Earthquake

[richlevy]

Well, this certainly sucks.

San Diegans wanting to make a difference in Haiti ran into difficulties getting their medical supplies on board an American Airlines flight Monday afternoon but were ultimately successful, but without aid from American Airlines.
Rescue Task Force and Sempra Energy will be sending a team of six volunteers to Haiti to help with the relief efforts. They are sponsoring an ambulance, connecting electricity, and bringing water into the needed areas. The team is also carrying medical supplies as well as a large sum of money to hit the ground and help immediately. The team is scheduled to leave on American Airlines flight from Lindbergh Field at 5:30 p.m.

The San Diego rescue team wanted to bring three additional pieces of luggage. The group’s team leader, Darryl Hall, told SDNN that American representatives informed him the airline would not let them pay for extra luggage and said the only exception would be if they were media and bringing media camera bags (not medical supplies). The American release states that surf boards, golf bags and other sports equipment would be acceptable to check as part of the bag allowance, while incurring extra fees.

Surf boards ok, medical supplies not ok. Maybe they could tell them a stretcher was a canvas surf board.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by Redux

When a country is fubar to the extent of Haiti, the issue goes way beyond rebar.

Obviously. I strongly disagree with Spexxvet about the proactive versus reactive stance when it comes to foreign aid of third world countries. First of all, realistically, the potential aid of rebar would have done very little to prevent deaths because normal concrete structures, with rebar, are not designed to withstand 7.0 earthquakes. As far as I know that technology does not even exist yet. We have methods to lower the amount of destruction, but not completely eliminate it. So, just looking at rebar, the cost factor would actually be lower with our current policy. If we include other proactive aid, the cost difference would be even larger. That also makes the assumption we only give that amount of aid to Haiti and not other third world countries that have a probability of being hit with natural disasters as well.

When it comes to foreign aid, I mostly agree with Lookout123 and TheMercenary. We have other bigger problems to focus on in my opinion. We are getting further and further in debt, we are in a bad recession, and our infrastructure isn't that great either (at least compared to first world countries). For now, philanthropy will have to do.

[xoxoxoBruce]

As far as I know that technology does not even exist yet.

The Japs do it, very high tech, very expensive.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The Japs do it, very high tech, very expensive.

I also requires a strict effective government and anal retentive honest building inspectors. Haiti is zero from four.

In other news, the real priorities are being taken care of:

Solar-powered Bibles sent to Haiti

As international aid agencies rush food, water and medicine to Haiti's earthquake victims, a United States group is sending Bibles.

But these aren't just any Bibles; they're solar-powered audible Bibles that can broadcast the holy scriptures in Haitian Creole to 300 people at a time.

The Faith Comes By Hearing organisation says its Bible, called the Proclaimer, delivers "digital quality" and is designed for "poor and illiterate people".

It says 600 of the devices are already on their way to Haiti.

The Albuquerque-based organisation says it is responding to the Haitian crisis by "providing faith, hope and love through God's word in audio".

The audio Bible can bring the "hope and comfort that comes from knowing God has not forgotten them through this tragedy," a statement on its website says.

"The Proclaimer is self-powered and can play the Bible in the jungle, desert or ... even on the moon*!"

*... assuming the almighty would work a miracle and allow sound to travel in a vacuum. :p

Really, they need culturally appropriate aid ... chickens, skulls, face paint, black candles ...

[xoxoxoBruce]

Ear buds.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

I saw such disparate #'s as to the amount of aid given - Thanks for hopefully clarifying that.
How much have we given over the past say decade? What did they do with it? (Apparently they did NOT buy rebar)
How many people are in Haiti? Whats the breakdown per capita on that aid?

Do the research yourself. Get back to us, and make sure you post some nice colorful charts.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Do the research yourself.

I thought we were finished with your stupidity.
I already tried to do it - which is more than you can say. Apparently Redux has some better source.

Just shush and drink your kool-aid while the adults talk.

[xoxoxoBruce]

If Spexx had proactivly given them all glasses, they would have seen this coming.

[classicman]

sniggle

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

I already tried to do it

And failed due to your stupidity. Good response, moron.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

And failed do to your stupidity. Good response, moron.

i loves me some irony.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

i loves me some irony.

I gets your head out of your ass, doesn't it?

[classicman]

Spexxie - you stated your incorrect opinion without any supporting facts or figures. Others proved it wrong with supporting evidence because you were too lazy to do it yourself. Now after you've been proven wrong REPEATEDLY, you call me a moron?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Of course... he's got nothing else.

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

i loves me some irony.

Not sure what you're getting at. "Due to" is the correct spelling in this context, not "do to".

However, I believe Spexx should have used the phrase "because of" instead.

http://web.ku.edu/~edit/because.html