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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / January 2005Purrs to the people in SE Asia
Death toll keeps climbing. News gets worse. I've seen footage of places I spent time in when I was there. (Spent a winter in Thailand in '94/'95)... Spots around Krabi, Rai Lay & Ko Phi Phi .... are just GONE!!! Can't imagine what's going on in the Maldives.... 6 meter waves hitting islands who's highest point is 3 meters above sea level. Purrs, prayers & hopes going out to all who are there.  SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > Death toll keeps climbing. News gets worse. I've seen footage of places I > spent time in when I was there. (Spent a winter in Thailand in '94/'95)... > Spots around Krabi, Rai Lay & Ko Phi Phi .... are just GONE!!! Can't > imagine what's going on in the Maldives.... 6 meter waves hitting islands > who's highest point is 3 meters above sea level. Purrs, prayers & hopes > going out to all who are there. It's awful to see all the emails and posts of people looking for fathers and sons and daughters and in laws that they have not heard from since Christmas :( It is truly horrendous. > > Death toll keeps climbing. News gets worse. I've seen footage of places I > > spent time in when I was there. (Spent a winter in Thailand in '94/'95)... [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > sons and daughters and in laws that they have not heard from since Christmas > :( It is truly horrendous. I'm afraid that for some, purrs are far too late, and for others, a life raft would be of more immediate help. It's a horrendous tragedy. Donations to the Red Cross and any and all relief organizations are urgently needed. I stayed out of the US bashing thread, but I have to say, I'm embarrassed that my country has only coughed up 35 million for aid in this monumental disaster thus far when just days ago, we spent 53 billion on a missile defense test that completely fizzled. If we want to improve our international image, leading the way in disaster relief would be an excellent place to start, as help is going to be urgently needed for a long time. /rant mode off, Melissa >> in article twqAd.15542$Y72.6461@edtnps91, Mathew Kagis at > winesnob@telus.net [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > long > time. I agree. Just after I finished bragging about my country it does something shameful like this! Hugs, CatNipped > /rant mode off, > > Melissa >>> in article twqAd.15542$Y72.6461@edtnps91, Mathew Kagis at >> winesnob@telus.net [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > CatNipped Then it is just up to us citizens to donate to the organizations that need to get supplies over there! That is what is really the country, not just our government. >> I agree. Just after I finished bragging about my country it does something >> shameful like this! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > to get supplies over there! That is what is really the country, not just our > government. Agreed. Why *should* the govt be donating? It just adds a lot of beaurocracy, red tape, and political crap. It's much more efficient for individuals to donate to disaster funds themselves. The US govt is in debt up to the tops of our 80s-frizzed hair. Just like an individual in debt, the govt needs to scale back on optional expenses (including charitable causes) and focus on paying off that debt. Individuals, on the other hand, can give, and know that the money is going where *they* want it to go. Signaturemonique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH with an attitude! >> in article twqAd.15542$Y72.6461@edtnps91, Mathew Kagis at > winesnob@telus.net [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Melissa I'm afraid this will be another one of those PR disasters the US is prone to. Will be criticized that 35 isn't enough, while totally ignoring the contributions of individuals and companies. Jo >>> in article twqAd.15542$Y72.6461@edtnps91, Mathew Kagis at >> winesnob@telus.net [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Jo Yep, but really, if our government can spend 53 billion on a missile defense test (when there isn't another super-power nation in the world right now to threaten us, a "hyper"-power nation), then 35 million does seem a bit paltry when you're looking at a disaster that has claimed well over a hundred thousand lives already and is threatening millions more. It's one thing to claim government indebtedness and say we can't afford more if we really were trying to curb government spending, but if we can afford 53 billion on defense against some nebulous threat taking potential victims, I think we could shell out a little more for a real disaster taking actual lives. I don't mean to start another political argument (and now I guess I would be on the opposite side of what I argued before), but I really am ashamed that the US is not doing more to help out those people whose lives have been devastated. Hugs, CatNipped > I'm afraid this will be another one of those PR disasters the US is prone > to. Will be criticized that 35 isn't enough, while