Spen

If they collect unrestricted donations (money may be used for other relief efforts in addition to the one you may be donating for) or restricted (all money raised for a certain event will be used for that event); either way they get slammed for it. Now it seems like most people want the money to be unrestricted. Ten years ago when some people donated money for 9/11 relief efforts and found it might go to famine relief in other parts of the world some people were angry. That caused the situation with the Tsunami relief fund. From the last link But if a charity is worth supporting, then it’s worth supporting with unrestricted funds. I wholeheartedly agree, thats why I never got why so many people were upset with the Red Cross years ago. And BTW that same authors latest column suggests donations to the Red Cross. I am not saying the Red Cross is perfect and I am sure there is waste in some of their programs but from the research I have done now and in the last 10 years makes believe it is a good place to donate. I'll take the various audits I have read and the A- rating given to it by the non profit charity watchdog group American Institute of Philanthropy over editorials and blogs.

Some people started to slam the Red Cross when it was reported that a percentage of the money donated during 9/11 was kept by the Red Cross for administrative costs. This covers many things including travel expenses for volunteers. According to several sites and audits it looks like about 90% goes directly to programs like Haiti and Japan relief. Administrative costs are between 4 and 6% and fundraising costs are around 4%. http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/national/human-services/american-red-cross-in-washington-dc-679 http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277 So about 90% goes directly to relief programs. Doctors Without Borders (a fine charity too IMO) declares 14% in administrative and fund raising costs (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/info.cfm). If that is too little I suggest you donate elsewhere. It costs money to run these groups and pay for shipping and travel. I am also OK with some of them paying good salaries for good talent. Organizing some of these efforts has got to be a logistical nightmare and they need good people to do it. The Red Cross lists no salaries on its payroll in the millions. While it may not be a perfect charity, and thankfully I have never been on the receiving end of any aid from them, I have heard enough and seen enough to think they do a lot of good work. Hell, one of the ExtremeRavens posters house burned down one night and he said the Red Cross was there very quickly to provide food and shelter for them. In that thread as he mentioned how they helped him some chimed in with 'oh the Red Cross sucks' comments which I thought was a pretty poor time and place for those comments. Sorry for the rant, I am sure someone will find numbers to argue mine or just provide anecdotal evidence as to how bad the Red Cross is anyway.

Here is his quote: “The human toll here looks to be much worse than the economic toll and we can be grateful for that.” Papa, I understand where you are coming from but he could have stated things from that perspective many different ways that would have been far less offensive and callous. As it is any way I look at that quote its just wrong to me, and I wouldnt listen to someone who made a statement like that for financial (or any other ) advice because I question the intelligence of someone who would say such at thing at the time he did.

Wow, thats amazing and horrifying footage.

He was a great player, but he is too old to return as a RB.

That ending cracked me up.

Maryland, love it or leave it.

I cannot find any set prices, from what I read they will not set final pricing until its almost done.

I am not complaining about any particular tax used for construction and upkeep of roads. For the most part I agree with your thoughts behind the gas tax hike. I was commenting on the state acknowledging that certain parts of 95 were too crowded and gridlocked and thinking the solution was to build new premium lanes that they would charge us to use. So in that sense, they used our tax money to build the new lanes and then want to charge us to use them. The cost for using the express toll lanes will vary upon the time of day and traffic conditions, so when its most crowded and when the most people will need to get to work or wherever it will cost the most. I just think that is really wrong.

I have a big problem with roads being built with our tax money then us being charged to use them like some of the new 'express' lanes on 95.

I agree 100%. I thought it was OK, but nothing better. Renner was good in it. So was Mackie.

Hes going to be Hawkeye in the Avengers movie, that should get him some wide exposure.

I'm sure its good, and I am sure I will see it on DVD some day. It just doesn't interest me as much as the others. I was, or meant to, make fun of the Oscars more than the movie itself. Hey, how long was Guy Pearce in the movie? The Mrs has a crush on him and was excited to see The Hurt Locker. lol, if you know how long he was in that. And The Road too. So with him in it I know I will be seeing it sooner rather than later.

