Thursday September 27 6:05 PM ET

McCartney, Others to Stage NY Benefit Show

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Paul McCartney, The Who, Macy Gray and a host of other performers are scheduled to stage a concert on Oct. 20 in New York to benefit victims and rescue workers from the attacks on the World Trade Center, organizers said Thursday.

``The Concert For New York,'' to be held at Madison Square Garden, will also be televised live on VH1. Other confirmed performers include Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Goo Goo Dolls (news - web sites), Melissa Etheridge, India.Arie as well as Hollywood stars like Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Cusack.

The money raised will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was established by the Robin Hood Foundation, which helps needy families in New York, and the Twin Towers Fund, which was established by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) to benefit rescue workers. Funds will also go to a number of other relief organizations.

More than 6,000 people are believed to be dead or missing, New York officials said on Thursday.

Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale Sunday, Oct. 7 at noon through Ticketmaster.

VH1, which is owned by Viacom Inc. ; New York cable operator Cablevision Systems Corp., which also owns the Garden and Walt Disney Co.'s Miramax Films unit, will help underwrite the costs of the event. AOL Time Warner's Internet division America Online plans to Webcast the event on its service.

McCartney was originally planning to host a concert of his own to benefit New York's firefighters, but agreed this week to join the larger event.

``A Tribute To Heroes,'' a two-hour television special that aired earlier this month on over 35 U.S. broadcast and cable channels raised over $150 million for relief organizations.

-- (oh@happy.day), September 28, 2001

Answers

How much money do the victims need? It's bad enough that Bush already donated a huge chunk of taxpayer money to the airline industry so that they could pay off all the lawsuits by the victims. In addition, people all over the country have been sending $$billions to New York. The families of the people who died are ALREADY rich beyond their wildest dreams! Even their pets now have more money than the average American! Thousands of people lose loved ones every week in this country, and no one sends THEM millions of dollars. They have to fight to survive, just like the rest of us. What the hell is it with these damn liberals?? Why is it so different this time? Either there is a lot of exploitation going on, or the taxpayers are getting screwed. Or BOTH!

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 28, 2001.

The families of the people who died are ALREADY rich beyond their wildest dreams! Even their pets now have more money than the average American!

You vould document this remark pleasss?

-- (Terminator@BS.schtops here), September 28, 2001.

my father was killed in ww2, my mother never recieved the insurance--still trying to get it!! pardon me, but all the gush mush-seems kinda ummm, phony!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), September 28, 2001.

Got this in the mail, and this is just ONE of many companies exploiting the situation...

PETCO CARES

Tuesday September 18, 2001

Petco joins Americans nationwide in being profoundly affected by the recent tragedies in our country. We've also been heartened by seeing people coming together to create something positive amidst all the chaos and uncertainty.

Petco has been working from the beginning with numerous animal welfare agencies and search and rescue groups in New York and Washington, D.C., but there is still work to do. Animal welfare organizations in New York City estimate over 2,000 pets have been left homeless because their owners are now gone. This creates the need for a huge adoption effort, requiring much coordination with local shelters. There is also an incredible need for food, supplies and crates for transport of these animals. And, as you may know, many rescue animals are being used to help search through the rubble of the fallen Trade Center towers. These valiant animals need your help, too. The debris is causing injuries to their paws, noses and eyes. Petco has already donated bandages, booties, harnesses, food and eye/ear wipes, but there is still a huge need for even more supplies.

Petco has begun accepting any and all donations online at www.petco.com and at our more than 540 stores nationwide. With the help of animal lovers like you, we've already collected more than $184,453.00. But the needs are still great.

Now is the time to help. You can donate between $5 and $250... every little bit helps.

Visit us now at http://p03.com/u.d?mEKKcCC2eJVTRP=110 Please help today. And please feel free to forward this message on to your friends and associates!

With many thanks,

Your friends and neighbors at Petco

-- libs make me gag (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 28, 2001.

Like lilly christians al. You know. The ones that only show up on easter sunday in suits that smell like mothballs.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), September 29, 2001.

libs, you are acting like an idiot.

But you are probably right, the guy who peeled shrimp for Windows on The World restaurant was most likely just working there while his wife and kids stayed home to count their millions. Same with the receptionists and clerks and all the other wildly rich people who worked in the WTC.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

That's really dumb Unk. I wasn't saying those people were rich BEFORE they died you idiot. Because of the exorbitant amounts of money that have been donated to the relatives of the victims, they are all rich now. Yet everywhere you look, people are still asking for more donations. How much is enough?

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 29, 2001.

No, it's not dumb.

