| Comedian Chevy Chase, when he anchored the | | | | than eight miles of tunneling.It's been |
| first Saturday Night Live faux-news desk, had | | | | reported that the federal commitment to this |
| a running joke that satirized, post-mortem, | | | | task has already exceeded $62 billion. One |
| the endless medical updates provided by the | | | | third of that amount has already been |
| public relations machine of a dying dictator | | | | deployed and it can fairly be said that its |
| ..."Here's a bulletin from Spain: Doctors are | | | | effects are hardly noticed. This total will |
| reporting that Generalissimo Francisco Franco | | | | be added to the federal deficit, of course, |
| is holding fast in his valiant fight to | | | | right along with the billions being spent to |
| remain dead!"The point, of course, was that | | | | do whatever it is they currently say they're |
| neither the Spanish public nor the global | | | | doing in Iraq. If the current administration |
| public at the time was ever fooled by the | | | | holds fast to its pledge against raising |
| propaganda of Franco's terminal condition | | | | taxes, the implication is that a host of cuts |
| during his last days. The tweak also carried | | | | in other programs are inevitable.Thus, |
| undertones that no government could overcome | | | | Americans won't have to be located along the |
| the forces of nature, no matter what it | | | | Gulf Coast to somehow share in its |
| announced.That brings us to the wake of | | | | devastation. Among other things, some |
| Hurricane Katrina.Anyone who has been to the | | | | interest groups are now taking a close look |
| Gulf Coast says that the media images of the | | | | at how funds are being utilized and |
| devastation there --- no matter how hard they | | | | allocated. Allegations of misappropriations |
| try --- just cannot convey the scope of the | | | | and the like are sure to follow.Contrast this |
| disaster. Vast segments of the region have | | | | state of affairs with the recent earthquake |
| literally been blown back a couple of | | | | in Pakistan. The magnitude of that disaster |
| centuries, to a time when electricity, | | | | was similarly breathtaking. If you missed it, |
| telephones, running water and the like were | | | | the Richter scale measured the quake at 7.8 |
| either a luxury or a futuristic concept. | | | | and an estimated 87,000 people were killed. |
| Usual conveniences such as food shopping are | | | | Their government already depends upon the USA |
| still a major challenge to many. Some jobs | | | | for much of its additional aid. It may be a |
| may have left with Katrina; like her, they | | | | while before they see anything significant to |
| may never return.This doesn't look like it's | | | | assist in this natural tragedy.One city there |
| going to get much better anytime soon, | | | | will have additional help. It's coming in the |
| either.I thought of this while taking a | | | | form of lottery winnings. A gentleman named |
| second look at the pages on the Longer Life | | | | Ishan Khan hit it big while working in the |
| site, all of which include the American Red | | | | USA as a taxi driver. He nailed a $55 million |
| Cross public service ad which appeals for | | | | jackpot and took his winnings up front, |
| donations to their hurricane relief fund. The | | | | netting over $32 million. Mr Khan moved back |
| appeals are just as urgent and relevant today | | | | to his homeland, where that amount of money |
| as they were when they were first posted. I | | | | can spend like $1 billion and where he |
| sometimes wonder, though, if those who view | | | | instantly became one of Pakistan's most |
| them don't get so accustomed to their | | | | wealthy private individuals.It's obvious to |
| presence that they ultimately look past them. | | | | Mr Khan that private assistance is necessary |
| I know the plan at the Longer Life site is to | | | | for relief efforts there to have any |
| keep them in place until all needs are met, | | | | immediacy. His village, Batagram, lost 4500 |
| which in my opinion, means the Red Cross will | | | | citizens in the 8 Oct quake and surely, a |
| be a fixture on their pages for a long time | | | | good number of those were known to him. |
| to come.The American government recently | | | | Here's the Associated Press account of his |
| released over 100,000 pages of documents | | | | response to date:"Just days before the |
| which dealt with their handling of the | | | | earthquake, Khan was elected district nazim, |
| crisis. It's notable in the impression that | | | | or mayor, of Batagram. After the quake hit, |
| they didn't give the matter much more | | | | he helped pull survivors from the rubble, and |
| attention than they would have if the | | | | paid to get the most seriously injured to |
| affected area was a third-world country. | | | | regional hospitals. He told pharmacists he |
| Having said that, the sheer volume of funds | | | | would pay them later for dispensing all the |
| required to repair and rebuild is | | | | medicine on their shelves. The bill came to |
| staggering.For example, it's been cited in | | | | 10 million rupees, almost $200,000."Khan has |
| the Los Angeles Times that the costliest | | | | bankrolled a program to supply roofing |
| public works project to date was the shift of | | | | materials to rebuild shattered homes. He |
| freeways in Boston to an underground route. | | | | bought 150 tents, some of which occupy land |
| The price tag was $14.6 billion, the time | | | | just outside his mansion with panoramic views |
| factor was 14 years and the object of the | | | | of snowcapped peaks."Most important, Khan has |
| exercise was to move just under eight miles | | | | emerged as a colorful and outspoken critic of |
| of roadway into a tunnel.The Gulf Coast | | | | local government corruption. |
| reclamation is going to involve much more | | | | |