Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Swirling Thoughts

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Swirling Thoughts: "A poem about how we are all so connected that one person's misfortune feels like our own."

Poison Politics Meet Domestic Terrorists, Volcano Axes Economies, Wall Street War, Octupus Thief - News Headlines 20 Apr 2010

Could Tea Party Rhetoric Lead to Another Oklahoma City?: (CBS)

It was fifteen years ago today that Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people by detonating an explosives-filled truck near the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in the nation's deadliest-ever homegrown terrorist attack.

McVeigh was an anti-government extremist inspired by the 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian compound at Waco; he railed against taxes, gun control and federal interference in Americans' lives...

Former President Bill Clinton, among others, see echoes of the rhetoric that drove McVeigh in the current political discourse. In an op-ed in the New York Times today tied to the bombing, he wrote that the bombers were driven by "the belief that the greatest threat to American freedom is our government, and that public servants do not protect our freedoms, but abuse them."

Lamenting the fact that "deeply alienated and disconnected Americans decided murder was a blow for liberty," Clinton went on to say Americans have a right to dissent but not violence when they don't get what they want.

There is, he wrote, "a big difference between criticizing a policy or a politician and demonizing the government that guarantees our freedoms and the public servants who enforce our laws."

That was a shot at folks like Rep. Michele Bachmann, who last week railed against what she called the "gangster government" at a tax day Tea Party rally. Clinton said it is not appropriate to call elected officials "gangsters" and added, "you can attack the politics" but "don't demonize them, and don't say things that will encourage violent opposition."

Time magazine's Joe Klein, meanwhile, suggested that the rhetoric of Glenn Beck and "to a certain extent" Sarah Palin "rub right up close to being seditious." Added New York Magazine's John Heilemann in that weekend interview: "Joe's right and I'll name another person, I'll name Rush Limbaugh who uses this phrase constantly and talks about the Obama administration as a regime. That phrase which has connotations of tyranny. And what's so interesting about it to me, to get to Norah's point - what is the focus, what is the cause of this? You think back to 1994, there was Ruby Ridge. There was Waco. There were triggering incidents. There's been nothing like that. The only thing that's changed in the last 15 months is the election of Barack Obama. And as far as I can see, in terms of the policies that Obama has implemented, there's nothing."

Thirty-eight percent of Americans now see domestic terrorism as a more serious threat than international terrorism, according to a new CBS News poll; that's up eight points from 2002. On Monday, MSNBC is airing a documentary called "The McVeigh Tapes" detailing McVeigh's motivations and perspective on his crime -- and raising questions about the dangers of the extreme rhetoric that influenced him...


Read the rest of the article as it's worth it, just click on the title link.

Reader Poll in the news story: Should Americans be concerned that heated rhetoric will incite domestic terrorism?

Results:

Yes - 63%
No - 36%





This recounting is astounding in its magnitude of how Mother Nature can affect our economies.


Volcano Ash Cloud Sets Off Global Domino Effect: (CBS/AP)


While the volcanic ash cloud covering parts of Europe continues to wreak havoc for airlines - costing the industry more than $1 billion as of Monday - grounding most of the continent's air travel for several days has had a ripple effect extending far beyond Europe's borders.

The following is a collection of international anecdotes demonstrating how the ash cloud has done more than hit airlines' bottom lines and inconvenienced air travelers.

• The lack of refrigeration facilities at the airport in capital of the West African nation of Ghana has been a big blow to pineapple and pawpaw farmers who sell to Europe because of the lack of flights. As of Tuesday, no cargo flights have taken off yet.

• In Africa, a group of five people from Sierra Leone and Liberia had to abandon a fact-finding trip to the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague.

• In Kenya, thousands of day laborers are out of work because produce and flowers can't be exported amid the flight cancellations. Kenya has thrown away 10 million flowers - mostly roses - since the volcano eruption. Asparagus, broccoli and green beans meant for European dinner tables are being fed to Kenyan cattle because storage facilities are filled to capacity.

