Japan

As I was saying...um. What a way to come back & I don't know if I am back. But. Coming out of the mouths of creeps are loathsome remarks about why people should not contribute to help the Japanese recover. No, I am not kidding. I'd say go look it up but it will make ya sick.

Choose your organization wisely & if you can only manage $5.00 like me, it's something. The International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is one good place. I received an email this morning from the World Food Programme asking for help from their blogger pals to spread the word. (You can help on your blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, too.) It's a shock to see Japan on their list.

Julie the Cat's blog is back. I've enabled internetty-google-tubey share buttons at the bottom of each post on both blogs. I continue to try & improve them with free help & but half a brain. I'll post links to cool people who help bloggers for free (I know!) soon. To get you started: The Blog Guidebook.

Back to Al Jazeera - which has excellent coverage of Japan news. I'm fortunate to have it on the teevee machine here in the DC-area. I think it's only here, Vermont, & Ohio. Something like that. Very weird. You can demand it in your area (those in the States). Meanwhile, you can watch live online, here. Cheers!

Update Thursday, 17 March: I forgot to put in a link to a 20x200 print that will raise funds for the Japan Society. I'd recommend 20x200 for affordable art in any event, but especially now. People are buying things for their homes & for gifts anyway, so check it out. They just added another print & will probably keep it going.

(woodblock prints by the great Utagawa Hiroshige)

Haiti

It seems there was an earthquake that/ Left nothin' but a Panama hat/ And a pair of old Greek shoes./ Didn't seem like much was happenin',/ So I turned it off and went to grab another beer./ Seems like every time you turn around/ There's another hard-luck story that you're gonna hear/ And there's really nothin' anyone can say/ And I never did plan to go anyway/ To Black Diamond Bay.

Determined to put something in about Haiti. Plus, it means something to me. Some years ago, as a reply to my plea to help in another disaster, a friend played this song. I have to say, it was a unique way of saying no & he received style points (from me) for it.

Whether you were planning to go or not. Let's not turn our backs. Like my former friend.

There are postings everywhere with suggestions for donations. I made mine to the Red Cross & World Vision. There are links on Giulia Geranium (or scads of other places). Plus every country has their Red Cross chapter. Upate: I see that Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti Foundation has its donation site up, now. He donates 100% to relief, too.

Another update on Thursday: Received this wonderful message just now in a Red Cross e-card:

Ciao Susanna and Giulia,
I was inspired by your posting and have made a donation for the relief effort. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
xoxo

[photograph of Haitian bird in a cage by John Leonard/LIFE archives]