The News

[tamaranth]

1. Does anyone know if an Appeal has been set up yet re the Indonesian earthquake?
Edit: look here

2. They (which 'they'? Red Cross, perhaps?) would do very well if they accepted unwanted Christmas gifts for resale: though this wouldn't be a terribly efficient way of raising money, it would salve a lot of consciences, and I'm sure the infrastructure is going to need a great deal of investment over a prolonged period.

3. I note that it isn't the first severe earthquake in recent days. Linked?

4. Apparently SF author Roger Levy was one of the victims of the North London knifeman last week. Is this true? Any news on how he is?

5. It took me a long time to find something cheerful. But Online bookmakers Bet 365 offer 11/4 on Boris Johnson being photographed falling off his bike next year.

Hope you're all having a better time than most of the people in the news. Am beaming seasonal cheer (laced with the heady scent of maraschino cherries, mmmmm) at you all.

Comments

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

There was a 7.3 off NZ while we were there, too...

[greengolux.livejournal.com]

1. Does anyone know if an Appeal has been set up yet re the Indonesian earthquake?

Yeah (http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/asiaquake1204.htm).

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

I read that William Hill is giving 66-1 odds for Tony Blair growing a moustache this year. And apparently Arthur Best gets to collect on a bet he made in 1995 that he'd live to see his 100th birthday.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

2. They do? I believe that funds raised in charity shops count as 'fully flexible income', to be spent wherever the charity considers best (as contrasted to donations to specific funds and projects).

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I know they do -- those of them that have shops, anyway: I meant that if they were to advertise it as a way of donating for this particular disaster, they might get quite a bit more than they would otherwise.