Ideally you make better faster reads and that helps. Its like the interception he threw week 17 against the Bengals. He leaves the pocket after almost 4 seconds even though he may not need to yet. Maybe he did, but either way the line did at least OK. The he runs and underthrows a pass to Heap. More importantly he misses Heap seconds before when he was wide open. Heap was wide open as he ran down the field. Joe's double whammy both in one play. Cant see his targets and holds on way too long. Yet most people were blaming the line after that play. http://www.nfl.com/videos/cincinnati-bengals/09000d5d81d62dd5 Oh well, lots of things to work on and upgrade between now and whenever the next season starts.

LOL yes it was. I was really happy with that movie until the affair. I think that slowed it down for me.

Shocking!

The ones I saw on your list: Inception - a lot of fun, and relatively well written and smart The Kids Are All Right - I liked it. I thought it got a little off track the second half but it was still good. Winter's Bone - Might be the best I saw too. Great performances from Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes (very underrated actor). The Town - decent but too long. Didnt like the ending they virtually stole from another movie after the original ending tested bad. Iron Man 2 - ok I want to see all the best picture nominees. Most look good to me. With the exception of what will probably win - The Kings Speech. Oh I'm sure its well done and acted, but it looks like a typical safe Oscar pick. A movie based on a real person with either a physical or psychological obstacle to overcome often equals Oscar gold. Unless of course they go full retard like Sean Penn in "I Am Sam" and Tugg Speedman in "Simple Jack". I just read the book "True Grit" and want to see the new version of the movie. The book was very good, very darkly funny.

It was for Brotherhood, but I really liked II as well. I think it flowed a lot better than the first.

I thought it was fantastic. I played it a ton. Loved the assassins recruiting and fixing up the city aspects.

I really didnt mean to argue about how we have different thoughts on Joe, I am just saying that if the Ravens have the fewest drops in the league with 14, I really do not think that is too big of a problem overall. Naturally that's just my opinion. If you think that dropped passes are a bigger problem than Joe finding and hitting open targets then that's your opinion. I just cannot see the Ravens improving on that next season, 14 is pretty damn few for a whole regular season. And I am not saying some of them were not at very bad times, there were some bad ones. However I bet most teams can probably point to a few passes where if caught they win another game or two.

Ravens had the fewest dropped passes in the league so I do not expect that to be improved upon. Not saying it didnt hurt us in the playoffs though.

Time will tell whether it will be a good extension or not, and the team does have problems but with his record and playoff record the first three years of his contract he deserves the extension. If it doesnt work out or goes horribly wrong then you fire him. No big deal.

RIP Ernie, he was a class guy.

I have never had Peri Peri cuisine before but it sounds good. When I worked in Burtonsville there was an authenticish Hunan place near my office. A few times I got different dishes from them and right afterwards my lips would swell up. They would be sore and itch a little bit but other than that nothing would happen. Within an hour all was normal. I am assuming that was some type of pepper. I liked the food so much I'd put up with it every few weeks. Often on NFL Sundays I'll pick up subs for the game and the place near me puts something in its chicken and shrimp salad that makes my mouth itch for the first few bites. Its not enough to bother me. Its scary how bad it got you. My wife has all kinds of food allergies, mainly fresh fruit and veggies that will either make her itch or if bad enough constrict her airway where she needs meds fast. If cooked she can eat most of them. Odd huh? Most docs think its a problem with pollen in them but they are not sure. Hope you get better fast!

The day after they beat the Ravens when I was walking my dog around my neighborhood I saw a bunch of houses with terrible towels taped up behind the screen door. Over the last few days walking around I saw only one house with Steeler decorations. Another time after a Ravens loss to the Steelers there was guy standing at a busy intersection near me waving a big Steeler flag. Those things and many more things over the years have convinced me that Steeler fans, at least most of the ones in this area, are more interested in taunting and gloating then they are in showing there support for their team or celebrating them.