• The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the ash cloud produced by the eruption has cost the U.S. economy $650 million, approximately $130 million per day. That kind of loss to the economy affects the cash flow to fund about 6,000 American jobs, the association said. Every international flight bound for the U.S. is worth an average of $450,000 in spending from travelers, which the association says pays for five jobs per flight.

• Nissan Motor Co.'s production at a line at its Oppama plant near Tokyo and two lines at its Kyushu factory in southern Japan will stop all day Wednesday because the planned shipment of tire pressure sensors from Ireland has not arrived, company spokeswoman Sachi Inagaki said. The suspension would affect nearly 2,000 vehicles, including the Cube compact made at the Oppama plant, and the Murano and Rogue crossover SUV models produced at the Kyushu plant as well as eight other models that are produced on the same production lines, Inagaki said.

• BMW North America spokeswoman Jan Ehlen told the Herald-Journal of Spartanburg on Monday that the automaker will likely reduce production at the BMW plant in South Carolina because of a shortage of supplies, but shouldn't have to shut the plant down. BMW uses planes to ship transmissions and other components from its German factories to South Carolina. The Greer plant makes BMW's X5 and X6 sport utility vehicles.

• The Pentagon said Monday that medical evacuation flights out of Iraq and Afghanistan are taking eight hours longer because flights have been halted to Ramstein Air Base in Germany for treatment at the Landstuhl military hospital. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the military is using the Navy's Rota Air Base in Spain to fly troops back to the United States for care at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington.

• The German Foundation for Organ Transplant is delivering hearts, lungs and livers to patients on the basis of how close they are to a delivery. In coordination with the European organization Eurotransplant, the foundation said all organs that usually get flown out to patients were instead being distributed via ground transportation.

• In New York City's Flower District, thousands of dollars worth of tulips, peonies, daffodils and hundreds of other varieties usually come in on the Friday night flights from the Netherlands to be distributed starting Saturday morning. Last weekend's weddings didn't have Dutch flowers.

• Swiss supermarket Migros warned of diminishing supplies of green asparagus during the beloved vegetable's peak season amid halted air deliveries from the United States. Cod from Iceland and fresh tuna filets from Vietnam and the Philippines could also run out, it warned.

• Italian farmers' lobby Coldiretti said each workday without flights costs euro 10 million (about $14 million) as mozzarella and fresh fruits risk going bad.

• Cambridge University's modern and medieval languages faculty delayed oral exams for Monday and Tuesday after students and examiners were left stranded late last week, Britain's Sunday Times reported.

• Marathoner David Gray missed his second consecutive Boston Marathon Monday. In 2009, he sat out the race because of injury. This year, he couldn't climb Heartbreak Hill because he was stuck in a hotel room in Brussels, Belgium.

• People trapped in the U.K. would partially offset the loss of revenue from tourists unable to fly to England, Howard Archer, chief economist of IHS Global Insight, told British newspaper The Guardian. "Obviously, the longer that the problem does persist, the more serious will be the economic repercussions," he told the paper.

A backlog of passengers waiting for flights to resume means tens of thousands of people are still stranded and increasingly strapped for cash. Stuck passengers have had to shell out for hotels, restaurant meals, clothing and transport to and from the airport as they seek information on when their travel nightmare might end.

• Andrew and Debbie Jackman of Britain spent more than two years saving up for their family vacation to Australia. After the couple and their two teen-aged sons squeezed into a 150 Australian dollar ($138) hotel room Friday night, the hotel raised the price of the same room to AU$350 Saturday - simply because it could, Andrew said ruefully. After endless negotiations, the hotel brought the price back down to AU$160, but the family, broke and frustrated, opted to move Sunday to a hostel.

• In Japan, Francois Broche was down to his last 3,000 yen ($30). The 33-year-old literature and philosophy professor from Nimes, France, said he would have to call his bank at home to see if he can get his money transferred - but doesn't know how.

• Nicolas Ribard, 29, from Avignon, France, was among about a dozen stranded tourists squatting on sleeping bags that Narita airport officials had lent them. He and three other friends had about 3,000 yen between them, and were surviving on airport-issued crackers, bottled water and coupons for one free shower a day.






