Pakistan relief and Columbia U

Pakistan Earthquake: Columbia Joins Global Outpouring of Sympathy and Assistance


Columbia joins the global community in offering condolences to all who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods as a result of the recent earthquake in Pakistan.

Many regions of our world have suffered devastation and catastrophic loss of life in the wake of recent natural disasters. While the catastrophes in this country and elsewhere have been devastating, U.N. officials and relief operation experts have described the situation in South and Central Asia following the Oct. 8 earthquake as the worst disaster of the century; far worse than the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.

The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan's north is estimated to have killed 79,000, and aftershocks are still continuing in the north. About 3.3 million people are homeless, many villages are cut off by landslides and the brutal Himalayan winter will begin in three weeks, further underscoring the immediate need for tents, blankets, food and other essentials.

Many in the Columbia community are joining others across the globe in offering assistance to the survivors of these tragedies in the form of donations, public health service, relief efforts and prevention strategies.

For example, the Columbia University Asian American Alliance will host a fundraiser to benefit victims of the South Asian earthquake and Hurricane Katrina on Wed., Oct. 26, at 7:00 p.m. in Altschul Atrium. The event will feature the Ken Oak Band. Donations are $2 for admittance. Food also will be available for purchase.

Those wishing to donate money or time to the earthquake or hurricane relief efforts may contact the following organizations:

Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America
American Red Cross
CARE
International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies
International Rescue Committee
Oxfam
Pakistani President's Earthquake Relief Fund
Relief International
Save the Children
UNICEF

Talk about being underdressed

I got out of the subway at 59th and Lexington. A really tall man was walking around in a ladies' camisole, some pantyhose and nothing else. Not that many people were staring, but the few who were kept asking "Is that a man?"

Just check out the junk in front and there's your answer! That pantyhose did not leave anything to the imagination.

I can't believe it's all sugar!

I went to the Buttercup Bake Shop today and the woman in front of me in line kept saying how she could not believe thateverything there contained sugar. That is like going to a bar and complaining about how much alcohol is in all the beer.

more on flyering

I expanded my career in flyering by taping signs up for an upcoming show in the Village. You know how you see a lamp post all gunked up with signs? That is the doing of me and others.

I was kneeling by one lamp post, on the phone, preparing to tape up a sign, when another person swooped in and taped his sign up on the very spot I was going to tape! He was like a ninja! so -- this is serious business with stiff competition.

One sign I saw: someone had posted a sign that said "Dial this number and screeeeeam!" It just had some random person's cell phone number on it. ha. someone has too much free time, and hopes that we all do, too.

Dedications in the park

All through central Park, there are benches with dedications to people on them. Today, I saw this really cute one in the Park, close to 5th Avenue and E 61st Street:

"Walks in the Park, Cozy Rides in a Carriage
Hot Dogs and Talks of Our Loving Marriage
Helene and Joel Wayne dedicate this seat
May all who sit here have love as sweet."

Cupid the cabbie

My friend CJB got in a cab yesterday and the cab driver asked her if she knew who he was. She said that she didn't. He said he was Ahmed the Cabbie.

I have read about this 50-something Egyptian-born cabdriver with a knack of introducing people to non-psychos. He himself met his girlfriend in his cab. He informs the guys he knows that if he finds otu they misbehave themselves they are off his list. He asks questions about the girl, lets her know if he thinks he has a guy for her, takes her name and number to call her later with the guy's information (he doesn't give it directly to the guy) and they take it from there. he apparently ha a fantastic track record.

AND a book and movie deal in the works. He is represented by the William Morris agency and has been featured in people and Glamour magazines (among others.) he has appeared on Letterman and other talk shows.

CJB was with her boyfriend -- they were going home from celebrating their first anniversary -- but she gave him MY details. He thinks he has a guy for me. So .... we'll see. I said I would go out with the guy at least once, it would indeed be an adventure.