Sensible Erection | If I can be serious for a minute...

Friday, 11 March 2011

quote [ Offer HELP to quake and tsunami victims in Japan. In US: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10. In Canada: Text REDCROSS to 30333 to donate $10. UK instructions in extended. ]

Pray all you want, but do something tangible and donate to the Red Cross or other non-profits that can ACTUALLY do something about it.

* Text “TSUNAMI to “50555” to donate $10 on behalf of Convoy of Hope, Inc.
* Text "JAPAN" or "QUAKE" to 80888 to donate $10 on behalf of The Salvation Army.

http://socuteurl.com/bumpkinhead -- US Page for donations

http://socuteurl.com/omgpuppypup -- UK page for donations

(SoCute URL used to bring a LITTLE brevity to the situation)

[by assbastard@9:14pmGMT] [+10 Good]

Comments

xgp007 said @ 9:21pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:2 Insightful]
Thank you. I've been looking for ways to donate all day.

Seeing the incredible number of people on my Facebook feed that kept saying such horribly inane things like "praying for the people in Japan" or "my thoughts to Japan" really made me want to scream. It makes no sense - first of all, most Japanese are either Buddhist or agnostic, which makes a Christian prayer kind of pointless. Secondly, I thought God liked to smite infidels and idol worshipers? Saying something like that is really just a way for people to feel better about themselves for a moment and then continue on with their day.

kruxfelt said @ 9:24pm GMT on 11th Mar
I'll pray for you.

yevishere said @ 9:25pm GMT on 11th Mar
At least it hurts no one.

carrotboi said @ 4:13am GMT on 12th Mar
If I saw you praying I'd beat you, rob you and turn you into a generous donator.

devilsad said @ 4:01pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:1 Underrated]
Saying something like that is really just a way for people to feel better about themselves for a moment and then continue on with their day.

Congratulations, you've discovered the secret power of prayer. Making people feel good about doing nothing since 10,000BC.

consumer2 said @ 9:35pm GMT on 11th Mar
Done. Thanks. From Canada, you could also text ASIA to 30333 to donate.

arrowhen said @ 10:03pm GMT on 11th Mar
Asia, eh?

Or do Canadian phones add that automatically?

sacrelicious said @ 9:45pm GMT on 11th Mar
I'm going to pray for someone to donate to the Red Cross.

checkmate!

arrowhen said @ 9:53pm GMT on 11th Mar
I'll give one sincere prayer to any deity who can prove they matched my donation.

sacrelicious said @ 9:55pm GMT on 11th Mar
money is the root of all evil. ergo, you owe Satan a sincere prayer.

arrowhen said @ 10:02pm GMT on 11th Mar
I thought that was the *desire* for money.

Besides, until Satan proves that he sent in his $10, he'll have to manage without my prayer.

KingPellinore said @ 10:11pm GMT on 11th Mar
Actually, it's "Love of money".

Also, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

And that's why I blow all my money on booze.

arrowhen said @ 10:34pm GMT on 11th Mar
I blow all my money on booze because of my purely rational understanding of the fact that we're all alone in a cold, uncaring, and ultimately meaningless universe where death lurks around every corner and every drink may be my last.

That, and a lingering fear that there might actually be an afterlife and some bureaucratic fuck-up could accidentally condemn me for all eternity to the Mormon heaven instead of the Irish Catholic one.

crom said @ 1:01am GMT on 12th Mar
How is it rational to assume that the universe is meaningless?

arrowhen said @ 3:10pm GMT on 12th Mar
Because "meaning" is a purely human notion with no basis in objective reality.

arrowhen said @ 9:49pm GMT on 11th Mar
Is it racist for me to donate to Japan even though I never got around to donating to Haiti?

sacrelicious said @ 9:50pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:5 Funny]
it's not just racist, it's a Haiti-crime!

HoZay said @ 6:51pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:1 Underrated]
It's actually not too late to donate to haiti. They were fucked so hard, they're still a long way from recovered.
http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/

arrowhen said @ 9:58pm GMT on 11th Mar
Heh, I've had this phone for 3 months and this is the first time I got around to figuring out how to text with it.

mrcucumber said @ 10:02pm GMT on 11th Mar
I want to go to Japan, and spend money in communities that need it when governments agree to send them billions of dollars and military aid for the clean up and medical supplies/assistance.

I know this isn't going to go over well, and I don't really know much or can go into the red cross's books, but for every dollar you give to charity, how much of it actually goes to where you want it to as opposed to funding the bureaucracy that runs the machine of giving?

kruxfelt said @ 10:07pm GMT on 11th Mar
About 30 cents every dollar.

ComposerNate said @ 4:45am GMT on 12th Mar [Score:2 Informative]
If an organization gives less than 70% to the stated cause, they cannot be legally called a charity. Avoid charities which avoid the word "charity", like the Fox Republican Freedom Alliance.

