Reese Witherspoon Gets With The Times
Reese Witherspoon swinging an armful of plastic bags around last October, cut to Reese today going green!
"The United States goes through 100 billion plastic bags a year, which take an estimated 12 million barrels of oil to produce and last almost forever." (The NY Times)
Images via X17online!
Green in New York City
It's imperative we work on global warming issues, and easy to be part of the solution. A city with over 8 million people can make a tremendous impact and lead the way!
"In New York City, one less grocery bag per person (a year) would reduce waste by five million pounds" - Happy Earth Day!
How to Win the War on Global Warming
What Your Car Says About You
Every Day: Use Less Power
Save the Earth
Last Minute Gifts That Care
Trying to find a meaningful last minute gift for loved ones? Consider giving them a bit of hope for the future.
Most charity websites facilitate donations as gifts including e-cards. It's truly a gift from the heart...
Doctors Without Boarders - a fantastic charity and place to find the perfect gift to the world for a friend.
Share the Fullness - our list of charities that are distributing PlumpyNut and getting food to people living in hunger.
The Power of Giving - a great guide to donating that includes a wide variety of organizations to match everyone's interests.
Image via the Most Underreported Humanitarian Stories of 2007
Eva Mendes Naked
Eva Mendes is the latest celebrity to take her clothes off for Peta's "I'd rather go naked" anti-fur campaign - Eva Mendes Nude for PETA
Eva on fur: Some people still see wearing fur as glamorous and a sign of prosperity. Personally I think wearing a baby chinchilla says "I'm ignorant"
Share the Fullness
We hope you're feeling happy, healthy and well fed today! Here are some ways to help to spread that feeling around...
Plumpy'nut Saves Lives - Join with UNICEF to help children around the world get the basic nutrition they need to survive - Donate Here!
Doctors Without Boarders - An incredible organization fighting disease and hunger from Thailand to Darfur - Support Their Work!
Action Against Hunger - Many programs and powerful ways to make donations to eradicate world hunger - Click to Help!
The Hunger Site - Using the power of the Internet to end hunger. Hit the "Click Here to Give it's FREE" button to - Send Food!
AmeriCares - Their relief team is on the scene dealing with the devastation in Bangladesh and needs our support - Give Here!
How to Build a Green House
Follow the ins & outs of building an affordable green home... an awesome blog documenting a couple's steps through the design and construction of a green house in upstate NY... Green In Medusa!
"The aim is a transparent sharing of the triumphs and mishaps so that sustainable design becomes approachable for everyone."...
Welcome to our Eco-Nest Project
It Started With "Sparty"
Step One Inspiration
SIP'S vs. Modular
The Site Plan
Final Design
They've come a long way!... Recipe for a Homestead
Climp Aboard The Smile Train
For $250 you can change a child's life... SmileTrain.org
"The free cleft surgery your donation will help provide, is a true, modern-day medical miracle: it costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes. That’s all it takes to give a desperate child not just a new smile, but a new life." 100% of the donations go to help the children - Donate Here!
Previously: Take Action: Genocide in Darfur
NYC Animal Shelters Need Your Help!
New York City animal shelters are being inundated with unwanted dogs and cats. Now is the perfect time to adopt, not only will you be saving a life, but there's a huge selection - Find Your Pet!
NYC's Shelters Desperate Amid Flood of Pets
Baby Boom: Coping with Kitten Season
Adopt a Little New Yorker
Buddy's Fund Raiser
Today's Word is: Kakistocracy
Last week a 12 year old contestant in the Scrippts Spelling Bee taught us on a word that decribes our current goverment perfectly - Kakistocracy... "rule by the least-able or least-principled of citizens..."
"...a form of government in which the people least qualified to control the government are the people who control the government."
U.S. Death Toll In Iraq Tops 3,500
Europe vs. Bush on Global Warming
Buddy says "Stop this Kakistocracy!"
Images via LowCulture.com
Out of Pace
Thank god for ACT-UP, Larry Kramer, Matt Foreman, and the intrepid protestors and bloggers involved in this week's Times Square protest against the "immoral" comments of Joint Chief's Chairman Pace.
You can’t talk shit about gays in the military (who are serving and dying in Iraq right now), General Pace can go f*ck himself.
