The Red Cross has it's problems and a lot of them can be attributed to a bureaucracy that makes the US government look streamlined. The big thing with a lot of getting what you need from the Red Cross is being aware of the rules and priming the pump. It's what I had to do when I was stationed in Spain and my brother was dying of cancer. Requests for emergency leave (which puts you highest priority on MAC flights) have to come from the Red Cross. But a family member can't just call them up and say, "send my relative home, soandso is dying." You have to have a signed statement from the attending doctor stating what the situation is. It has to be properly communicated from one Red Cross office to another. Don't follow the proper rules, you don't go home. My boss didn't give his family all this info and he didn't get home until after his father died. I gave my mother all the info, she followed the steps and I got to spend two weeks with my brother before he died. Pain in the ass, yes, but worth it.

I got a cat for all of the reasons, I suppose. There are too many of them out there that need homes. This one is just so much more evil than the last one. I waited a full year and a half after we lost Bogey so I wouldn't feel like I was trying to replace him.

We'll probably get another one when O's a little older and won't be so hard on a kitten.

Hec, I want to send you an email. Is profile addy ok?

Is profile addy ok?

Try hecubot@gmail.com

gotcha.

Also? Wooooooo! Email from Cashmere!

Why do local news stations feel it necessary to send reporters to tsunami striken locations? That can't possibly help.

Why do local news stations feel it necessary to send reporters to tsunami striken locations? That can't possibly help.

First rule of journalism: If it bleeds, it leads.

Sadly, people tune in to the carnage.

Yes, but... surely networks could plan this such that only a handful of reporters covered it for all the affiliates. At some point other considerations really should take priority.

surely networks could plan this such that only a handful of reporters covered it for all the affiliates.

Except for the whole being in competition with each other part.

surely networks could plan this such that only a handful of reporters covered it for all the affiliates.

Only a very few local stations are actually owned/controlled by their affiliated network. The rest are independently run (but within the confines of their agreement with the network) and are under no obligations to exercise restraint. Especially when it comes to disasters of any kind.