CapnSilver said @ 10:08pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:2 Underrated]
Last I checked in '05 the Red Cross/Crescent took about 20c to the dollar in admin. And before anybody has a whinge, that's fucking excellent, shut your pie hole.

CapnSilver said @ 3:25am GMT on 12th Mar
That's a strange mod for someone who promptly answered your question cucumber.

papango said @ 3:28am GMT on 12th Mar
I don't think cucumber is genuinely interested. I think he is looking for a reason not to give without actually coming out and saying 'I'm not giving'. Which is stupid because it's totally optional and not everybody is in a position to donate, so it;s not really a big deal.

mrcucumber said @ 12:31pm GMT on 12th Mar
All speculation. I actually respected your response. Check to make sure who you are giving to isn't sucking up the majority of each dollar with admin costs. Simple. Everybody's knee jerk reaction is to give give give. I guess most learned after 9/11 were a lot of people were ripped off, and agencies and organizations abused the donations. But since I'm on the shit list, it is yours and capt's duty to slam me simply because.......?

sanepride said @ 4:12pm GMT on 12th Mar
....because you're a petulant dick?

sanepride said @ 3:58am GMT on 12th Mar
Not really so strange for cuke.

sanepride said @ 4:10pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:-1]
...and thanks for proving it mrc.

mrcucumber said @ 12:28pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:-1 Unworthy Self Link]
It was a dickhead remark. I plainly made it known I didn't know where the red cross stood on % of admin, yet you felt the need to insult me by adding the piehole thing. Papagano promptly answered it in a civil way. You were just being an ass.

sanepride said @ 4:25pm GMT on 12th Mar
You really need to grow a thicker skin dude. Or learn to lighten up a bit. Need I remind you this is the internet.

Naruki said @ 8:30pm GMT on 12th Mar
He really needs to learn basic fucking English grammar, is what he needs. CapnSilver's "anybody" made his comment general, not directed at the cukehole. And it's not even an insult, ferfucksake.

But yeah, he could stand to grow a thicker skin too. And a brain, moran.

sanepride said @ 8:58pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:1 Insightful]
Grammar's beside the point if you're determined to take everything personally.

Naruki said @ 9:38pm GMT on 12th Mar
Everything is beside the point if you're determined to take everything personally. But I was pointing out his actual mistake on the off chance he was interested in understanding what happened.

mrcucumber said @ 6:37pm GMT on 16th Mar
Hey capn-

Ex-Official of Red Cross Is Charged With Fraud The American Red Cross has been under fire for its management practices.

49 indicted in Red Cross scam The operation was so large, the Red Cross had to outsource the work.

Former Red Cross chief faces court in fraud case Johan Donner, is to be tried on embezzlement charges after investigations reveal he swindled charities out of nearly 8 million kronor ($1.13 million).

RTI activists demand CBI probe into Red Cross scam The RTI documents show siphoning off or diversion of funds or other irregularities pertaining to Red Cross span a period of seven years from 1999 to 2006.

Don't fall for Japanese Tsunami charity scams

Is the American Red Cross worthy of our donations?

Regardless, it all points to watching where your money goes - even with the red cross. Also, the figure is closer to 10% for 2008, but we don't know if that excludes fraud. Maybe you should shut your pie hole.

arrowhen said @ 10:09pm GMT on 11th Mar
Hey, if someone wants to give me a free trip to Japan, I'll happily give them my $10 in person. Until then, even if 90% of my donation gets wasted on hookers and blow in some Red Cross exec's pleasure dome, that's still a buck for the needy that wasn't going to help anyone just lying around in my bank account.

papango said @ 11:02pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:1 Underrated]
You don't have to ask that question just on the internet. You should be doing your research before giving to any charity. All the decent ones make that information available, if you can't find it out, don't give. Also check to see if they use donor funds or grants from places like the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to fund their admin. Some places do that so that regular donor money all goes to the cause and the admin is paid for by grants and large donations specifically for admin.

sanepride said @ 11:29pm GMT on 11th Mar
In the US all tax-deductible charitable organizations are required to disclose what percentage of their money goes to administrative/overhead costs. It's always easy to find this out.

buckaroo50 said @ 11:53pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:1 Informative]
Charity Navigator gives a breakdown of expenses, administration, and fundraising for a lot of U.S. charities.

rash1 said @ 10:20pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:-4]
I'm all for giving to charity, but this kind of thing makes me wonder. Isn't Japan one of the richest countries? I feel like this is just the Red Cross trying to boost their coffers.

xgp007 said @ 10:32pm GMT on 11th Mar
The USA is the world's richest country - look at what happened during Katrina.

rjm said @ 10:41pm GMT on 11th Mar
Yes, and yes. But the Red Cross needs the help more than Japan does right now, so give them a break.

foobar said @ 10:52pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:1 Insightful]
It doesn't matter how rich you are. The Red Cross has the equipment, know how, and staff to go in right-fucking-now and deal with horrible immediate situtations.