ACT-UP Army Rocks Times Square
ACT UP Resurrected - Gen. Pace Targeted
Jim McGreevey Joins Larry Kramer in NY Protest
Ann Coulter Fails Psychology 101
The unfortunate irony of Ann Coulter's "faggot" name-calling, is that people who fervently use anti-gay remarks are usually trying to hide their own "dirty homosexual desires". It's low IQ mentality, but they think it's a good cover-up. Not that we want this self hating, mess on our team, but Anne Coulter is dying to lick some snatch...
More below...
Stop Bush
Buddy has had it with Bush's lies and wars, and pleads for a stop of this moralless madman!... NY Times to Congress: Stop Bush, American Liberty at the Precipice and more below...
Update: US Ready With War Plan For Iran, Waiting For Bush Go Ahead
Oprah Indulges Bill O'Reilly, Betrays Abused Kids
After all the press Bill O'Reilly has received for his despicable remarks that Shawn Hornbeck had "fun" being raped by his abductor, after he was cancelled as a speaker for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and even boycotted by Lowes stores; Oprah brought him on her show and spoke with him as if he's a defender of abused children! Disgusting. WTF Oprah?
O'Reilly's vile rant excusing the pedofile and shaming the victims is inexcusable, and tears appart efforts against child abduction on so many levels. What Oprah has done is unexplainable, she's betrayed her fans and every abducted and abused child.
More at Media Matters and Crooks and Liars... "To allow O'Reilly to give millions of Oprah's fans the impression that he's an expert on Shawn's case after he trashed him so despicably was shocking"
Continue reading "Oprah Indulges Bill O'Reilly, Betrays Abused Kids" »
Eyes on the Future
Black history is American history. In celebration of Black History Month check out Majikthise's wonderful portraits of future stars...
And dig into these links...
Black History Month - A Project
African American Family History Records
The Study of African American Life & History
Ashley Olsen's Fur Pleads for Their Lives
Ashley Olsen tops PETA's Worst-Dressed List for her fur-wearing ways. It sucks that someone with so much cultural influence would insensitively flaunt wearing animals that die tortourously. WTF Ashley? The little animals are pleading for your help!...
Previously:
The Olsens look like Japanese cartoons
Height requirements for riding The Twins
Replacing Ashley Olsen with Ashlee Simpson
JLo's answer to kids, adopt the Olsen Twins
More info and pics on Ashley's appalling obsession with fur below...
Continue reading "Ashley Olsen's Fur Pleads for Their Lives" »
A home for the holidays
Santa and a bunch of homeless dogs wearing “Adopt Me” vests paraded along 5th Ave today to promote holiday adoptions. Shown are Balou, a two year old Chihuahua and Jim, five year old terrier. They're both available at the Animal Care & Control at the Manhattan shelter! The NYCACC euthanizes thousands of dogs each year because they can’t find them homes. These adorable, sweet dogs need rescuing fast.
To a rescued dog your are the world. If you're ready for the commitment, your work will be rewarded a 1000 times over! We cannot express the love and joy Buddy has brought into our lives.
NYers who want to give an abandoned pet a home for the holidays can also visit the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and Petfinder.
Dying to be cute
Are celebrities starving themselves to mimic our culture's image of "cuteness"? There are well established theories on our species preference for "juvenile features" (large eyes, bulging craniums, retreating chins), and that over generations our shape has evolved to mimic this appearance.
Extreme dieting creates an even more exaggerated juvenile look (giant forehead, enlarged eyes, receding lower features.) In a society where looks mean so much, young stars maybe using anorexia as an evolutionary shortcut to the ultimate image of cuteness.
Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Bosworth, Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen, Victoria Beckham and many others are showing signs of extreme dieting and exaggerated child-like features.
More below...
VIE!
Tomorrow is a VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION. Declare your rage at this administration's war, deceit and corruption, vote and vie for change!
US Fatalities and Casualties in Iraq: Total Non-Mortal Casualties 44,779, Total Reported Deaths 2836
"The only way to change the course is to change the Congress" (AmericaBlog)
"Let Republicans have their orgasms over Kerry's comments and Saddam's sentencing - it just shows how out of touch with Americans they are. Ordinary people are far more concerned about what's happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, and no amount of GOP ad buys can hide that from the public." (DailyKos)
Freedom with fill-up
Exxon Mobil report its profit rose to $10.5-billion last quarter (second largest qt. profit ever reported by a public US company.) Via the Huffington Post... "Its hard not to think about both Bush and Cheney's roots in Big Oil, and the fact that this administration has done nothing to pressure oil companies to reduce prices."