I have seen lot of figures, but the one that stuck with me was about 600 million raised for the relief effort. So, approx six hundred million divided by approx 6000 families works out to about $100,000 per family.

Yeah, fabulously wealthy. Especially considering that a breadwinner is dead forever. Such a deal!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

libs is immune to reason.

al-d - that really sucks, and I'm sorry to hear that, dude. That's not right. You have my sincere sympathy.

-- Zzzzz (asleep@the.wheel), September 29, 2001.

"Especially considering that a breadwinner is dead forever."

Are you trying to tell me that every one of these people that died was supporting an entire family?

ALL of them were married???

ALL of them had a whole slew of helpless kids??

ALL of their wives are unemployed or completely incapable of holding a job??

WOW, that New York is one messed up place! Forgive me, you're right. Every relative should be awarded at least $1 million. After all, the costs for the funeral alone could go well over $2,000!

-- keep sending money (they need @ LOT. more help!), September 29, 2001.

Learn to read dumbfuck.

A breadwinner is different from THE breadwinner.

Income is income dipshit.

And where did I say they all deserved a million bux? When you can point it out in my words I will respond further.

Try again after you take reading comprehension for assholes 101.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

"I have seen lot of figures, but the one that stuck with me was about 600 million raised for the relief effort."

You're overlooking one small thing Unk. Dubya has already set aside at least $5 billion of taxpayer dough for the airline industry to use to pay off victim lawsuits. In addition, the airlines are welcome to use another $10 billion of our money for no interest loans if needed.

The $600 million figure you stated is in ADDITION to the taxpayer donation, and that figure will be closer to $1 billion very soon.

So in reality, we are talking about at least $6 billion at this point, divided by 6,000 (assuming EVERY victim has dependents) = $1,000,000.

I don't know about you, but I can't think of anyone who would need to get $1,000,000 above and beyond my normal life insurance coverage in order to survive if I died. Sure, it would be nice, but is it REALLY necessary?

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 29, 2001.

I was not referring to gubmint money. As a conservative/Libertarian I tend to think the airlines should float or sink of their own accord. They were afterall (with the help of Al Gore) the ones who did not take effective anti-terrorist measures after the Pam Am 103 disaster.

"libs are idiots" is a good handle. I suppose it means that you are a conservative? Well, how many times have conservatives stated that charity is a better route to cure societal ills than gubmint handouts, yet you are upset about the amount of private charitable donations to these victims?

Free market in action laddie.

It's a beautiful thing.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 29, 2001.

"As a conservative/Libertarian I tend to think the airlines should float or sink of their own accord."

Then we agree. Why did Dubya donate taxpayer money to them? Aren't they responsible for compensating victims if their insurance doesn't pay up? If they go bankrupt, they go bankrupt, it's their own damn fault.

It must have been pressure from the liberals that made Dubya do it. Yep that's it, it's those goddamm liberals again.

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 29, 2001.

Heh.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), September 29, 2001.

Maybe Dubya has friends in "high" places, in the Airline Industry!

Maybe those friends didn't want to see their stock prices plummett because they hold fortunes in their own stock!

Maybe they made donations to Dubya during his campaign, and now Dubya owes them a favor. Maybe he just paid them back, in a very BIG way!

That would be my guess.

-- Bob Brinker (money@talk.com), September 29, 2001.

Shut up Bob, you fucking liberal.

-- libs are idiots (moreinterpretation@ugly.com), September 29, 2001.

Yeah, shut up Bob.

Dubya is ALLOWED to make exceptions with excessive government spending if it involves big, fat, multi-trillion dollar conglomerate multinational corporations. Because HE SAID SO!!

-- Rush Limbaugh (ditto @ I. own those stocks too), September 29, 2001.

Yeah, Bob.

-- Divest (divest@divest.divest.divest), September 29, 2001.

This is very interesting. Unsure of it's source, yet the numbers are valid.

It's no wonder why Michigan is so loyal to the Big 3.

After seeing a short news listing on "CNN Headline News" regarding Ford and GM's contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in New York City and Washington DC, I was prompted to see what the other automotive companies were contributing. I have never worked for an automotive company - nor has anyone in my family. It is, however, the prominent industry here in Michigan. I also feel it is important to know which companies are there for us in a crisis.

I went to (the news, press release and philanthropic areas of) each of the companies' web sites. If the company had several sites, I tried to visit them all. Additionally, I visited the leading news and automotive sites.

As of today, one week since the attacks, this is what I have found:

Aston Martin - Nothing.

Audi - Nothing. Audi's web site states "Audi News: Always up to the minute."

BMW - Nothing despite other press releases/postings since 09/11/01. BMW's web site states "The news service from the BMW Group: Fast, informative and comprehensive." Last updated 09/13/01.