Here's a related story of how those in poverty can't afford to miss a day of low wages.


More Ash Fallout: 10 Million Roses Ruined (CBS/AP)
5,000 Kenyan Horticultural Workers Laid Off as Blocked Flights Prevent Flower Exports


Daniel Oyier has been eating only once a day since an ash-belching volcano more than 5,000 miles away caused him to be laid off from his $4-a-day job packing red roses and white lilies for export to Paris and Amsterdam.

Some 5,000 day laborers in Kenya who have been without work since the ash cloud from Iceland shut down air traffic across Europe, showing how one event can have drastic consequences in distant lands in today's global economy.

"If this goes on for a week it will be really bad for us," said Oyier, 23, who sat against a fence most of Monday near Nairobi's international airport, hoping his employer would call him in. "I don't know how I will make rent."

Kenya has thrown away 10 million flowers - mostly roses - since the volcano eruption. Asparagus, broccoli and green beans meant for European dinner tables are being fed to Kenyan cattle because storage facilities are filled to capacity.

The horticulture industry is Kenya's top foreign exchange earner, making $922 million last year. Kenya exports 1,000 tons a day of produce and flowers - including roses, carnations and lilies, said Philip Mbithi, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya.

Mbithi warned of a cascading series of losses if the travel ban lasts much longer. Small-scale farmers who fund their operations through bank loans will begin defaulting on payments and won't be able to get funding for next season if exports don't resume, he said...





Help to Haiti "Not Good Enough": (CBS)

The Long Road Back: Two Million Still Homeless Seen as Sorely Lacking in Basics such as Sanitation, Schools and Security

In a tent city in Haiti, having an actual tent is a luxury. The homes are improvised. People have become masters at making something out of nothing. Even kids make kites out of discarded paper plates and pieces of plastic bags.

CBS News Anchor Katie Couric reports formal education is a luxury too. The few schools that have sprung up are a source of tremendous pride and excitement: two rare commodities.

Three months after the earthquake, what once was an impromptu urban settlement with just a few hundred families has swelled to more than 48,000 people.

"We think there're about 13,000 children here - about 250 or so of them are in school," said Dr. Louise Ivers...

Much more to this story about the daily lives of people in Haiti still living in inhumane conditions - click on the title link.





Michael Lewis: SEC Launched Culture War With Wall Street: (CBS)

The SEC suit against Goldman Sachs may be the tip of the iceberg. According to Michael Lewis, author of the best selling, The Big Short, on the Wall Street financial collapse, "We are in for six months of revelations that are going to astonish people about what happened during the subprime boom and bust."

In an interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric, Lewis said that Goldman Sachs isn't likely to be the only firm under scrutiny by the SEC. "What the SEC alleges Goldman did is something an awful lot of people were doing."

The bond market, which has been a kind of unregulated Wild West of sub-prime mortgage bundles and other exotic financial instruments, now has the belated attention of the SEC.

"Other Wall Street firms will implicated and other deals at Goldman Sachs deals will come to light," Lewis said. "The SEC essentially launched what amounts to a culture war."

"It's crazy for Wall Street firms to make bets for their own books on the stocks and bonds they are advising customer to buy and sell," Lewis said...

Lewis believes that Wall Street can't control itself and needs "wholesale change."

"People on Wall Street essentially had incentives to design bonds that would go bad...incentives to disguise risk, incentives to misallocate capital, and incentives to underwrite loans that would never be paid. The incentive systems need to change," he concluded.



Watch CBS News Videos Online






Glad to see the White House moving ahead aggressively on this issue. It's amazing any female would vote Republican when they and their daughters get handed a slap in the face like Bush did to women.


Bush-Era Policy on Sports Gender Equity Reversed: (CBS/AP) Schools Must Now Provide Stronger Evidence that They Offer Equal Opportunities for Female Athletes.

The U.S. Department of Education is repealing a Bush-era policy that some critics argue was a way to avoid complying with federal law in providing equal opportunities for female athletes.