Take it back
Across America people are realizing that this administration doesn't care about them or their obligation to represent them, and are ready to TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK! Bush's ratings are plunging. Many states have extremely important positions in contention. It's critical we elect officials that will represent us, end the war and move our country towards regaining it's humanity and prosperity.
PLEASE VOTE in the election Tuesday November 7th - the outcome will effect all of our future. 13 DAYS left to win back Congress!
Get America back on track one seat at a time, races in high contingency... Red to Blue Candidates and Emerging Candidates
Can't make it to the polls on election day? VOTE ABSENTEE!
Call to arms
Protect the people of Darfur - Sign the petition to send UN peacekeepers now. And tell our goverment to send help.
Help save seven women from being stoned to death in Iran. Info on what to do here - Stand Against Women Stoned to Death
Delta blues
A year later and so many Katrina victims still need help, homes and their lives restored. Please do not forget Bush and his administration's unacceptably slow response to the crisis. This timeline shows how the events unfolded and Bush's disgraceful and uncaring actions as thousands of Americans were fighting to stay alive (barely assisted).
Michael Simon's incredible photos: Notes From The South
The Red Cross continues to provide all kinds of assistance and needs our support. Also many animals still need our help.
Remembering Katrina:
Getting to the hardest hit areas and people
The animals effected by Katrina
Katrina: hope and inspiration
Images captured on Flickr
Help and hindrance
Deep in the heart of global warming
This is so alarming. At the same time scientists are escalating warnings that we MUST change our ways and curb global warming, an energy company in Texas is proposing to build 11 new highly polluting coal-fired power plants. Exactly what we should not be doing!
The mammoth, energy company called TXU plans to build 11 new pulverized-coal power plants in Texas. Texas is the nation's largest carbon dioxide polluter and TXU's plans will make this dramatically worse. The new plants would emit 78 million tons of CO2 pollution per year. Building these plants will undermine the efforts of all other states across the nation to reduce carbon emissions and fight global warming. More info here. Please sign the petition to stop the plants!
- Six Steps to Cut Global Warming Pollution
- Global warming is real and underway
- If Mars Had Beaches photo via Rebekka
Free art, free speech
3 events happening tonight in NYC...
Extra-Ordinary - Paintings by Seattle artist Light Habersetzer will be on display for one week only at Sapphire. Light's portraits intensify the sitter into a kind of hyper-likeness that celebrates their individuality. Opening reception tonight, Thursday, August 17th, 8-11pm at Sapphire Lounge in the LES.
Assemble for Rights NYC The NYPD and Mayor are trying to put heavy handed rules in place that will suppress free speech in our city, and the public hearing is only a week away! New Yorkers dedicated to keeping freedom of assembly and speech alive in NYC have mounted a movement to stop this travesty. Please attend the unofficial People's Forum this evening at 7pm at the St. Mark's Church
Drawing under the bombs
Mazen Kerbaj is an arist and intellectual who lives in Beirut and is blogging about life around him and his family and friends. His stuff is intentionallly apolitical; drawings, poems, and a recording he made of himself playing the trumpet with bombs in the background. His work makes you think about the every day men, women and children that are caught up in this political bull sh*t - KERBLOG
Get your anger on
- Flag Burning and Other Dubious Epidemics: a brilliant essay "I believe what we have here is a difference over moral values".
- Air America Radio: thought provoking talk and information on the Bush administration's latest atrocities
- Crooks and Liars: our governments true colors exposed
- Majikthise: bad-ass, feminist, intellectual
- AngryBlackBitch: takes names and kicks butt
- Harry Taylor: tells Bush to his face to be ashamed
- From Bill Moyers: "I mean, think about it. Other than the war in Iraq, the Katrina disaster, the deficit, the CIA leak, torture, stopping stem cell research, homeland security, global warming and undercutting science, we've yet to really feel the negative effects of the Bush administration."
(Photo via Graffiti.org)
Poster boy for corruption
George Bush will go down as the most corrupt President in US history. Check out this huge set of posters commemorating his accomplishments (via Entensity)
Presidential load
Bush has truly failed America
A place in history lower than poo
Bush can blow me
Heroes will be heroes
Our hero Bob posted recently about sending packages to his hero (a soldier in Iraq). Some beautiful thoughts and good info on sending soldiers packages.
Bring them home.
The great photos above and many many more at BrandonBlog.com
Dixie Chicks on Howard Stern
After their scandalous turning down of The View recently, The Dixie Chicks took us by surprise with an appearance on Howard Stern this morning. And it was kick-ass! Thought provoking, titillating and incredibly entertaining. Their hour long, uninterrupted segment started with great conversation about their stance against the war, what they've been through the last 6 years, the Time article and how they are standing strong!
