Haiti – Earthquake
Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Before and After the Earthquake
The National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
An aerial view of the damaged National Cathedral in Haiti from a U.S. Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aircraft Jan. 14. Aerial images are providing U.S. military planners valuable situation awareness as they coordinate U.S. military support to the Haiti relief effort.
(Release by U.S. Southern Command)
The National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Before the Earthquake – it towered over the city
Gone now, and will it the Archbishop who was killed in the collapse
The tragedy that is the earthquake in Haiti will be will us for a long time. It is doubtful that much in this country is structurally sound, and the death toll and mass graves will continue to grow. Government is a fragile and propped up entity, consuming millions of dollars in aid and having little to show for it in this country of 10 million people.
The capitol, Port-au-Prince, is all but destroyed. The Presidential Palace, the Parliament Building, the National Cathedral, the UN Mission, the US Embassy, the missionary hospitals, schools and compounds, the prison – symbols of the societal structure are all gone. There is little, if any housing left in tact. There is no resource for food and water, since most Haitians in Port-au-Prince were dependent upon the structures that are gone.
Unknown is the devestation to the outlying areas of the majority of the country. Hopefully, the farm land areas have fared better and will be able to feed themselves.
This will be a money and resource pit for some time to come. Looting and gangland rivalries will create a dangerous atmosphere. The prisoners who escaped during the destruction of the the facility are free to wreak havoc. There is no law and order and no reports of a police presence. I hope that it does not fall to the US military and endanger our fine young people. Distribution of food and water is a difficult and dangerous thing.
Americans, once again, will dump money to make themselves feel generous. These are the same people that won’t walk next door and check on the elderly lady to be sure she is all right after a snow storm. Of course, our tax payer dollars are providing untold millions to the island nation, in addition to the cost of the military and the equipment, ships and planes they are bringing to the situation. We will, once again, give more than our share.
For those of you who are determined to give your money to Haiti, PLEASE – check the charity out on the Charity Watch sites – does the money go to administrative costs (like the American Red Cross), does the money go to the general fund of the charity for them to determine the use (like the American Red Cross), does the money actually go to the people of Haiti?
And, if you are so charitable, might I remind you that there are Americans in need as well. You might want to help at home, too.
The Twelve Days of Christmas ~ 2009
The 2009 PNC Christmas Price Index
The Cost of the Twelve Days of Christmas!
One Partridge in a Pear Tree
Two Turtle Doves$55.98
$45.00
Four Calling Birds$599.96
Five Gold Rings$499.95
Six Geese A-Laying$150.00
Seven Swans A-Swimming$5,250.00
Eight Maids A-Milking$58.00
Nine Ladies Dancing
$5,473.07
Ten Lords A-Leaping$4,413.61
Eleven Pipers Piping$2,284.80
Twelve Drummers Drumming
$2,475.20
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Political Fan Clubs are Ruining America
The LAST topic that I ever want to post on is Sarah Palin – but, she is going to have the week of overexposure in the extreme. As anyone who reads here knows, I am NOT a fan of Sarah Palin. And, I find her fan clubs especially annoying.
Her book debuts today, Tuesday, November 17. In a few short months she has put together a 400+ page tome. This week will be a flash of media attention with non-stop interviews with Barbara Walters and Oprah. We will get to listen to her voice screech across the musical scale like an 8-year-old with a new violin. Her non-musical giggling will assault our ears. We will also get to hear gossip and folksy words and her complete inability to articulate in the English language. Oh goodie!
Now, I am aware that giggly girls are a turn on for men – the dumb cheerleader routine and all – but, what happened to women’s brains? These were the girls who wrecked your life in high school and giggled when they did it, and now you are acting like Britney Spears is your best friend despite the fact that she stole your boyfriend….
No one has ever heard a policy stance from Sarah Palin. The mantra is “she’s a conservative” – based on what? What is her policy on the economy, on the middle east, on Iraq, on Afghanistan, on judicial appointments? You don’t know, because if she has any, she’s never said. She gave one rousing speech at the Republican Convention, then repeated the vapid thing over and over and over and over.
What do we know about Sarah Palin? Not much. I do know that she is given a pass for everything Obama-like she does, and they are more similar than you think – oops, you’re not thinking.
I am also not a fan of Obama. In fact this entire Fan Club atmosphere around politicians, making them into celebrities, refusing to see them as human, is about as detrimental as it can get in America. I want people who govern us to be analyzed and criticized. We are currently living under a President who sees himself more as a dictator than as a President. Sarah Palin is no different, and perhaps worse. She whines about being the VP candidate in such a way that confirms that she had no clue what her role was. Lady, you were NOT on the top of the ticket. VP candidates don’t give concession speeches, you idiot.