totally ignoring the > contributions of individuals and companies. Well, just like you shouldn't blame the people of the US for the awful things the government of the US does, you can't credit the US goverment for the good things the people of the US do. :) Yes, the US gives a lot of money and yes, it could give more. SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > I'm afraid this will be another one of those PR disasters the US is prone > to. Will be criticized that 35 isn't enough, while totally ignoring the > contributions of individuals and companies. > > Jo You're porbably right, Jo. Here in Canada, it seems we shamed our Govt. into stepping up to the plate. Initially Parliment pledged $4m & a planeload of supplies (One Herc. aircraft). After A MASSIVE outcry (& just before private donaions outpaced the Govt. one) Our Govt. upped the $$ to 40m. We have a bit of a contreversy over one of our military units @ the moment.... D.A.R.T. (disaster assistance response team)... Supposed to be a rapid deployment unit, with water purifiers, doctors, feild hospitals, mobile kitchens SAR technitians...etc... Well, our 'rapid' deployment unit is still on the ground, while our Minister of Defence announced he was sending 'Military Advisors' to affected areas, to make recomendations on how & where to deploy our aid resources.... STUPID F%$#@*& beurocrats!!!! SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > > I'm afraid this will be another one of those PR disasters the US is prone > > to. Will be criticized that 35 isn't enough, while totally ignoring the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > sending 'Military Advisors' to affected areas, to make recomendations on how > & where to deploy our aid resources.... STUPID F%$#@*& beurocrats!!!! In some defence of the slowness of all of this, I truly believe the area in need is SO huge that they are having a hard time figuring out who needs what and where. I really hope the next two days bring some ability to get stuff out to the more remote areas. IT is such a mess. Did you all see the coast nearest the quake yesterday?? I don't believe anyone survived that and I'm pretty sure that's where the last dramatic jump in death toll came in. >>> in article twqAd.15542$Y72.6461@edtnps91, Mathew Kagis at >> winesnob@telus.net [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Jo Funny you should say that, Jo. The British people have already given over 16.5 million pounds compared to the government's 15. I can't afford much just now as I've been off work for a year, but in the hope of soon going back and earning again, I went into the nearest place that had an Oxfam shop and emptied out my purse. I know straight away that a purse in the USA is what we call a handbag, this is the little zip up and press stud thingie that holds my notes and change. Is it a wallet in the USA? A wallet in the UK is just a foldover leather thing for notes that a man has, he keeps his change in his pocket. Anyway, I gave what I had. It wasn't much, but I hope it might make a bit of difference. It all adds up, after all. I think our government might have been a bit shamed that the people gave more that they did, they've upped their aid to 50 million. I have to try hard not to let this disaster sink right into my mind, otherwise I'll have nightmares. I was already awake last night from nearly 4 until after 6 thinking about it. Imagining it. The waves coming in and sweeping away your loved ones. Aaargh. It seems like I'll be going back to work (after a year) on January 4th. I will need to get up about 6.30 so I must be able to sleep from around midnight until the alarm goes off. Doesn't seem too likely right now. Ah, well. How lucky I am. My house has not been swept away and I am not afraid of tidal waves as I live just about as far away from the coast as it's possible to get. All my family are alive and well. So, if thinking about what happened keeps me awake and I'm very tired to get up to do a day's work, at least I haven't drowned and have a job to go to. (Please excuse Pollyanna mode) It's the only way I can cope with this awful tragedy. Tweed . > Anyway, I gave what I had. It wasn't much, but I hope it might make a bit > of difference. It all adds up, after all. Definitely. I was thinking earlier on, if everyone in the UK gave just one pound, we would have over 50 million just like that. If every American gave just one dollar, that's over 200 million dollars. Every little bit really does add up. No amount too small (or too big, of course). > I think our government might have been a bit shamed that the people gave > more that they did, they've upped their aid to 50 million. I agree! And even that is such a small amount compared to what they spend on some unnnecessary things - we won't mention the Millennium Dome, shall we!! Deb. Signaturehttp://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield > I know straight away that a purse in the USA is what we call a handbag, >this is the little zip up and press stud thingie that holds my notes and >change. That's a purse. Coin purse, sometimes. I think the difference here (Middle