Don't look to place blame, just help the victims of the 'cane

Hurricane Katrina has shown us that we have no power over nature. It has put the southern part of the Gulf states into a Third World situation ... a situation that will be with us all for some time.

Just think if you were faced with your home being wiped off the face of the earth ... your job, money and possessions erased as if they never existed ... no fresh water, no food, no sewer, no electricity, no roof over your head ... your relatives are missing ... the list goes on and on.

This tragedy, the one the Gulf Coast is facing right now, will continue for months and years to come. And it will affect all of us ... for much of our petroleum products come from there, as well as our natural gas, seafood, cotton ... you name it.

While we grouse about the cost of gas, it's a small price to pay, considering what the South is going through. If you want to help, please contact the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army ... they need money more than goods.

And for those of you we've heard already blaming the Republicans or Democrats ... stuff it ... put your money where your mouth is, and support those in such desperate need.

The sooner "the South can rise again," the better off we'll all be ...

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"A man, his wife, and mother-in-law went on vacation to the Holy Land, but while they were there, the mother-in-law passed away. The undertaker told him, 'For $5,000, we can ship her home, or for $150 we can bury her here in the Holy Land.'

The man thought about it and told him he would have her shipped home.

'Why would you do that,' asked the undertaker, 'when it's so much more expensive and we could give her a wonderful burial here?'

The man replied, 'A man died here 2,000 years ago, was buried and rose again three days later. I just can't take that chance.'"

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John Hurzel's Grandma Hattie's Family Restaurant has been chosen to receive the Nevada Restaurant Association's 2005 Restaurant Neighbor Award ... they certainly deserve it for all the good causes they support in Carson City, like Carson High School, the Nevada State Railroad Museum and many others ... congratulations!

And congratulations, too, to Brian Reedy, the CHS video production teacher who has been awarded $2,000 for his innovative teaching by the 2005 ING Unsung Heroes awards program. We knew we had great people in this town ...

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And, speaking of that, Jackie Maye, aka Mozart, will be presenting a benefit performance at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall at 10 a.m. Saturday to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina ... everyone is invited to attend and help out.

Proscenium Players will also be giving all the proceeds from their Sept. 24 performance of "The Foreigner" to the American Red Cross (883-1976). Thanks to all who are helping ....

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"At the end of his service, a minister asked how many of his congregation had forgiven their enemies. Everyone held up their hands, with the exception of one small elderly lady.

'Mrs. Jones ... are you not willing to forgive your enemies?'

'I don't have any,' she sweetly replied.

'Mrs. Jones ... that's very unusual ... how old are you?'

'Ninety-eight,' she replied.

'Well, Mrs. Jones, would you please come down front and tell us how a person can live 98 years and not have an enemy in the world?'

The dear old lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and softly said, 'I outlived the old farts.'"

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The Brewery Arts Center's annual Beer Tasting will take place 5:30 p.m. Friday ... (883-1976 for information) ... lots of wine and beer, along with great sausages and sauerkraut ... music and an auction will complete the party.

There's also a golf tournament put on at the Eagle Valley Golf Course for the Children's Museum Saturday ... for information, call 884-2226.

And, if that's not enough, you can check in Tuesday at 5 p.m. for a reception at Comma Coffee to see Walter Daniel's excellent narrative portraits of coal miners ... it's free and is sponsored by the Capital City Arts Initiative ... the exhibition will last for a month, so if you can't make it Wednesday, you won't be cut out completely ...

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BAC Stage Kids will have auditions for "Bluebird, The Star of the West," at 10 a.m. Saturday in the ballroom of the BAC (883-1976 for info) ... if you want to be a star in the town of Windy Gulch with lots of songs and dancing, this one's for you.

Auditioners should be age 6 to 16, and have a one-minute song to sing ... zippy personality a plus ...

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And if that's not enough ... the 12th annual Kid's Auction and World's Greatest BBQ will be held 3 p.m. Saturday in the Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park to benefit the Boys & Girls Club ... wonderful food, silent and live auctions and the terrific music of Lee Greenwood ("God Bless the USA") ...

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The people at NDOT are asking you to join in their prayers for Kayla Liebherr, the young daughter of Karen and Rob Liebherr. She is going through chemotherapy and could use your good thoughts.

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"A very genteel Southern lady was driving across a Savannah River bridge when she saw a young man about to jump ....

'Please don't jump,' she called, 'think of yoah momma and daddy.'

'Ain't got none,' he said, 'I'm gonna jump.'

She then implored him, 'Think of yoah wife and chillen.'

'Ain't got them neither,' he said. 'Well, at least think of Robert E. Lee.''

'Who's he?' he asked.

'Well, go ahead and jump, you dumb-ass Yankee.'"

(All jokes today courtesy of joker DeeAnn Parsons)

n Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at editor@nevadaappeal.com.