Under the move, schools and colleges must now provide stronger evidence that they offer equal opportunities for athletic participation under the federal Title IX gender equity law.

It reverses a 2005 policy under former President George W. Bush that allowed schools to use just a survey to prove a lack of interest in starting a new women's sport and encouraged schools to consider a non-response to the questionnaire as disinterest.

"Discrimination continues to exist in college athletic programs - and we should be vigilant in enforcing the law and protecting this important civil right," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a prepared statement...

"Making Title IX as strong as possible is a no-brainer," Biden said. "What we're doing here today will better ensure equal opportunity in athletics and allowing women to realize their potential — so this nation can realize its potential."

The Education Department has sent letters about the change in policy to more than 15,600 school districts and 5,600 college and university presidents.

"This is a great step, a reaffirmation of faith in equality for women," said former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, who helped pass the law in 1972 and called the change long overdue.

Schools have three ways to comply with Title IX: Match the proportion of female athletes to the proportion of women on campus; show a history of increasing sports for women; or prove the school has met the interest and ability of women to participate in athletics.





And for something to amuse you... a friendly octupus! And I have the video to prove it.


Octopus Steals Camera, Takes Video: (CBS)

Swipes $700 Device from Diver, who Retrieves It from Creature's Mouth, Saves Footage

A San Francisco man living in New Zealand was shooting some underwater video last week off the southern coast of Wellington when he got a bit too close to a curious octopus.

The octopus decided to steal the diver's expensive camera, and do a bit of shooting of his own!

Victor Huang said the octopus might have been attracted to the metallic blue color of the camera.

"It just saw something a bit different and unique and wanted to collect it for its little gypsy collection," Huang said.

"Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez pointed out that it's interesting that octupi like to collect items to keep in their lairs for protection.

Huang, who was diving without an oxygen tank, said he was initially "freaked out" by the octopus, and feared for his life. However, Huang added that he soon realized the eight-legged creature was just after his $700 camera, prying it with its strong arms from his hands.

"That's nuts. That's so crazy," "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith remarked.

But Huang wasn't going to say good-bye to his equipment that easily. After going up for air, he chased the octopus for nearly five minutes from the surface, finally noticing that the octopus had slowed down beneath him. He dove down to the animal and held out a spear gun. The octopus attached, opening its mouth, providing a moment for Huang to reach into the animal's mouth and pull out his camera.

Smith pointed out that the beak on an octopus can crack open rocks. So why did Huang bother?

For the octopus' footage, Huang responded.

"I figured that camera must have had amazing footage, so I kind of took that risk and just went for it."



Watch CBS News Videos Online







*** Also funny political news:

Crazy Limbaugh Blames Iceland Volcano on Obama

Outrageous Tea Party Tax Signs and the Perverted Fools That Carry Them - outlandish but true photos collected here from Tea Party rallies



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

97 Posts Roundup From All Dennys Blogs

*** Your reading choices from news, politics, poetry, spiritual, health and weight loss tips, party food and chocolate recipes, science and lots of humor from funny videos to political cartoons. Catch up on your fav blogs or get a new fav! :)


Photo by d u y q u @ flickr


From Denny: This post is number 601 for The Social Poets blog, my first! Woo! Hoo! :) Who knew where blogging would take me - and you - this past year?

I'm finally getting back into regular blog writing. I took a couple of weeks off early in January to slow down the daily writing on 12 blogs for a well deserved rest. Just when I was ready to resume writing the Haiti earthquake hit. Then the three week saga started with trying to find my cousin who had been visiting Haiti at the time of the earthquake disaster - to donate her time as a music teacher. After three weeks she was given a cell phone and talked to her mother and sister.

Of course, as usual, worried family is not so good on details, not thinking like a journalist, and I still don't know her exact location. Sounds like she's in some tent city on some soccer field, recovered from vague details of bad bruising and a not described concussion from falling debris as she ran out of the music school where she was giving a concert. Apparently, one of her students died, though again, no details or name given. She has gathered several of her other students with her - again no names or updates on their status - since they are separated from their parents or may not know the status of their parents.

