7.0 Earthquake Tuesday in Haiti

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[old salt]

Rush Limbaugh; not content with maligning the President's efforts in Haiti, not content with maligning contributions to aid Haitian relief, on Friday's radio program maligned the U.S. Military for their efforts in saying that "the U.S. Military has become meals on wheels for the Haitians."  This subhuman has no place in our society.  I sent him a letter today to his home address.  You can find it by Googling Rush Limbaugh's address.  I can only say i wasn't very nice.  I am a 20 year Navy Veteran and what he said of the Military hit home with me.

Larry Beck
USN Retired

[Lani]

Good job, Old Salt!

I'm steeling myself for much more hate talk from him and the haters like him.  Those dear people have suffered so much, now injured, traumatized, starving and thirsty.  There will be chaos and a fight for the few supplies before things get better.  Who wouldn't do whatever they could to feed their families?  But we know what people filled with hate will say.

On the other hand, there are also reports of tent cities where life is going on and resources are being shared.  Which is remarkable and deserves at least equal press coverage.

[futurexpat?]

I really hate to post this but it is part of the unfolding story.  I'm only giving the link for those who want to follow it, no quotes. 

Retribution swift and brutal for Haiti's looters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/17/retribution-lynching-haiti-looters

I've talked to someone who has worked in Haiti to help in schools there, and she has said that they are a really lovely people. But Haiti, given its history, has probably seen more than its share of brutality, too. I am sure both sides are going to be in full view.

[Forty Watt]

  old salt.

Let's hope this poor excuse for a human being is finally going to go too far.  I'm not holding my breath, but I am hoping.

[daMamma]

Bravo Old Salt.  That man really needs to be knocked down a peg or two.  Unfortunately I doubt it will have any effect at all.  He will simply continue on as always.  Such a shock he is in for when he has to account for his words and deeds on his own 'judgment day'

Oh, and thank you so much for your service.  It really does mean so much more than words can express.

[Lani]

With millions hungry, thirsty, and homeless, it's hard to comprehend how difficult the task is.  But I found a piece of good news. 

Despite complaints about delays in landing and unloading planes, the airport is functioning brilliantly.  Pre-earthquake, 30 to 35 flights landed per day.  Now 100 planes can be landed every day.  That's not enough to keep up with demand, with some landings delayed for up to a day.  But it is still an amazing feat which shows the dedication and competancy of the men and women who reopened and are managing the airport. 

[boodog]

Thank you Old Salt, for your letter and your service.

[Sirenoftitan]

Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jet ski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks.

The 4,370-berth Independence of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International, disembarked at the heavily guarded resort of Labadee on the north coast on Friday; a second cruise ship, the 3,100-passenger Navigator of the Seas is due to dock.

Cruise ships still find a Haitian berth by Robert Booth, The Guardian

This just doesn't feel right. 

[Sirenoftitan]

News stories about Haiti are full of tales of looters. There’s less talk of a bigger scale plunder to come. In Naomi Klein’s ‘The Shock Doctrine‘ she maps the rise of “disaster capitalism”. She describes how, over 40 years, The International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pentagon, and various mega-corporations have increasingly used (or created) disasters as an excuse to push through unpopular right wing economic policies, and asset strip vulnerable economies.

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/no-shock-doctrine-for-haiti/

[Lani]

Another smile in troubled times.  I found this courtesy of Crooks & Liars:

PAT ROBERTSON VOODOO DOLL! Proceeds Go To Haiti relief http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190365539998&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

After an exclusive deal with devil, we are finally able to bring black magic into your very own home!  The lucky winner of this auction will attain the soul of Televangelist PAT ROBERTSON in a handheld figurine comprised of the finest straw, cloth, and other organic natural materials! 

Ever wanted to cause Pat Robertson a massive headache?  give him back pain?  jab him in the crotch?   Of course you have!  Well then BID NOW to own your very own pysical representation of the dark, dark soul of Pat Robertson.

Don't miss the Q&A at the bottom of the listing.

Due to popular demand, a Limbaugh voodoo doll is also available:

Because you demanded it!!  A RUSH LIMBAUGH VOODOO DOLL!!

We've made another deal with the devil (He makes great deals!) and this time captured the soul of popular radio personality and convicted felon RUSH LIMBAUGH, putting it into a voodoo doll that fits right in your pocket!

