What is it with dicators and their portraits? Are they so narcissistic that they must see themselves everywhere?

Captain Ed points us to a story about civil defense orders signed by Kim Jong Il himself directing the movement of his many portraits and busts to secure areas in underground bunkers if the U.S. attacks.

Michelle Malkin has a copy of a spam letter that looks as if it were copied from the infamous Niger letter.

My name is Marco Nula; I am a victim of the recent Earthquake followed by the Tsunami that wrecked our whole society of Banda Aceh Province in Indonesia resulting in painful death of my Parents.

My Late Father Mr. Alfredo Nula is from Paramaribo in Suriname (South America) and my Mother from Banda of Aceh Province in Indonesia, they got married in Suriname because Indonesia like Suriname was a colony of The Netherlands, but they moved to settle in Indonesia when my Sister and I were born and because Indonesia has better economy than Suriname, but my Sister and I was away in School in the Capital Jakarta when this sorrowful incidence happened to my late parents and all other Families affected by the Quake and the Tsunamis all around Sumatra and Aceh Province.
…

Read the rest.

Updated: From two previous posts: Captain Ed at Captain’s Quarters has designated January 12th World Relief Day (direct link to the Captain’s Campaign. As of 7:30 am CST on 1/13/05 it’s at $34,223.16! ) and Donald Sensing at One Hand Clapping forwards a request from Chief Wiggles for Relief Kits that are easy to assemble and FedEx will pick up for free.

Saudi Cleric Muhammed Al-Munajjid in an interview blamed the tsunami on Christmas.

Memri has an excerpt of an interview with him (with video clip #452 [no permalink to video]):

Al-Munajjid: The problem is that the (Christian) holidays are accompanied by forbidden things, by immorality, abomination, adultery, alcohol, drunken dancing, and… and revelry. A belly dancer costs 2500 pounds a minute and a singer costs 50,000 pounds an hour, and they hop from one hotel to another from night to dawn. Then he spends the entire night defying Allah.

Haven’t they learned the lesson from what Allah wreaked upon the coast of Asia, during the celebration of these forbidden? At the height of immorality, Allah took vengeance on these criminals.

Those celebrating spent what they call “New Year’s Eve” in vacation resorts, pubs, and hotels. Allah struck them with an earthquake. He finished off the Richter scale. All nine levels gone.

Tens of thousands dead. It was said that they were tourists on New Year’s vacation who went to the crowded coral islands for the holiday period, and then they were struck by this earthquake, caused by the Almighty Lord of the worlds. He showed them His wrath and His strength. He showed them His vengeance. Is there anyone learning the lesson? Is it impossible that we will be struck like them? Why do we go their way? Why do we want to be like them, with their holidays, their forbidden things, and their heresy?

Why would this “punishment” be given to all the children who lost parents and all the parents who lost children? The people who lost everything they owned? The people who have to worry that they might starve or be stricken by disease after surviving the tsunami? All those who aren’t Christian (many more than are in that part of the world)? Why indeed would God “punish” those celebrating the birth of His Son?

And if the tourists were celebrating New Year’s Eve why “strike” on Christmas – 6 days before?

Update: Welcome Daou Report readers!
Update 2: Welcome Friends of The Anchoress!

My post linked by Lorie at Polipundit and Byrd Droppings is here if anyone’s looking.

Darn Floor has a related post here.

Hugh Hewitt linked to this post which is linked to this one.

Happy New Year!

Donald Sensing at One Hand Clapping points us to another way to help with tsunami aid.

Relief Kits “Recipes” for the “Fill A Plane” Campaign

However, cash donations remain “most effective” way to
contribute

Chief Wiggles (aka Army Chief Warrant Officer Paul
Horton), who founded Operation Give while serving in
Iraq, just announced he has arranged for free FedEx relief flights to aid tsunami victims.

Cash donations are still the best bet and The Captain has designated January 12th World Relief Day.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!

DJ Drummond over at Polipundit has come up with an excellent Year in Review Post.

Direct Link to the Captain’s Campaign. As of 7:30 am CST on 1/13/05 it’s at $34,223.16!

Update: Captain’s Quarters has set January 12th as World Relief Day:

At Captain’s Quarters, we’re declaring January 12th World Relief Day. I ask that CQ readers donate their take-home pay for January 12th to the tsunami relief effort at World Vision. Obviously, we cannot hope to match the funds raised by governments — but we can show what a handful of determined private individuals can do to help. If you can’t afford to donate all of your take-home pay for that day, please donate what you can.

Spread the word.

CBS Marketwatch:

U.S. boosts aid to tsunami victims
President Bush commits $350 million, with more to come

“Our contributions will continue to be revised as the full effects of this terrible tragedy become clearer,” the president said in a statement issued Friday as Americans celebrated the New Year’s Holiday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this epic disaster.”

I guess France isn’t leading anymore…

France is claiming to lead in tsunami aid. Link. I am reproducing the story in its entirety here.

PARIS
France says it’s the top donor for the tsunami disaster relief effort in Asia. The prime minister’s boast that France is vaulting to “the head of all the contributors” follows barbs from the U-S about the extent of French generosity.

In an interview this week on Fox News, the chief of the agency that distributes American aid said France tends not to be a world leader in foreign aid — and often packages its help as loans. France’s Foreign Ministry has rejected those allegations.

Since Sunday’s earthquake that triggered the tsunamis, the U-S has announced an initial aid package of 35 (m) million dollars, while also facing accusations from some that it had been stingy. France has pledged to provide 57 (m) million dollars.

I’ve had a few hits from search results lately:

On Google someone searched for: baen free library instapundit
My post mentioning the Baen Free Library is here.

On Yahoo someone searched for: jerry orbach religion
I posted on Jerry Orbach’s death yesterday and I have mentioned religion in a few posts. Google Ads points to religious ads a lot.

I’ve also had several searches for assam american video because I posted that Fox News had the video.