friday news roundup

Also would like to have a theme of the week or post some news that caught my eye.

1. Pakistani opposition leader Benzair Bhutto is released from house arrest. AP. Following the situation in Pakistan has been depressing and downright scary. TV stations shut down, opposition leaders shut in, protestors killed, military rule. Negroponte is scheduled to visit and hopefully get Pres. Musharraf to lift emergency rule. The needless deaths of civilians are only deepening the severity of the situation.

2. South Florida Charities growing faster than others in nation. Miami Herald. From a study by charity navigator. This is fluff. We are more generous in So Fl? I don't buy it, maybe people are for tax write-off purposes, but they are giving to programs that have a 20% overhead on average?? and to programs that aren't proven at solving root-causes etc. The idea of charity itself is getting the axe in my book. If you care, you get out there and get dirty. Want to fight homelessness? Stop your bias and start talking to the homeless and give them an ear, take them to lunch. Step outside of your comfort zone. I'm so sick of "safe" volunteer work. You care about working families, you walk the picket lines. Sure we are all at different stages, but acknowledge that volunteering a few hours may cause more harm than good and commit to yourself to get involved more deeply in a social issue that is affecting your community.

3. South FL interest rate highest in country. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Great.

I think the poll results so far say it all: more than half of the poll responders are considering leaving Florida because of the high cost of living.

Ok that is all for now.