After a live performance of Landslide, Howard got emotional and spoke of their courage, and stated with deep feeling "I want to thank you for speaking out against the war". Even Stern show listeners called in with sincere and heart felt support for the Dixie Chicks. One caller commented about Natalie's open criticism of the war... "I'm in the Army and that's what we're fighting for." Natalie replied that "It is patriotic. I didn’t want people to die for a reason that still hasn’t been proven to us."
And it turns out Natalie is huge Stern show fan! She and Howard really clicked. She was witty, sexy and an awesome interview. They also played their new single and it's fantastic. Man these girls rule, they make us realize WHY our country is great and why we need to fight to take it back!
More from the show...
Fran Drescher seeks political career
Fran Drescher did not mince any words in talking about her interest in a pursuing a career in politics on the Howard Stern show this morning. Straight from Fran's mouth, she'd like to become a Senator or Congresswoman for the state of New York. She didn't get to talk much about her politics, but did answer Howard's question and said that she opposes the death penalty (a couragoues stance as the former victim of a violent crime.) No mention of which party she would run for but she's been an open critic of the Bush administration and supporter of the Democratic party. We LOVE Fran Drescher, she has a bright mind and good heart, this is very exciting news!
Check out this great Op Ed piece by Fran...
Government shouldn't be our children's entertainment nanny. She's also a cancer survivor and huge supporter of women's rights and health initiatives.
Fran Drescher photo from HerHealthyLife.org
Make your own damn Tamiflu
Hey you outlaw biochemists, forget about making meth, bootleg Tamiflu is where the money's at! With our government's marketing campaign to create bird flu terror and perceived Tamiful shortage (and need to stockpile) this is sure to be the hottest illegal drug in the next decade! How To Make Tamiflu
Majikthise rocks it hard with Make your own Tamiflu. More info in A New Route to Tamiflu?
And these articles pose A LOT of interesting questions about avian pandemic panic, and The Bush Leagues high interest in perpectuating various mistruths for their own personal business gains...
The Bird Flu Conspiracy & Bird Flu, Tamiflu and the Donald Rumsfeld Connection
New Jersey beaches sparkle
It sometimes shocks people to learn that New Jersey has beautiful beaches. They're long and flat, great for swimming, with water temperatures in the low 70's July & August. And the Atlantic has it's wonderful spectrum of blue and green colors.
Growing up in NYC, the highlight of our summers was 2 weeks at a rental house in one of the beach front towns from Manesquan to Long Beach Island (with nights spent at boardwalks.) This was before the Ocean Dumping Ban Act was established in 1988. Back then the water was cloudy and you'd find all kinds of garbage on the beaches (it's hard to believe, but dumping NYC's garbage in the ocean was a daily activity up until the 80's.) When we go to the Jersey shore now and look at the sparkling clean water, it helps us remember that society will move forward again, during this time of moving backwards.
More beach shots below...
Compassion and common sense left far behind
If like us you've been feeling frozen with anger and disgust at Bush, his administration and their actions, watch the awesome video over at Busblog of citizen Harry Taylor standing up to Bush and let it warm you up... "I feel like despite your rhetoric, that compassion and common sense have been left far behind during your administration. And I would hope from time to time that you have the humility and grace to be ashamed of yourself."
We've also posted the video below for your viewing pleasure!...
Continue reading "Compassion and common sense left far behind" »
F the circus
Even as a child, the animal abuse that went on at the circus prevented us from ever enjoying it (well, that and the clowns.) Thursday the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus opens at the Garden (don’t go.) Each year the elephants are made to walk through the midtown tunnel and the streets of NYC (a very sad spectacle, check out the outpouring of comments here.) Drewbic stopped by to catch a shot and came back with a bonus story of police harassment... "Suspicious Activity?"
60 Minutes misses important facts on NYC's surge drills
This past Sunday 60 Minutes presented an in-depth feature called "Inside The NYPD's Anti-Terror Fight". The report opens with films of NYC "surge" drills in process and statements that the drills began as a result of 9/11 and right after the attack (see quotes from CBS below.)
These statements are misleading, and known to be untrue by virtually millions of New Yorkers who did not see regular "surge" drills prior to the summer of 2004, when the Repulican National Convention was about to hit town.
