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>> Scott Brown won Massachusetts’ Senate seat, formerly occupied by the late Ted Kennedy, over the dud known as Martha Coakley. Kiss health care reform goodbye, America. (Fox News)

>> A strong aftershock hit Haiti this morning. Also shocking: 3 million Haitians are still in need of food, water, shelter and medical assistance. (CNN)

>> Now that medical marijuana will be available in New Jersey for the deal-of-the-century price of $125/ounce, street dealers will lose customers and profits. They might even have to look for office jobs, which is not easy in this economy. (New York Daily News)

>> Amsterdam’s deputy mayor proposed new restrictions on brothels this week, like restricting opening hours and raising the minimum age for prostitutes to 23. Will people still go to Amsterdam then? (Reuters)

>> And finally: a proposal for Iran to send most of its atom fuel abroad remains in talks as an effort to diminish fears it will be used to make bombs. Here’s hoping they aren’t sent to North Korea. (the Washington Post)

(Photo courtesy Flickr)

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Estimated minimum number of people killed after an earthquake devastated Haiti on Jan. 12: 50,000

Number of miles separating Atlanta and Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince: 1,287

Estimated amount of cash Atlanta-based relief organization CARE will spend in Haiti on recovery operations in 10 days: $700,000

Approximate value of medical supplies and equipment donated by Atlanta-based MAP International: $2.8 million

Number of UPS employees, in addition to $1 million in cash and in-kind contributions, dispatched to Haiti by the Atlanta-based shipping company: 20

Amount of cash raised via a text message contribution program launched in part by Atlanta-based AT&T Mobility: $5.2 million

Number of search-and-rescue personnel (including search canines) dispatched by the state of Florida: 146

Approximate number of search-and-rescue personnel dispatched by Orange County, Calif.: 80

Number of search and rescue personnel dispatched by the state of Georgia, as of press time: 0

Sources: AJC, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, Office of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, UPS

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You don’t have to wait for the (TWO-TIME!) Sexiest Man Alive’s telethon to do your part to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Tonight at Rare on Piedmont Avenue, Big Boi and Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall will sponsor an event to benefit Atlanta-based CARE. The relief organization is on the ground in Haiti assisting in rescue and recovery efforts. Mayor Kasim Reed, who on Friday announced a partnership between the city and CARE, and other dignitaries are also scheduled to make an appearance. A $20 donation gets you in the door for the event, which kicks off at 6 p.m.

Are there other events happening? Shoot us a line or post ‘em in the comments.

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The U.S.’ reaction to last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti has, in many ways, been gratifying. Whadya know — we actually care a little.

Sure, there will always be Rush Limbaughs and Pat Robertsons sticking their dicks in the metaphorical mashed potatoes with predictably hate-filled racist outbursts. But so far, anyway, the reactions of the public, commercial media, and the federal government have been overwhelmingly decent and compassionate.

Concern for Haiti’s plight is so widespread, in fact, that it’s seeping into the parts of culture otherwise isolated from normal human reality. Perez Hilton, the popular celebrity gossip blogger best known for sketching penises and cocaine on paparazzi photos, is now sketching halos on photos of celebrities who have announced large donations of money to Haiti. Nothing to do with Haiti, but he also has a nip-slip beach photo of Carrie Prejean if you’re interested.

Two days after the quake, President Obama announced that the U.S. military would take a leading role in our humanitarian relief effort in Haiti. Roughly 3,500 women and men from the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as 2,200 Marines, should be in Haiti by now. Accompanying them offshore will be the Navy’s USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship with 12 operating rooms.

Continue reading “Don’t Panic!: Will the U.S. military’s intervention help or hurt Haiti?”

(Photo illustration by Andisheh Nouraee)

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The earthquake and aftershocks that rattled near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12 left the impoverished island country in shambles. Haitian officials say it’s still too early to put a number on the number of injuries and deaths caused by the tremors.

For a look at the devastation, visit the Boston Globe’s Big Picture round-up of Haiti earthquake images. For some perspective from an Atlantan who covered Haiti as a foreign correspondent, read this post by Mike Williams of Like The Dew. Really. Take a moment and check it out.

President Barack Obama said the United States would provide relief support. U.S. military officials say Marine forces could possibly be dispatched to assist in the efforts. Relief agencies are touching down to help those impacted by the disaster. The best way you can  make a difference is by reaching out and assisting well-established organizations who have the infrastructure to provide relief. Consider donating to the American Red Cross, Mercy Corps, UNICEF and Atlanta-based CARE. Help Haiti Now and Hope For Haiti have also been recognized as nonprofits that could use donations. Doctors Without Borders is a global nonprofit that’s skilled in emergency efforts. The U.S. State Department’s DipNote blog also has suggestions on ways Americans can assist and ways Americans can contact loved ones who might be in Haiti. AT&T has enabled a donation system via text message. The AJC also has a long list of additional organizations that are working to provide rescue and recovery efforts.

Thoroughly check out possible fundraising ideas that land in your inbox or pop up on Twitter and Facebook, as they could be scams or rumors. (UPS, which donated $1 million to relief efforts, has already had to squelch one hoax that said the company would provide free shipping to Haiti.)

If you know of local organizations, nonprofits or faith centers that are providing relief missions, feel free to leave them in the comments or shoot us an email.

(Photo courtesy International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Flickr)

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CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF: Fourteen Atlanta Chinese organizations have banded together and will hold various on-site donation drives this weekend and next. Another 5.5-magnitude aftershock hit the China quake zone today, causing landslides.

MOTHER’S DAY TORNADOES: Damage in Georgia has already reached $100 million, may exceed $125 million. The tornadoes also caused environmental damage, such as an industrial park in McIntosh County that was leveled, leaking fuel, oil and acid into the soil.

SOUTH RISING: Record black voter turnout for Obama could loosen the GOP’s decades-long stranglehold on the South.

TRIGGER MORTIS: Now that guns are the new iPod in Georgia, police are gearing up for a trigger-happier public, especially now that we don’t have to hide our guns in our glove compartments while driving anymore.

BODIFORD: Can stay on the Brian Nichols case, despite comments he made to the Marietta Daily Journal shortly after the deadly shootings.

ATLANTA TRAVEL PROFILE: Aw shucks, St. Pete Times.

LIZARD MAN: After a mystery animal chews up the bumper of someone’s car in Sumter, S.C., residents assume what anyone would — Lizard Man. They’re also willing to consider Bigfoot as a suspect, though, as a “renowned Bigfoot hunter” tells the local paper that there are more than 3,500 “Bigfoot creatures” nationwide.

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE: Closes Indian Creek MARTA station.

BRAIN TRUST: Scientists are studying the only three known hyperthymestics, or people with superhuman memories, to learn more about how memory works, hoping to help those with failing memories.

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