guests at a party thrown at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen studio on Greenwich Street.

Sager’s pics of children in Africa were used by Sting for the live video presentation during “Invisible Sun” on the Police reunion tour. It only makes sense that Sager would publish the photos now as “The Power of the Invisible Sun.” The book — in two different gift versions– is on sale at amazon.com and www.poweroftheinvisiblesun.com.

Proceeds from the sale go to a new charity called Hope Is A Game Changer Project. When you buy a book, an indestructible yellow soccer ball is automatically sent to a kid in Africa. The idea for the balls came from a picture Sager took in the Congo of a makeshift ball’ composed of garbage bags and string. The idea, of course, is to replace guns with soccer balls. It’s simple, and fairly inexpensive. And brilliant.

As for Sting, I loved what he said about Obama: “In many ways, he’s sent from God,” Sting joked, “because the world’s a mess.” He added: “I can’t think of anyone better qualified because of his background, his education, particularly in regard to Islam.”

Right on: now where are all the other Obama supporters speaking out? Now is the time. It’s only patriotic to support the president of the United States…

…Meantime: The box set of the Rolling Stones‘ “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out” has been released, and it’s a winner. The 40th anniversary edition includes unreleased Stones tracks from the famous 1969 concert, as well as the Maysles brothers’ breathtaking 28 minute film, unreleased music from B.B. King and Ike and Tina Turner, and the best version of “Satisfaction” ever recorded…Plus you get souvenir guitar pick…