Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

While we're out walking the frogs, let's not forget the 40-50K folks on the East Coast who are still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Isabel. Though I'd previously decided to wait for a regime change before returning to Red Cross, guilt made me peruse the internal website, to see if they needed people to help. I was relieved to see they wanted only volunteers from the neighboring states as a cost-cutting move. (Just imagine the price of 500 people buying one-way tickets across country on one day's notice...and sending them back the same way.) You see, the Disaster Relief Fund is empty.

Something people don't always understand about the Red Cross is that they try to help equally. If Bill Gates' house burns down and he runs outside barefoot, Bill, if he chooses to accept it, will get a flat amount (say, $50) to replace his shoes (and other help as necessary). When an old, rat-infested tenement burns down, and the occupants run out barefoot, they get the same $50 each for shoes (and other help as necessary). So in past years, if you ever heard of a Red Cross surplus, it occurred because they'd given out everything they could by their rules. Remaining funds stayed with the area for future disasters. Disasters happen at an average 186 per day in this country. Most of them never make the papers, but when it's your house flooded or burned, it's the most important event in your life.

So if you've got money to spare, the Red Cross could put it to good use right away. You can give on their site or in those Coinstar machines that count your change for you. Grocery stores have them. The last time I was at Lowe's, they were matching donations to Red Cross donations made in their store.

Don't forget the animals, particularly this close to St. Francis' Day. They suffer as much as people in disasters. The Humane Society tries to rescue lost and abandoned pets in disaster, and they could use your spare change in this effort. Lots of lost and abandoned cats and dogs are wandering the East Coast.

Some officials will still tell you to leave your pets behind when you evacuate, but the HSUS is trying to get the word out that this is a bad idea. When you make disaster plans for your family, include your pets. Be aware that Red Cross shelters can't take in animals; you'll need to make other housing arrangements.

This has been a public service announcement sponsored by my cats.

5:17:02 PM    

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The Frog She Walks

Slightly later than I'd recommend for sincerity, Bush says the investigation is a good thing, though he doesn't see a need for the special investigation the Democrats (and I) are calling for. He assures us that if someone in his administration has broken the law, that person "will be taken care of." An unfortunate turn of phrase, considering how well his friends have been taken care of.

I enjoyed BuzzFlash's interview with John Dean, counsel to an administration not perceived as totally innocent. How's them for weasel words? Dean talks about the abuses and legal creep of the secrecy laws and says Ashcroft "reminds me of my former colleagues at the Nixon White House, and Justice Department, who were all 'law and order' until they found themselves on the wrong side of the law. I don't think John Ashcroft would want to be subject to his own policies." His opinion of Wilsongate? "...it is one of the dirtiest tricks I have seen."

Onward, frog-walk, on.

4:25:12 PM    

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China Loosens Up Marriage Rules. Couples no longer need their employers permission to marry, in a step forward for individual rights.

And here I've been griping about our health care and life insurance being tied employment. And about unemployment itself--in Iraq it's at 50% and there's rioting in the streets. It's always worse elsewhere.

Which doesn't make it good here.

4:09:32 PM    

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Proprietary software--banned in Boston?. The commonwealth of Massachusetts adopts a policy to favor open standards and open-source software in government computing projects. [CNET News.com - Front Door] Massachusetts was one of the most vociferous states calling for Microsoft's head. I like their attitude; I just hated living in their state.

4:00:29 PM    

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Track a Soda Can with GPS? [Slashdot] It's this contest, see? And they'll be able to track the winning can by its little GPS device. I'm not sure I want them to be able to do this, not with Patriot I passed and Patriot II up for discussion.

3:58:13 PM    

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Sir Elton's clear out raises £1.4m. Paintings, tablecloths, gold discs and Versace pillows belonging to pop star Sir Elton John raise more than £1.4m at auction. [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

Don't worry: he's not broke, just clearing stuff out so he can redecorate. Does anyone besides me have trouble prefixing that "Sir" in front of the names of those hip young stars of...er...yesteryear? Sir Elton, Sir Paul. Will we see Sir Mick?

Update: So there is a Sir Mick? Who's next? And have the lady songbirds been slighted? Do we have a Lady Petula?

3:53:51 PM    

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