Continue reading "60 Minutes misses important facts on NYC's surge drills" »
PowerHouse to the people
More New York high rent suckery - powerHouse Books is being evicted from their space on Charlton St. They’ve started a cool blog to share the blow by blow news... "After more than two years in residence as the most innovative and lively photography gallery, event space, and bookstore in downtown Manhattan, we are being evicted from our lovingly-built home at 68 Charlton Street by catering/restaurant evildoers. From now until March 31, 2006 we will be keeping the public apprised of our progress with this blog."
Sad news, but a small brightside for book lovers... they're having a huge sale on their very cool selection of Limited Editions
Including the awesome - Autograf: New York City’s Graffiti Writers, Peter Sutherland's chronicle of the people and places that populate New York’s famed graf scene.
(Photos above via Autograf / powerhousebooks.com)
Big dick looking to shoot in your face
Dick Cheney's ad on Craigslist
Get That Dick Away From Me!
Ten ways Dick Cheney can kill you
You got a purty mouth, boy
Beignet porn
Hey New York - it's time to turn it out and show support for New Orleans! Several great promotions are going on and awesome events are coming up. Our friends K & J just returned from a weekend (with these photos) and report that the place is hopping, the food is fantastic and the people couldn’t be more welcoming and wonderful!
"Perhaps more than ever before, the city welcomes tourists. Recovery depends on their dollars... The best charity work you might ever want to do is to come to New Orleans and have a good time" (Kim Priez, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau)
NYC Hearts NOLA, Travel Mission to New Orleans Feb 10-12
New Orleans, on the upswing, calls back visitors
NOLA.com's Visitor Essentials
New Orleans Online
And here's a great event for dog lovers to support the city and it's shelters!... The Krewe of Barkus Parade - Thousands of animals, mostly dogs, dressed in costumes reflecting an annual theme. (All proceeds from the event are donated to local humane societies and animal shelters.)
Ride for Wisdom
The Sustainable Energy in Motion Bike Tour took an ad on our site (or we probably would have never found it.) Sounds like a very cool and mindexpanding event. Grassroots groups working towards sustainable enegry and other world causes ROCK THE PLANET! We wanted to give them some support. From their site...
"Sustainable Energy in Motion Bike Tour of the Columbia River this summer, organized by the Portland Peace and Justice Center. Study and apply the philosophies of permaculture, alternative building, appropriate technology and sustainable energy. Through inspiring hands-on service projects with leaders of the global sustainability movement, contribute to the communities you visit. Gain a deeper understanding of how organic food is grown and distributed by talking first hand with the people who raise the food."
Sustainable Energy in Motion Bike Tour
Tour routes and dates
Portland Peace Blog
More on the Greem movement values
TreeHugger and Nicmachus show their support!
Say No to Alito
If you're angry and frustrated over the incredible setbacks our nation and values have taken at the hands of George Bush and his cronies - then imagine the damage Alito will continue inflict on our country for decades as he follows Bush's destructive course. Much more is at stake than Roe v Wade. Like Bush, Alito puts corporate sympathy over workers/individuals and supports the expansion of presidential powers. Unless you are very very wealthy, Bush and Alito are NOT ON YOUR SIDE.
A powerful way to show our Senators that we do not support this nomination and ask them to do whatever takes to keep Alito out of the Supreme Court is to CALL your Senator's office and leave a message. This gets the message that we want a fight directly to our representatives on the front line. If you have a free moment this weekend, please call your Senators and let them know we do not want Alito on the Supreme Court! US Senator Contact Information
Some scary and compelling info on Alito from the Randi Rhodes Show (Randi Rhodes is the fukcing BOMB!) "The Sam Alito confirmation hearings are underway. And if you think abortion is the big issue, wait until you hear what’s truly at stake and why this is a Bush kind of guy."
And sign the MoveOn.org petition! Stop Alito: Put Our Message in Front of the Senate. Together we CAN Stop Alito!
Stop Alito
It's time to crawl out of the hole Bush has buried us in and start fighting back. Don't let this fukcer get nominated. Sign the petition!
Alito is a notoriously right-wing judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He has consistently ruled to strip basic protections from workers, women, minorities and the disabled in favor of unchecked power for corporations and special interests. (from MoveOn.org)
Stop Alito: Put Our Message in Front of the Senate
Opponents crystallize case against Bush nominee
Alito, taking heat from organized labor--and collecting love from big business
If Alito is confirmed, his extreme right-wing ideology would endanger our basic freedoms
Alito's public record shows unequivocally that he is out of step with Americans
You can't stop New York City!