Well, one detail I know for sure is that my cousin Jeanne will do all she can to help the children around her to keep up their attitudes and play some music for everyone to cheer them as well.

I just wanted to take the time to thank all of you, my subscribers and blogging friends, for checking back on all these blogs for updates on Jeanne and new posts too. Some of the blogs have languished for daily posts. The past week I've worked at getting caught up and created this post for a roundup of posts on all the blogs so you can get caught up easily too. Again, thanks so much for showing up to check out each blog as it's much appreciated!




Photo by Ahmed Rabea @ flickr


From The Social Poets:


Libations Friday Poetry

*** Blog Carnival for Poets - create a poem about orphans and your poem linked here: Angels Left Behind: Orphans of the World poem - Libations Friday 29 Jan 2010 - promote your blog!

Three Endings and One Beginning Poem - Libations Friday 5 Feb 2010 - *** 4 life stories of people I have known: 3 committed suicide, 1 reclaimed their life.

I Wait, poem for Haiti - Libations Friday 22 Jan 2010 - *** Told from the point of view of an earthquake survivor buried underneath the rubble awaiting rescue. Dedicated to the people of the Haiti earthquake disaster of 12 Jan 2010.

Humor:


*** Cheeky Quotes Wednesdays ***

Funny Reincarnation and Religion Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 3 Feb 2010

Inspiring Quotes About Disaster - Cheeky Quote Day 20 Jan 2010



*** Roundup of Late Night Shows *** Mondays

Roundup of Late Night Funnies 1 Feb 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies 25 Jan 2010



*** Political Cartoons Saturdays ***

Editorial Cartoons This Week 30 Jan 2010

Editorial Cartoons This Week - 23 Jan 2010



Social Issues News:

Good News: Child Abuse Drops Dramatically

67 Charities to Donate: Helping Haiti Heal

Mission of Hope Run by American in Haiti

This Weeks Posts @ The Social Poets 19 Jan 2010

Popular Posts 2010 at The Social Poets and Thank You!

Popular Posts 2009 and Thank You: The Social Poets





Dennys Global Politics where I pull together several days of clips of ongoing stories into one post:


Haiti News:


What Structural Engineers See For Haitis Recovery

Summary: Surviviors Process as They Rebuild Lives

Lucky Haiti Orphans Found Open Arms, New Homes



Politics in America:


How Wall Street Killed the Middle Class in America

Obamas Political Showdown with Republicans: Full Length Video and Text

Political Showdown: Obama in Face-Off with House Republicans

Prez Obamas 1st State of the Union Speech Text and Video

American Public Angry at Prez Obamas 1st Year in Office




From Beautiful Illustrated Quotations for thought-provoking quotes and commentary:

Let Your Silent Voice Sing

How Do Dreamers Create Our World?

How Are Our Lives Like An Open Book?

Beautiful Quotes

Popular Posts 2009 at the BIQ Quotes Blog




Photo by Tambako the Jaguar @ flickr


The Healing Waters:

Popular Posts 2009 at The Healing Waters

Famous Nutritionist Joy Bauer Offers 5 Dieting Tips for Success

Clean Hidden Areas of Your Home, Avoid Allergy Causing Mold and Mildew

Weight Loss: Not So Secret Secrets Anyone Can Do

How Many Poisons in Our Food Supply?