Gawd, this is going to be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG week.
Soupy Sales ~ Farewell
Soupy Sales has died – and I hope he is eternally surrounded by the joy and laughter that he gave people.
Yes, I remember Soupy Sales… and, it is a memory that includes, with great fondness, family that is now distant and cold.
Soupy was 83 years old. He was known for his large bow tie (and none of us knew the color in the days of black and white tv) and the pies in the face. His sidekicks were White Fang (the meanest dog in the United States) and Black Tooth (the nicest dog in the United States). Famous entertainers were willing to go on his show and get their pies in the face alongside Soupy – people like Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Shirley McClaine.
He did his “kids show” live – over 5,300 shows. I remember it coming on at 3pm – as we got home from school. My cousin practically lived for it.
One time Soupy got himself suspended for telling the kids to empty their mothers’ purse and mail him all the pieces of green paper bearing pictures of the presidents.
Thank you for the laughter you brought into our world!
Woodstock ~ Then and Now
Yep, I remember – Peace, Love, Dope!
Actually, for people not there, it was a blip on the news wire – it was the after effect that was interesting. It became important as it became a money maker. The movie pushed it to fame!
I would encourage you to read a first time remembrance http://www.newsweek.com/id/211496
The actually event was crowded and without enough facilities, food and water. It rained. It was muddy. But, it had music and those were the days when musicians struggled and teens scraped their allowances together to go see them. The musicians were not yet multi-millionaires. The tickets were affordable. The music was raw.
I was a continent and part of the Pacific away from Woodstock – but the legacy trickled down. It was more the end of an era, rather than the beginning of one. Spontaneity is no longer part of music – everything is highly orchestrated and expensive.
Woodstock today is known as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
I would encourage you to take the I-Tour of the place – http://bethelwoodscenter.org/about/itour.aspx – the young people of 40 years ago would not be welcome in this place of money and the social elite. But, it has a Woodstock “Memorial” and “Museum”!
JFK, Jr ~ 10 Years Gone
It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since JFK, Jr died in a plane crash, caused by his own pilot error. Also killed were his wife and sister-in-law.
It’s odd, as his life had no real historical significance, that I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it came on the news that the plane was missing. I was in a motel room, finishing tallies from a fleece competition before I headed back to the fairgrounds. I never get near that motel that I don’t think of that morning.
Those of us old enough to remember the real thing and those who remember the iconic photo of John-John saluting during his father’s funeral procession had hopes that his would be a life lived as a replacement to his fathers. But, it was not to be.
Gail Storm ~ Thanks for the Laughs!
"My Little Margie"
Charles Farrell and Gail Storm
The Gail Storm Show
“Susannah and Captain Huxley”
Gail Storm, actress and singer, passed away on June 27, 2009.
I accidentally stumbled across a brief note about her passing. She lived to be 87. Had she died sooner or in a more dramatic way than living a full life, her passing might have been noticed by more people.
I remember Gail Storm from “The Gail Storm Show” in the fifties. She was Susannah, the meddling social director on a cruise ship. I also remember her from “My Little Margie” which I got to see in reruns if I was home sick.
Prior to television, she was in movies, including westerns with Audie Murphy, Roy Rogers and George Montgomery. She had best selling records with I Hear You Knocking, Teenage Prayer and Dark Moon. Later in life, she did cameos in Burke’s Law, Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote. She was active in stage – credits included South Pacific, Finian’s Rainbow and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
I remember laughter and smiles. I remember joy. I remember Gail Storm.
In a week where celebrities were falling down around us – Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, Fred Travalena, Michael Jackson – the passing of Gail Storm will probably not be noticed by many. But, I noticed. And, I am thankful that I grew up in a time when her lively humor gave us something to laugh at and smile about.
In her time, she was well-known and well-loved, earning three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Thank you, Miss Storm!
Jack Kemp ~ Walk with God
Jack Kemp
A man of Football and Politics
A man of Faith and Freedom
After a fight with cancer, Jack Kemp has gone to his Father’s House.
America was richer for having him with us. His honest analysis about our country and her politics was always refreshing. He used his gifts to make our country a better place.
You will be missed, sir. Thank you for all you did.
About
The Flying Monkeys!
This is my place to rant.
Most of the time, my rants are valid.
Once Dorothy liberated the Flying Monkeys
they became a force for good in OZ.
Now, they are here!
Oh My!
Don't Make Me Get the Flying Monkeys!!!! 