Check out the recently launched Flickr pool NYC 2005 Transit Strike for some amazing and timely photos, and a full view on what life is like in New York City right now. Over 100 great shots from around the city posted by various photographers (and growing.) New Yorkers, once again, endure on! We're so fukcing proud of you all...
Curbed's transit strike coverage round-up
Gawker's round-up of punny strike headlines
Gothamist's collected strike punchlines
NewYorkology on impact, contingencies and more
Photo credits:
Gatto Arancione
Modern Monk
Casa de Darnoc
Hope for the future
CityRag is wearing a Red Ribbon today as a sign of support for people living with HIV and a symbol of hope for the future...
World AIDS Day - "The aim of World AIDS Day is to bring to people's attention the worldwide challenges and consequences of the epidemic in order to create change... HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact 5 people die of AIDS every minute."
every dog has his DeLay
from the SmokingGun yesterday... "the Tom DeLay mug shot snapped this afternoon when the deposed House majority leader appeared at a Harris County, Texas sheriff's office to be booked on conspiracy and money laundering charges." (thanks Tiger Lily)
Bush's place in history will be lower than poo
loved this post from our boy Spike at Bedazzled...
I'm not a religious guy, usually, but this stuff is almost restoring my faith in God. It's really all coming apart for the Rethuglicans. Many of the major figures of the party are under indictment, or soon will be. Iraq is a disaster. The economy is fucked. The conservative base is finally pissed about something (The Miers nomination). Bush is on his way to being the least popular president in history.
heart quake
it's hard to imagine another disaster hitting our world right now, but this is beyond imagination, via CNN...
The estimated death toll from the massive South Asia earthquake soars above 41,000... Nearly 3 million people were left homeless and without access to basic supplies and have to live in tents or on open ground amid freezing temperatures... In parts of northern Pakistan, India and Kashmir, entire villages were destroyed, leaving millions homeless.
millions of people are homeless and hungry. so many are children. here's a list of places where you can help - Quake zone aid agencies
they need our help more than ever
so many animals still need help in the areas devasted by Katrina (and at this point more than ever). please stay tuned to these amazing sites and blogs that are recording the relief efforts in photos and words and provide direct information on what we can do to help...
Eric's Dog Blog - Eric rules!
Just Thinking About It - Katrina Animals (check every page)
SAVE THE PETS: Katrina Rescue - a true Hero
Please Dont Forget Them - moving story of dogs shot.
and thanks so much to everyone who wrote us to say they were inspired to make a donation by our joint fundraiser with Forgotten NY. several readers emailed that they have already or will be making a donation. Big thanks to Gabsmash for her support and pledge. We're matching the $530 Kevin's raised for the Red Cross with a donation to the Humane Society of South Mississippi
They need our help
Just a reminder that we're matching whatever ForgottenNY raises this weekend in their Fundraisier for the Red Cross, with a donation to the Humane Society of South Mississippi. Please join us in making this a weekend of donations! and thanks to readers M and L for the pledges.
Eric's Dog Blog is an AMAZING site providing all detailed info and reports on what's going on. In the last 2 days some horrifying stories have come out. Check the site for more on what you can do to help.
$5000 reward offered for dog shooters
Amazing tales of survival
Update and Responses
Update: there are some truly amazing and caring people out there. this wonderful note from Nancy in Pensacola, FL made our day. for further inspiration... "I want to personally thank you for the heads up on the HSSM; I'm a yoga teacher down here and a dog lover and my class has raised over $4,300 for the Humane Society."
end the war
GammaBlaBlog hit the Peace March and Ralley in Washington DC this weekend and brought back a ton of stricking and moving images.
viral goodwill
Kevin who runs ForgottenNY is holding a Katrina Refief Tour next Saturday, Oct 2, and is donating all proceeds to the Red Cross. PLUS he's matching everything he raises with a donation out of his own pocket. it's such a moving and inspiring gesture that we'd like to join him. so CityRag will be matching whatever Kevin raises with a donation to the Humane Society of South Mississippi.
we'd like to encourage bloggers and readers out there to join us! if Kevin's fundraising tour inspires you to give (or give a little more) - make a pledge to donate a set amount or match whatever he raises with a donation to your favorite Katrina charity! (and if you like, send CityRag an email at tcbinnyc@hotmail.com and we'll post your pledge and link your site next Friday.)
please pass the word around! we're hoping this inspires some viral goodwill and encourages those who haven’t donated yet to jump in and those who already have to maybe give a little more!
more inspiration - one of the most compassion site and stories we've seen, this guy is doing amazing work both in rescuing animals and reporting what's going on and what is needed... Eric's Dog Blog
"This blog provides vivid descriptions directly from the operations of various rescue groups in New Orleans, LA and surrounding areas. We are working around the clock to save 50,000 to 100,000 pets that are in this disaster zone. Time is running out! But we are still pulling 1000s of animals out every day - animals that have been on their own for 20 days! Please help! Click on the links lower right! Read on!"