Healing Remedies: Food in Your Fridge

Healing Power of Plants and Herbs

6 Good Friends You Need to Live a Long Life

Reclaim Your Life, Reclaim Your Joy Now

Updating Your Home: Decorating Dilemmas Solved

Bobbi Browns Makeup Tips, Great Beauty Buys for 2010

Skinny Foods to Help Us Slim Those Excess Pounds

Good News: Successful Potato Peeler Salesman Joe Ades

Trim Off Obesity: 3 Inspiring Stories, Nutritionist Answers Diet Questions




Photo by Image Editor @ flickr


The Soul Calendar for science:


Last Resort Climate Fix: Geo-Engineering

Videos: Explain Rare Haiti Earthquake

Rare Annular Solar Eclipse





Romancing The Chocolate for more than chocolate and party recipes:


4 Fun Marti Gras and Super Bowl Recipes

Sweet Tooth Alert: Sandra Lees Chocolate Truffles

Chef Sandra Lees Easy Frozen Chocolate Cookie Cake

Chocolate Cake Recipes at Romancing The Chocolate

How to Cook Perfect Al Dente Pasta, Giadas Simple Recipe

Funny Quotes About Chocolate

Oozing with 3 Cheeses and Cheap: White Lasagna

Winter Brain Food: Parmigiano Pasta with Mushrooms

Swapping Food Choices for Less Fat and Calories to Trim off holiday pounds

Valentines Day: Impressive Four Chocolates Cake

Kid Pleasing Easy Brownie Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Popular Posts 2009 at Romancing The Chocolate and Thank You!




Photo of New Orleans in French Quarter on Bourbon Street by Lyndi&Jason @ flickr

GEAUX SAINTS!!! The Saints win the Super Bowl by 31 to 17 over the Colts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Their first Super Bowl win!!!!! It's going to be the first time Marti Gras becomes a nine day celebration down in New Orleans! :)

Comfort Food From Louisiana for more party ideas for a crowd:

Popular Posts 2009 at Comfort Food From Louisiana, Thank YOU!

6 Super Bowl Junk Food Recipes

9 Easy Marti Gras and Super Bowl Eats

Chef Sandra Lees Quick Baby Back Ribs

Super Bowl Food: Jumbo Shrimp and Gouda Grits

5 Tasty and Weird Bacon Recipes

Secrets to the Tastiest Tailgating Party

Newest Fish Trend: Silverfin Asian Carp, 2 Recipes

New Orleans Saints Celebration Menu: Jambalaya and Crawfish Gold

Paula Deens Shrimp Gumbo Casserole

Easy Winter Comfort Food: Beef Burgundy

Cajun Comfort Food Chases Away Winter Cold, 3 Recipes

5 Recipes: Lemon Chicken, Portobello Fries and Sides

8 Easy Yummy New Years Recipes to Warm Your Guests




Photo by Kjunstorms @ flickr

From Visual Insights, a photo blog:

14 Soothing Tranquil Water Photos

11 Great Quotes and Sayings Photos

14 Photos: Our Love Affair with Weird Hair

12 Funny Things You Can Do Outside With Shrubs

Artist Inspires With HOPE Sculpture

Spectacular Photos of Eyes




Photo by Tambako the Jaguar @ flickr

From Dennys Funny Quotes get a laugh:

Funny Quotes From Curmudgeons: These Guys Need to Lighten Up!

15 Wild Cartoons on Prez Obamas 1st Year in Office

Political Cartoons: Obamas State of the Union

Its Official: Folks Bring Back Thiefing Republicans, Hand Senate Seat to Them

Popular Posts 2009 of Dennys Funny Quotes and Thank YOU!

5 Funny Quotes About Time

Funny Music Video of How Americans Sound to Foreigners

Funny New Years Resolutions Cartoons

Funny Quotes About Coffee

Funny Quotes About Jobs and Work

How Funny! 10 Banned Overused Buzzwords of 2009

Jimmy Kimmels Dumbest 911 Calls of the Decade

Funny Quotes: Hollywood Actress Mae West

New Austrian Zoo Photographer is Fruit Happy Orangutan




Habenero pepper water splash photo by Tambako the Jaguar @ flickr


From Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd humor blog:

Popular Posts 2009 at OOOO Humor Blog, Thank You!

Funny Video: The Daily Show Declares Scott Brown the 45th President of The United States

Funny Video: Colbert Says Obama Is Doing Nothing and Destroying Everything

Funny Video: Mocking Rush, Robertson, Maddow Who Mock Haiti

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Lampoons Massachusetts Senate Election

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Lampoons Wall Street Bonuses


*** Get a good laugh, watch a funny video, catch up on politics and ongoing news stories, read a good poem, consider some deep thoughts, check out the science and health news, get tips for weight loss and collect some fabulous ideas for great food so you have a good reason to diet! Enjoy life, not war. Works for me! :) Thanks for visiting the blogs this year!