Yes, they are trying to boost their coffers, because they already have (or very shortly will have) spent the money on dealing with this. What they need are funds to replace that for the next time something like this happens.

sanepride said @ 11:31pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:1 Insightful]
If you've ever know anyone who has directly benefited from Red Cross assistance than you should know what a dumbass statement this is.

gm1970 said @ 11:42pm GMT on 11th Mar
As the others have said, yes but whatever the Red Cross doesn't spend in Japan they will use elsewhere. It's not like the RC is going to just put the money in the bank or spend it on hookers and blow. That would be Sensible Cross.

sanepride said @ 11:52pm GMT on 11th Mar
Just to emphasize - The Red Cross having money in their coffers is a GOOD thing. The point is they are there and ready to respond to disasters large and small. Anybody anywhere may need them.

Naruki said @ 1:57am GMT on 12th Mar
And it's not like Japan just scoffed at New Zealand's plight recently. They went there and helped out. rash1 sure earned his name. And I bet his middle name is "incredibly dickheaded".

sanepride said @ 2:20am GMT on 12th Mar
I see you're OK and irascible as ever. Not in Japan I take it?

Chop-Logik said @ 2:26am GMT on 12th Mar
Naruki eats Japan for breakfast!

sanepride said @ 2:34am GMT on 12th Mar
Shaken, not stirred.

Sorry.

Naruki said @ 3:39am GMT on 12th Mar [Score:-1 Troll]
Not since September of last year.

papango said @ 2:45am GMT on 12th Mar
Their Urban Search and Rescue Team was awesome. They turned up pretty much immediately with 66 people and three dogs and they're only just going home today.

sanepride said @ 3:59am GMT on 12th Mar
Too bad they're probably not getting a rest.

arrowhen said @ 4:13am GMT on 12th Mar
Hey, now, rash1 earned those 3.2 points of karma per year!

rash1 said @ 4:44am GMT on 12th Mar
I didn't say anything about New Zealand.

Naruki said @ 12:56pm GMT on 12th Mar
WHOOOOOOOSH!

Red Cross President said @ 12:18am GMT on 12th Mar [Score:-2]
BLOOD! BLOOD! WITH THESE RICHES I SHALL FILL MY BATHTUB WITH BLOOD! AND COOKIES!

sacrelicious said @ 1:52pm GMT on 12th Mar [Score:-3]
get your irony detectors checked. I'll lend you a nine-volt if you're out.

cheesemo said @ 11:02pm GMT on 11th Mar
The Huffington Post has a great list of organizations you can donate to.

J-Loser said @ 11:16pm GMT on 11th Mar [Score:1 Interesting]
I'd much rather go there and help in person, like Superman but really slow and relatively ineffective.

honourguard said @ 11:26pm GMT on 11th Mar
Canada Red Cross link for the texting thing (I wanted to be sure)
http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=38380&tid=001

and yes.

honourguard said @ 11:29pm GMT on 11th Mar
Ha... I didn't even know I had to text "yes" afterwards. I was just trying to be supportive and put some gravitas into the post.

My Irony failed.

gm1970 said @ 11:40pm GMT on 11th Mar
Other donation text numbers:

* Text “TSUNAMI to “50555” to donate $10 on behalf of Convoy of Hope, Inc.
* Text "JAPAN" or "QUAKE" to 80888 to donate $10 on behalf of The Salvation Army.

If you're a Sprint customer, they're waving texting fees for these texts.

assbastard said @ 12:45am GMT on 12th Mar
Thanks, added to the extended.

lilmookieesquire said @ 12:12am GMT on 12th Mar [Score:2 Underrated]
Just send all the money to me and I'll make sure it gets to the needy via trickle down.

papango said @ 12:16am GMT on 12th Mar
If I were sure you didn't think 'trickle down' meant pissing on people from a height, I would consider it.

Naruki said @ 1:55am GMT on 12th Mar [Score:1 Funny]
Hell, that's the only reason I'm sending him money!

CapnSilver said @ 3:27am GMT on 12th Mar
I'm sending all my small change. Feel free to distribute by the handful from towers.

Bodnoirbabe said @ 4:33am GMT on 12th Mar
Thanks for this info. I saw way too many stupid "we'll send our prayers" posts on my facebook wall. Japan loves those prayers! Keep sending them cause they're helping whole heaps!

ckfahrenheit said @ 6:20am GMT on 12th Mar
If people must pray -- ok I don't mind so much when people pray "for inner strength" - in that they're psyching themselves up to get up and do something constructive, which would be ... constructive. It's all these armchair miracle workers, who regard god as some sort of genie with unlimited wishes, that irritate me; they're playing the servant/master scene wrong for a start.

YHVH said @ 6:31am GMT on 12th Mar

Pray all you want, but do something tangible and donate to the Red Cross or other non-profits that can ACTUALLY do something about it.

I'm pretty sure I saw this exact quote on youtube for some video about the quake, was that you or the hivemind?

YHVH said @ 6:34am GMT on 12th Mar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPsHUlBp4PI