Tennessee) between a purse and a handbag is size. Some "handbags" are well on their way to "satchel." The ladies get pretty specifc about such things. They carry clutches, for example, that aren't attached to cars, but are really itty bitty purses that cost plenty more than an ordinary purse. Sometimes women's purses are called pocket books, but then sometimes refrigerators are called ice boxes. The people who call "ice boxes" "fridges" aren't natives. The worn piece of leather that carries my driver's license and currency is a wallet. >> I know straight away that a purse in the USA is what we call a handbag, >>this is the little zip up and press stud thingie that holds my notes and [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > refrigerators are called ice boxes. The people who call "ice boxes" > "fridges" aren't natives. <confused> > The worn piece of leather that carries my driver's license and > currency is a wallet. A wallet is a fold over piece of leather like you describe. A purse is a small pouch with a switch catch that you keep change in, or a bigger, posher version that can hold notes and credit cards too, twice as big. A handbag is something else. It can be big or small, and holds your purse inside, plus a lot of other things. My handbag holds my address book, my purse, cheque book, waterproof hat, shampoo sachet, conditioner sachet (don't ask), magnifying glass, sea shells, comb, hairbrush, calculator, letters, utility bills and more. And yours holds, you girls?? <vbg> Tweed >>>I know straight away that a purse in the USA is what we call a handbag, >>>this is the little zip up and press stud thingie that holds my notes and [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Tweed Hmmm. My handbag (which I call a purse) contains a small 2002 calendar/planner which contains my list of telephone numbers, sunglasses, hairstick/emergency weapon, pen, cell phone, sample tube of hand cream, bottle of eye drops, lip balm, band aids, miscellaneous coupons (half of which are probably expired), a wallet (men's bifold style) and other assorted stuff :) Signatureelise >Hmmm. My handbag (which I call a purse) contains a small 2002 >calendar/planner which contains my list of telephone numbers, >sunglasses, hairstick/emergency weapon, pen, cell phone, sample tube of >hand cream, bottle of eye drops, lip balm, band aids, miscellaneous >coupons (half of which are probably expired), a wallet (men's bifold >style) and other assorted stuff :) When I worked as an outside technician, visiting our own and customer locations, I would get by with car keys, wallet, and pocket knife. When I lost some of my mobility and became an inside tech, mostly sitting at a workstation terminal, I started to carry a briefcase. I'd put its contents of things I'd never need up against most women with the largest and fullest purses in any contest of useless junk that got carried around every day. <g> Just out of curiosity, you mentioned an emergency weapon. Would it be out of place to ask what it was? I hope it was at least a .38 caliber. I rarely carried before I retired (and still rarely do), but when I worked an off-shift in a bad area or in one of our locations without the usual security guard, that .45 on my hip felt mighty comfortable. Regards and Purrs, O J O J <ojtb@pacbell.BOGUS.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Purses & handbags was Re: Purrs to the people in SE Asia: >When I worked as an outside technician, visiting our own and customer >locations, I would get by with car keys, wallet, and pocket knife. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >with the largest and fullest purses in any contest of useless junk >that got carried around every day. <g> [chuckle] My husband, when working steadily at an indoor job, carried a stuffed-to-the-gills gym bag with anything he thought he *might possibly* need during the workday. My purse [that big bag everything else goes into] is nowhere near that bad. Hmmm, let me check current inventory: two pieces of today's mail and directions to a friend's home [both have now been removed :-)] keyring wallet [the object I carry money, cards, and checkbook in. It also currently contains a pen and my monthly transit pass (must buy new one)] holder for my sunglasses [I have the kind that clip onto my prescription glasses. The sunglasses themselves are drying after a Liquid Lense treatment] Spanish/English dictionary [which has come in handy a couple of times. I do live in California, thus encountering a significant number of Spanish-speakers whose English isn't much better than my limited Spanish :-)] feminine needs electronic Spanish/English translator [found on sale, it's really more of a toy than anything else :-)] pair of knit gloves [they're a winter resident and will likely be relocated come summer] PDA Chapstick Walkie-talkie [DH has the other. They do come in handy in large stores.] Flashlight [small MagLite] Emery board Nail buffer Protein bar Nail clippers Pen Pencil Some of these [wallet, PDA, walkie-talkie, sunglasses, keyring] get transferred when necessary to the bigger tote bag I use when traveling by public transit. I use that bigger bag to accomodate the schedule book, a transit system map, and a city map, in addition to duplicates of various small items found in my purse. The big bag also currently holds spare batteries for the walkie-talkie, my MP3 player, and the flashlight [must remember to restock my smaller purse with spare batteries]. Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL >>Hmmm. My handbag (which I call a purse) contains a small 2002 >>calendar/planner which contains my list of telephone numbers, [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Regards and Purrs, > O J A weapon is not always a gun :) This one is a hairstick. Looks kind of like a chopstick. It's often made of wood with some sort of decoration (such as a bead) on the larger end and is used to secure one's hair in a variety of upswept styles. In this case it's about 6 inches long made of steel and has a very, very sharp point. Not much of a weapon but in a pinch you could probably do some damage with it. I hope I never need to find out. I've never cared for guns in any case. I've always liked bladed weapons, as does DH. We have a rack of swords on the living room wall and for Christmas I ordered custom made pieces for DH: a 12" dagger and a 5" eating knife :) SignatureElise (supervised by Gossamer & Jeeves) pics: http://photos.yahoo.com/dragonandthistle@snet.net >>> Hmmm. My handbag (which I call a purse) contains a small 2002 >>> calendar/planner which contains my list of telephone numbers, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > a very, very sharp point. Not much of a weapon but in a pinch you > could probably do some damage with it. I can hear my mother now - "You could put an eye out with that!" If it's very sharp on the end it's what I'd call a hat-pin :) I have a nice collection of Victorian-era ones but I don't carry one around in my handbag. Jill >>A weapon is not always a gun :) >>This one is a hairstick. Looks kind of like a chopstick. It's often [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jill I tried to take a picture but they're coming out very blurry (and the kitty assistance is no help). I'll have DH try later when he takes a break from attempted world domination.(1) It's a piece of 1/8" square steel 6 1/2" long. The center 5" is twisted back and forth to create an attractive pattern, keep it from sliding right out of the hair and to add strength. The last 3/4" is tapered to a point which, although looking closely it isn't needle sharp, is sharp enough to draw blood and has certainly hurt the couple times I accidentally stabbed my head while putting my hair up :) (1) DH has been playing Evil Genius since he got it for xmas. (as an exclamation of "ooh, a new henchman!" is heard in the background) SignatureElise (supervised by Gossamer & Jeeves) pics: http://photos.yahoo.com/dragonandthistle@snet.net Interesting! I called it a "purse" when I was in Macy's in New York City, and the saleslady visibly snickered. Could have been the southern accent though. My handbag/purse has my billfold, a zillion expired coupons from Petsmart, checkbook, lipstick, pen, comb, pillbox and Nitrogycerine spray. Cell phone. Someday when I"m an old lady I guess it will have about 50 wadded Kleenexes and an accordian-folded rain hat and will smell like Wrigley's Doublemint Gum. Sherry "Sherry " <sriddles@aol.comkitty> wrote : > Someday when I"m an old lady I guess it will have about 50 wadded Kleenexes and > an accordian-folded rain hat and will smell like Wrigley's Doublemint Gum. And Chanel #5 and expensive face powder. :') > "Sherry " <sriddles@aol.comkitty> wrote : > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > And Chanel #5 and expensive face powder. :') LOL! Or cheap cologne like Emeraude :) > And yours holds, you girls?? <vbg> I don't carry a handbag, I carry a medium-sized rucksack. Everywhere. The other evening, when I went to the theatre with my mother, she commented on my rucksack. I told her it's my handbag. ;o) It contains my purse (the thing with money and cards and photos of the cats etc), an almanack and pen, a small shoe horn, my reading glasses, an insulin pen, a bus schedule booklet, sunglasses, a few tampons (sorry, but you asked), deodorant (for my 'spa' visits). I have the rest of my utilities in my pockets (why don't they make women's clothes with good large pockets??); my bus pass, keys, ATM card, lip balm, mobile phone, glucose tablets. Those are things I have to have on hand at all times, so they can't be on my back, where they're hard to reach. I carry the rucksack instead of a handbag because it's good for heavy shopping (like cat litter) that I wouldn't want to carry in my hands, which hurt enough anyway. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki My handbag holds my address book, my > purse, cheque book, waterproof hat, shampoo sachet, conditioner sachet > (don't ask), magnifying glass, sea shells, comb, hairbrush, calculator, > letters, utility bills and more. > And yours holds, you girls?? <vbg> > > Tweed I have three, a blue one, a black one, and a brown one. I use them when I go to work, and choose the one that matches the suit I'm wearing that day (the blue suit, the black suit, or the brown suit :-) ) They don't have ANYTHING in them until I 'load' them, at which point they hold my purse, a pot of lip salve, my mobile phone, a couple of biros, my car keys and my door keys. Sometimes they also hold my asthma medicine and a packet of tissues. When I'm not working, all the above are carried in my trouser pockets or my coat pockets. Now my PURSE is a different matter. I carry it everywhere, and it is stuffed to the gills with various cards, lists, money, receipts and vouchers. Jeanette <snip> > Now my PURSE is a different matter. I carry it everywhere, and it is stuffed > to the gills with various cards, lists, money, receipts and vouchers. I have what I call a purse hanging in a closet because I almost never use it. It's a small black leather bag with a shoulder strap and a zipper closing. I have a small change purse I take everywhere which has, well, change in it as well as sometimes paper money and receipts. Not too many, because this is a replacement, and is somewhat smaller than its predecessor and doesn't hold very much, What I carry everywhere is a backpack. It holds my change purse (if that isn't in a pocket), an assortment of more or less essential plastic cards, my bus passes and schedules, a book (or two), datebook, one or two little notebooks, pens and pencils (sometimes, sometimes they all seem to vanish), receipts, computer glasses, and sometimes stuff like exercise clothing, lunch, water (in bottles), empty bottles I'm taking to recycle, groceries, library books, etc. Backpacks are the most marvellous inventions. SignatureCheryl > Death toll keeps climbing. News gets worse. I've seen footage of places I > spent time in when I was there. (Spent a winter in Thailand in '94/'95)... > Spots around Krabi, Rai Lay & Ko Phi Phi .... are just GONE!!! Can't > imagine what's going on in the Maldives.... 6 meter waves hitting islands > who's highest point is 3 meters above sea level. Purrs, prayers & hopes > going out to all who are there. While purrs and prayers are lovely thoughts, the people of South East Asia need our donations of cash and supplies really badly right now. Don't think that you can't afford to contribute, no amount is too small. You you can start by checking out some of the following sites: unicefusa.org www.doctorswithoutborders.org www.MethodistRelief.org www.WorldVision.org Dee >> Death toll keeps climbing. News gets worse. I've seen footage of places I >> spent time in when I was there. (Spent a winter in Thailand in '94/'95)... [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Dee Has been done. Still doesn't feel like enough. > > While purrs and prayers are lovely thoughts, the people of South East Asia > > need our donations of cash and supplies really badly right now. Don't [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > > Has been done. Still doesn't feel like enough. Me, as well... hope the little I could afford does some good. Mathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > > Has been done. Still doesn't feel like enough. > > Me, as well... hope the little I could afford does some good. > > -- > Mathew It does help! Matthew & Karen, think of how much money it would be it everyone who reads this newsgroup sends what they can afford to send. We have to do what we can when we can do it, some things are out of our hands. You two rock :) Dee >Don't >think that you can't afford to contribute, no amount is too small. Well, thanks for that thought. We are in a pinch right now financially, and my first thought is, "I can't afford to send anything right now." But I look around at how bountiful my life really is compared to them, and it is almost obscene. So I sent a donation. Not very much by anybody's standards but I hope it helps someone. Sherry > >Don't > >think that you can't afford to contribute, no amount is too small. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > someone. > Sherry When you consider a lot of these people affected make *maybe* $2.00 a day, it probably is a lot by their standard. I just wish I could do more than what I do. Up to 69,000 dead now estimated. As bad as I feel for the toursists, I feel even worse for those who don't have anywhere to go to to get out of it. Still sending up prayers and good thoughts to all in SE Asia. It's over a week later and the toll keeps growing. Heartbreaking. There are several sites offering ways to make an online donation. Amazon.com has a link to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Ebay and CNN.com also have links to allow donations to known relief organizations. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Even if it's just pray now and send a contribution when we can. (Sadly, it crossed my mind that even those of us who aren't in a position to donate today will be able to donate later, because this relief effort will be continuing for a long time.) I just hope that survivors can be reunited with their loved ones, and that as many of the missing as possible turn up alive, even after all these days. Donna |
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