President Obama: Executive Order 13529, Regarding Haiti

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

January 17, 2010

Executive Order 13529 and Letter Regarding Haiti

Attached are an Executive Order and a letter signed by the President yesterday, January 16th regarding ordering the selected reserve and certain individual ready reserve members of the Armed Forces to active duty.

This Executive Order will help the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security support the relief effort in Haiti. It will be used on a limited basis, principally to support targeted functions associated with this humanitarian mission. For instance, it will allow for the call-up of reserve medical personnel to replace those deployed on the hospital ship Comfort and it will allow for the deployment of a Coast Guard unit that will help provide port security.

Current State of Haiti 3 Days After Quake

From Denny: Situation grows worse even as aid spills into Haiti. Tens of thousands are found dead and the list is growing. Haitians are frustrated and angry even though 20 countries have sent aid it still is a problem getting it to the people.

40,000 are now buried and estimates are 100,000 dead but no one yet knows for sure how many will be found in the coming weeks as the country digs out from this natural disaster.

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton is due to travel to Haiti tomorrow to offer comfort and support. President Obama has already pledged over $100 million toward the initial effort to help Haiti in their hour of need.

This is the news broadcast in its entirety so you can get a feel for the fluidity of the situation:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Haiti Flattened by 7.0 Earthquake, Awaiting Rescue, Charity Worker Cousin Survived

From Denny: Since this 7.0 earthquake hit in Haiti yesterday I've been trying to reach the U. S. State Department. Their lines are jammed and on overload. Read that as they drop your call even if you are willing to stay on the line.

My cousin, Jeanne Pocius, is a music teacher who goes to Haiti at regular intervals, working with local charities and missionaries to work with the children. She teaches classical music and even developed a children's orchestra in Haiti. We still have no word about her condition. According to music world friends at Facebook, she survived the earthquake along with a priest and a nun with whom she was traveling, as they were in Jackmel, not the capitol city.

Well, at least she's in a remote village where there will not be quite the competition for food and water like in a metro area. These situations can get quite desperate within a few days if help does not arrive in large enough quantities fast. These people are already without food for two days now.

I live in south Louisiana and when Hurricane Katrina hit five years ago, destroying parts of the interstate and more infrastructure it was difficult to get to New Orleans to help the stranded. Once power was restored all we could do was watch the TV news like the rest of the nation as we saw people starving and dying in front of the cameras because of President Bush's ineptitude and lack of compassion. Hopefully, that will not be Haiti's fate as it seems the world has turned our attention to their plight.

Take a look at what the residents are facing in their uphill fight back to normalcy. Remember, this will take decades to rebuild Haiti as whole infrastructures of hospitals, roads and homes are now gone. Please pray for everyone as the injured are without medical care and will worsen in the next day, disease will begin to break out from unclean water and sanitation. Hopefully, enough help will get to them in time to avert the worst that can happen.

Search and rescue dog teams from California, the same wonderful folks who helped so much in Louisiana when we needed them, are on their way to Haiti. People from California are such a class act. They do so much whenever a disaster strikes. Pray for them too as long days lie ahead for them in the grueling work of rescue.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, a big thank you to current subscribers - if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email!

Haiti Smashed by 7.0 Earthquake Late Afternoon

From Denny: Here's the NBC News account of what happened today in Haiti when a terrible earthquake struck about 5 PM their time. Last year seismologists warned the Haitian government that a strong earthquake could happen soon in the next two years - that was about 18 months ago.

Running laterally through the entire country is a fault line and this earthquake region is known as "the ring of fire." Haiti's last earthquake of this high magnitude on the Richter scale happened 220 years ago.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

*** THANKS for visiting, come back often, a big thank you to current subscribers - and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email!