STUMBLE UPON ::: My favourite whipping boys these days. ::: In one of their many infamous "Newsletters" these millionaires from Calgary, Alberta, relocated to San Francisco, that bankrupt State, gall me about how CHARITABLE they are because they give money to Africa. What a damned novel idea! Bragging rights. It has become the hoof and mouth disease of the decade to outright BRAG about things that in past generations were kept private under the name of altruism and humanitarianism. In other words: what I donate to "charity" is none of your god damm business! It is so declasse, the nouveau riche 30-somethings who are the loudest braggarts of them all. :: Personally I don't give a flying sheep that you give food to poor little Africans. The line forms to the rear. Half the civilized world is doing the same. Big deal. ::: Get out of your air conditioned offices in The Valley, get off your duffs, and spend two years in East Africa working - pro-bono. Then you can tell me about your "contributions" to the poor, little African kids starving over there. HYPOCRITES ALL. :: Tax deductions. Doesn't cost you a god damn cent. ::: When I was an under grad I spent two years in Ghana teaching English as second language with C.U.S.O. Zero pay. Came down with malaria that damned near killed me. The after affects last a lifetime. There is no cure for malaria. ::: I BELIEVE in putting VERBS behind my ADJECTIVES. ::: I received today in my email the following information: (American, again): "Every month, we send a full year of sponsorship to a different child. Your contributions in October are helping us to sponsor Alberson Alexan, a four-year-old boy from Guatemala. Children International channels development aid from donors to Alberson Alexan and his community. We also sponsor kids through Save the Children." ::: No kidding. ::: This company is using MY money to support THEIR cause. ::: There has never been a day in my adult working life that we have NOT been solicited for money to support every damned "cause" on the planet. I have my own personal "causes" which I do support with verbs behind my adjectives. I come from generation upon generation of humanitarians. But we do it SILENTLY. :: I truly object to all this public display of hypocrisy. Reminds me of Jesus amongst the Pharisees in the Temple when he lost his human temper for once. :: Today I am an Owl. Leave me alone. My rabies vaccination is not due until next month. ::: Grrrrrr...bite, bite, bite...grrrrrr...bite...bite. bite...grrrrrr...