sorry about hte double post.

i've seen some horrible images on the news that i think they should have warnings for.

The thing I keep thinking of (warning cliche coming) is that if this had happened in USA, we'd be getting slammed over and over with it, because of course American lives are worth vastly more than anyone else's, especially non-white people, who average Americans can't relate to. But because it's Asian and Indian people (well, the majority are) who have been killed in their thousands by this event, it's not getting anywhere near as much coverage as 9/11. I doubt this day will be remembered in our collective conscious as 27/12, or whenever it was that it happened.

Keep breathing everybody

the US released...are you ready for this?...15 million dollars.

Wow.
The rest of the world gasped and one UN official infamously called the richer nations "stingy" for how little aid they promised. The US responded by releasing another 20 million. That's 35 million dolalrs pledged so far.

To put that into perpsective, let's consider this funny figure:

US aid to Asian Tsunami victims (so far): $35 million
Budget for President Bush's inauguration ceremony: $40 million

And, yeah yeah yeah. I know it's an unfair comparison. Because, after all, it is a one night party.

But how great would it be if Bush just said, "You know what--f**k it. We'll do this thing on folding chairs and my mom will make some potato salad. You guys can have my 40 million."

I wouldn't hold my breath or anything, but that would be nice.

*****

Some more perspective-putting numbers for ya.

The following movies were made for $35 million dollars:
Head of State
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Radio Flyer
American Outlaws
Wimbledon
Man in the Iron Mask
Wonder Boys
Rush Hour
Malcolm X
Black Knight
Resident Evil
From h**l
Donnie Brasco
Batman

I don't know about you, but I'd be happy to give back 'Black Knight' to put Indonesia back together.

*****

But then again, we're a rich country. We've got a lot of money to throw around:

Michael Vick became the richest player in the league by agreeing to call Atlanta home for the next decade.

The Falcons' quarterback signed a 10-year, $130-million contract extension Thursday that guarantees him an NFL-record $37-million in bonuses.

"You know, making a commitment says a lot, not just to me, but to our team," Vick said with a smile. "It means a lot to me."

Vick's contract surpasses the $98-million deal Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning signed in March, although Manning's contract is for seven years. Manning was guaranteed $34.5-million in bonuses.

The land of plenty:

Jerry Seinfeld earned an estimated $267 million in 1998 according to the 1999 Forbes Celebrity 100 list, the highest annual earnings ever by a television or film actor.

The land of opportunity:

Julia Roberts, has topped the list of highest paid actresses yet again, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The "Closer" star commands a salary of approximately $20 million per picture, as does the No. 2 actress, Cameron Diaz, who was heard in the highest-grossing film of the year, "Shrek 2."

Coming in third through fifth place are Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Drew Barrymore, who make $15 million apiece.

Rounding out the Top 10 are: Halle Berry ($14 mil), Sandra Bullock and Angelina Jolie ($12-15 mil each), Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Lopez ($12 mil each).

Indeed.

The Guinness World Records Book lists Adam Sandler as the world's highest paid actor, based on a salary of $49.5 million in 2001.

But Sandler's winning pay packet pales in comparison to the $73.9 million earned in 2000 by Bruce Willis, giving him the 2003 title.

*****

Granted, this is all private money. So, is my point that movie stars, jocks, and musicians are overpaid? h**l no! We earned it, dammit.

Sports and entertainment is a billion-upon-billion dollar industry and the actors/entertainers/athletes who fuel that industry deserve a big cut of that pie. The point is not about their share of the pie.

The point is that we've got a lot of goddamned pie in this country.

The point is that we could pledge 87 billion dollars to killing brown people without batting an eyelash, but only pledge 35 million to digging them out of the mud after getting mocked in front of the entire world.

It makes you wonder what would have happened if nobody had spoken up.

*****

it's a rough spot to be in, admittedly. You've spent the past three years screaming WAR ON TERROR WAR ON TERROR WAR ON TERROR!! and then GOD kills more people than terrorism could even dream of killing and you're stuck with a dilemma. Do you buy ten Bradley tanks (at 4 million a pop) or do you send 40 million dollars to Indonesia?

im donating $5 - sure its not much but its enough to supply a food and medicine package to each member of a family of 5 to last each person 2 weeks.

sadly there has been alot of arrogance from people surrounding this huge disaster - George Porgie is giving only $35 million to the relief effort while at the same time he pours in $3 billion per week into fighting an unwinnable war in Iraq.

Also with it being NYE - id stop wasting my time on going to a NYE Celebration and stay home and think about the victims and there familys, wishing anybody a happy new year is quite a farce, considering millions in Asia have been made homeless or lost loved ones in this tragedy.

I'd like to encourage you all to give up a days wages to a relief fund - & encourage your friends to do it!

It's such a small thing in the scheme of things, but as noted by others in this post, government aid isn't anywhere near enough. It might mean you have to put off paying the phone bill for a week, but, come on: carezies. This will probably be the worst disaster of our life time & giving $ is the only way we can help.