How One Small Group is Saving Animals by the Thousands
Come Here! Anybody can make a difference
People Needed!
Why This Blog?
Humane Society of South Mississippi
March for Peace
this weekend United for Peace and Justice will hold a Massive March, Rally & Festival in Washington to demand our goverment: END THE WAR ON IRAQ...
"It's time to hold all pro-war politicians accountable for the deaths, the destruction, the lies, and the toll on our communities! Join United for Peace and Justice in Washington, D.C. for three massive days of action against the war: a major march, rally, and festival on Saturday, September 24; an interfaith religious service and day of grassroots trainings on Sunday, September 25; and a large-scale grassroots lobbying day and mass nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience on Monday, September 26."
United for Peace has organized several buses going down to DC for the march early Saturday morning, details can be found here - Bus Tickets for DC Antiwar Mobilization from NYC Please join the march and let Washington know we want an end to this war!
Update: don't miss DISSENT IS ON THE MARCH an excellent and informative post.
thousands of animals remain unrescued
there are still thousands of animals that remain unrescued in the areas torn by Kartina. The North Shore Animal League is doing a tremendous job helping. they have a page where they're blogging daily their heartbreaking stories of anilmal rescue.
Donate to the North Shore Animal League
Katrina: hope and inspiration
a reader sent us this note on a wonderful Katrina relief effort she has been part of called AnnapolisCares. we thought it was a deeply inspiring story and wanted to share their message of hope and caring with everyone (photos are from the Astrodome)....
"Annapolis Cares, a foundation set up solely to help victims of Katrina. To date, we've delivered several truckloads of donated items to Houston, TX and Gulfport, MS, as well as the DC Armory in Washington, DC. We are continuing to collect items and financial donations with the intention of the rest of the collections going to areas outside of Texas. A small group of us traveled to Houston this weekend (on our own respective dimes) to deliver a truckload of goods. Here are some pics and a link to our simple site soliciting volunteers and needed items. Many thanks!"
Please donate to AnnapolisCares!
Bush can blow me
we didn't have a minute to spare and he took his time.
How Bush Blew It
Idiotic quotes from our leaders during Katrina
good stuff from BoingBoing:
Headline roundup, DeLay pulls a Barbara Bush
Red Cross needs network security tech volunteers
Bloggers Joel and Jake visit NOLA for geek aid
4-star charities for Katrina relief
Update: Hot off the press from GorillaMask - this is fucking awesome... Gorilla Matchup: Kanye vs. Dubya
Best Picture Ever
Via DailyKos...
- Playing Games With Disaster
- Lives were lost that did not need to be lost
- Katrina: Blog account from Oklahoma "FEMA Detainment Camp"
- Katrina: Jasmina Tesanovic's account, Austin Convention center
- How You Can Make an Immediate Difference in Louisiana
- Brilliant letter from Michael Moore to George W. Bush
- FEMA director Brown recalled to Washington!
Previously:
- Katrina help and hindrance
- Bush has truly failed America
- Katrina Update and Info
- Helping Animals Effected by Katrina
- Capturing Katrina
Update: If the last link we posted didn’t work for you, here's the awesome video of Dick Chaney being told to go fuck himself.
Katrina help and hindrance
News and info on helping:
- Before and after aerial views of New Orleans
- Katrina news from around the web
- How To Help New Orleans
- Donating Clothes to Katrina victims
- Hurricane Hero
Bush's abominable response:
- The Cover-Up Begins
- Barbara Bush, insensitive, stupid or both?
- Were was Cheney?
- As South drowns, Rice soaks in N.Y.