Ever wanted to cause Rush Limbaugh to lose his voice?  Have him sprain an ankle?  Come down with a rash in his bathing suit area?  Of course you have!!!  Well then BID NOW to own your very own physical representation of the cold, empty soul of Rush Limbaugh.

It comes with its own bottle of oxycontin.  Again, the Q&A is worth reading.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RUSH-LIMBAUGH-VOODOO-DOLL-Proceeds-Go-To-Haiti-relief_W0QQitemZ190366170029QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c52b53bad

All proceeds go to the Red Cross, btw.  Talk about creative fundraising!

[Sirenoftitan]

    

Loved the Q&As 

[daMamma]

That is so totally rude.  I Love It!   

Voodoo dolls.  I can't in my wildest dreams imagine that wouldn't freak those two out.  Too funny and so well deserved. 

 

[Forty Watt]

I love all the Q & As, but my favorite is this, re. Pat Robertson doll:

Q: Is there any way that you could split his soul like Voldemort? The difference would be that you could do more good things and then there could be 7 Voodoo dolls?
A: Afraid not. Voldermort is a fictional character. This doll is real.
   

[Lani's link above]

[judi]

THANK YOU Old Salt for sending a letter and for your service to our country

Thank You all in the military Meals on Wheels program...
Thank You for bringing food and water to those who would surely die without it
thank you for making the airport usable so that supplies, food, water, medicine and people can get in to help
Thank you for providing some security so that the doctors and workers with food, water, medicine and other supplies can get to the people

In my mind, this is the finest use of our military

[juneaudream]

A fine area of commentary..and a thought..whilst here..have each of us..the 'starter kit'..for our own survival..in any eventualitys..of 72 hours of family supplys? Then..does one have a SECOND 'kit'..in another somewhat safe/acces. place? We cannot learn from history..if we do not..each time..extrapolate/improve-tweak..our individual life.  Water avail..sort of a mormon supply changing series of shelf items..and in our case..the supply kits in our car trunks.  Most of us would go down..if caught..as we may be..at this exact..Moment..and the terms ..woulda-coulda-shoulda..come to mind.

[pacos_gal]

I came across the story of Fernand Sajous this morning.  He was in the earthquake, dug out family members and made a long journey back to his home. 

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/18/haiti-quake-survivor-from-heaven-to-hell-and-back/

Sajous, a 56-year-old retired U.S. Army communications specialist, was driving home from the airport in Port- au-Prince around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday when the crushing earthquake hit. The next 60 hours was a nightmarish, 200-mile road trip from the north side of the island to the south that he survived thanks to providence, luck, military training, his 2008 Isuzu pickup truck and his 9mm pistol.

[Aeroentropy]

Regarding the Robertson and Limbaugh Voodoo dolls -  I checked how much of that donation goes to Red Cross, and it appears that the Seller will be keeping $12.50 plus 10% (If my multi-variable algebraic equasion solving skills still work...!).  

Send your money straight to ARC or MSF please!

 

(Karma will take care of the two of them eventually!)

[Forty Watt]

Regarding the Robertson and Limbaugh Voodoo dolls -  I checked how much of that donation goes to Red Cross, and it appears that the Seller will be keeping $12.50 plus 10% (If my multi-variable algebraic equasion solving skills still work...!).  

Send your money straight to ARC or MSF please!

Oops!  I guess I didn't think of this as anything but an amusing story.  I never thought of the issue of folk actually bidding on the dolls, which was a bit dense of me as they patently are.

You are so right, Aero.

[Aeroentropy]

Oops!  I guess I didn't think of this as anything but an amusing story.  I never thought of the issue of folk actually bidding on the dolls, which was a bit dense of me as they patently are.

Doesn't mean they aren't funny, though!

How about a nice snowy-day family project with the kids - make your own!  
(and then donate to MSF, ARC, etc..)

[Jaime from Wasilla]

Besides, everyone knows a voodoo doll only works if you have some of the persons hair or fingernails.   Besides, why would you want a Limbaugh or Robertson doll unless it was for real voodoo. I don't want one of them sitting on a shelf or in a closet in my house. Too much like Chucky, or the creepy clown in that USPS ad.