- World stunned as US struggles with Katrina
- Bush's Staged New Orleans Photo Ops
- Incompetent
BREAKING: 'Go fuck yourself, Mr. Cheney'
And check out this cool article from comedy writer Lukas Kaiser on why he's not doing Katrina jokes
Bush has truly failed America
The time it has taken Bush, America's commander and chief, to respond to the Katrina disaster is a DISGRACE. Friday morning Bush announced that he’d had a meeting with all his top officials and they were putting relief plans into action. Why did this meet happen Friday and not Tuesday??! One reason may be that Bush did not return from his vacation until Wednesday, and Condi Rice was shopping for shoes in NY!
24/7 coverage of the disaster on news networks has been going on since Sunday night. By Tuesday every major news organization in the country had a representative broadcasting live from the scene. It was obvious to anyone watching TV Tuesday morning that not a minute could be spared! But it took our federal government’s 4 DAYS to kick it in gear! The lack of immediate action is INEXCUSABLE!
And while Bush hits the streets with a massive PR effort to spin his abominable response time, thousands of people remain in distress. Bush is just starting, yet Ray Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans has declared that they are OUT OF TIME.
READ Ray Nagin’s passionate speech regarding the DISASTEROUS response of our federal government (Anderson Cooper kicks ass too.)
Update: The Federal Goverment has admitted they were slow in responding to this disaster, causing an unknown but massive amount of unnessesary death. Our goverment has admitted to the murder of thousands of American people.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Organizations (via Give.org)
Katrina Update
- The Red Cross, United Way of America and Salvation Army are reacting quickly and getting to the hardest hit areas and people, they greatly need the help of cash donations.
- MSNBC resource on How to help Katrina's victims
- Charity Navigator has a page on helping hurricane victims.
- Donate to the Humane Society's Disaster Animal Response Teams
Flickr users continue to provide the most comprehensive source of photos of the disaster:
- Hurricane Katrina - overall search results
- A Red Cross volunteer's touching shots
- Large collections of various news photos
- New arial shots
Tiger Lilly, who's from the area has been passing along info:
- The feds cut a ridiculous amount of money from the corps of engineers and hurricane relief within the last 2 years.
- The animals at the Audubon Zoo and at the Aquarium of the Americas are alright.
Google has the latest news from around the country.
Capturing Katrina
Helping Animals Effected by Katrina
Important Update: Moveon.org has launched an emergency national housing drive to connect empty beds with hurricane victims.
Helping Animals Effected by Katrina
A reader sent us this note “perhaps you could link to a group that is helping abandoned/displaced animals in New Orleans? I have heard reports of people who left their pets behind (thinking they would come back to them). The animals that survived will surely need our help!” What a great idea, did some digging around and came up with this awesome group and info…
Noah's Wish - "a not-for-profit, animal welfare organization, with a straightforward mission - keep animals alive during disasters" - is already on the scene and responding to this disaster! 10 members of their team arrived in the outlying areas of the disaster today and are working hard to organize and rescue animals. info and details on how to help can be found on their main page. donations can be made through their website!
more info and links sent in (thanks Carol!):
- The Animal Rescue League of Boston sent their vets and ambulances down earlier this week along with teams organized by American Humane Association
- The most direct agency to help looks like the Mississippi Animal Rescue League is working to take in displaced animals. Their website isn't updated but they do accept donations.
capturing Katrina
devastating shots from Hurricane Katrina are building on Flickr. fortunately it seems that not many people ventured out to take photos first hand, like the one shown here taken near an air force base in Biloxi. but there are lots of extensive collections Flickr users have been putting together of the most stricking news photos. here's a shot of the eye taken from above the clouds, a strange contrast to the intense destruction left by the storm. our hearts and prayers go out to everyone effected.
Where to give help: (via GorillaMask)
Feed the Children: Hurricane Katrina Fund
Salvation Army Hurricane Relief Fund 2005
and via Gothamist:Hurricane Relief: Where to donate
Take Action: Genocide in Darfur
this informative and heartfelt post on the terrifying conditions in Darfur moved us to take action and we hope it does the same for you. the following is verbatim from PinkRabbitSays:
"I hadn't taken any action on the Darfur genocide (yes, it's happening right now), and what I've just managed to do feels woefully inadequate. However, something is better than nothing, and it's never too late to start. If you too have been dragging your feet, please take a few minutes of your time and take some of these easy, online actions. With a few clicks, you can do something positive about this horrible situation. Thanks."
BeAWitness.org: Send a message to CNN, FOXNews, NBC/MSNBC, ABC, and CBS asking them to cover the genocide
Darfur: A genocide we can stop: Send a message to President Bush, asking him to take action and help to stop the genocide, and sign a petition asking for humanitarian aid and protection for civilians