Daewoo International - Nothing.

Daimler Chrysler (includes Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and Plymouth) $10 million to support the children and victims in addition to

other donations from their employees, dealers and suppliers.

Fiat - Nothing.

Ford Motor Company (includes Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo) $1 million to the American Red Cross, matching employee contributions to the American Red Cross and 10 Excursions to the New York Fire Department. The company has also offered emergency response team services and office space to displaced government employees.

General Motors (includes Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac,Saab and Saturn) -- $1 million to the American Red Cross, matching employee contributions and a fleet of vans, trucks and SUVs.

Honda (includes Acura) - Nothing. Honda's site states, "If you're looking for the latest developments taking place at Honda, you've come to the right place" and "Informative. Timely. Credible. The latest news on Honda can always be found right here?" No press releases/postings since 9/04/01 when the release boasted "American Honda Motor Co., Inc. recorded its second best sales month ever in August." My search included: hondamotorcycle.com [other press releases posted on this site since 9/11/01), honda.com, honda2001.com, world.honda.com, acura.com and honda.co.jp.

Hyundai Motors Group (includes Kia) -- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.

Isuzu - Nothing.

Mitsubishi Motors - Nothing. Mitsubishi-motors.co.jp site states, "The latest news about Mitsubishi Motors." I also searched mitsubishimotors.com.

Nissan - Nothing despite other press releases/postings since 09/11/01.

Porsche - Press release with condolences posted on the Porsche web site on 09/12/01, but no contribution.

Subaru - Nothing despite other press releases/postings since 09/11/01.

Suzuki - Nothing.

Toyota (includes Lexus) - Press release with condolences posted on the Toyota web site on 09/14/01, but no contribution, despite earlier press releases boasting that Toyota had high sales in July and August.

Volkswagen - The employees and management created a Foundation, funded initially with $2 million, to assist the children and victims with humanitarian help including medical and psychological assistance, rehabilitation and scholarships.

I can only hope that it is an oversight by the companies that have not made a contribution and that they will join the relief efforts. We have the freedom to choose which companies we make purchases from and I, for one, will make my purchases from and give my money to the companies that are giving their money to America at this time of need. I hope that you will, too.

Please forward this e-mail -- especially to anyone you know who is thinking of purchasing a vehicle.

Remember this the next time you make that move to buy your next car...New or Used.....

Who gave what to help OUR Beautiful United States of America.........

-- (mail@forward.), October 04, 2001.

Boy you sure are a blind fool. That's all corporate welfare they are donating - taxpayer dollars. They make a donation and get lots of publicity to make people like you thing they are compassionate, then Dubya takes the money from the taxpayers and kicks it right back to them.

-- (suckah@suckah.suckah), October 04, 2001.

Sorry, LAI, but there were a lot more people affected by these actus of terrorism than just the 6,000.

All of the offices that were in the two towers of the WTC are gone. I read one estimate that as much office space was destroyed in the attack as exists in all of Dayton, OH. Some of those companies will recover, many will not. Do you suppose that the people who made it out of the WTC who worked for these companies will continue drawing a paycheck while their employers struggle to recover?

What do these people do for money while their employers are out of commission?

What about those who made it out of the WTC, whose livelihoods are in limbo, and who are too injured to look for work?

How about those of us on the ground at the time of the attack and who were injured? Who will pay those medical bills? Do you suppose that health insurance will still be in effect for employees of companies who are no longer capable of paying their premiums?

How about those who were injured who do not have health insurance?

What about the thousands of New Yorkers who found themselves homeless? There were a large number of apartment buildings in the area and since we're talking about a crime scene, there's an enormous number of people who can't go back to where they lived. What would YOU do if you suddenly, through no fault of your own, found that you couldn't go back to your home and, since it wasn't destroyed or damaged, you couldn't get renters or homeowners insurance? Do you have enough money in the bank to pay first, last, and security deposit on a new apartment at a moment's notice?

What about the businesses that were near the WTC that, for the same reason as the apartment buildings, can't reopen? What would you do if you were a small business owner whose business was effectively wiped out and under the circumstances, you were unable to take advantage of the insurance you paid? What would you do if you were an employee at one of these places?

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), October 05, 2001.

Tarzan, try chamomile tea about an hour before bed time. It helps you fall asleep. I double the strength when I need to. Non-alcoholic, non habit-forming, and totally safe, as long as you aren't allergic to it. You might try a few sips the first time to make sure you don't have a reaction to it. You don't have to go to a health food store. I get it at any grocery store in the coffee and tea aisle. It wouldn't hurt to try it. I'm not a homeopathic medicine fan, but this helps a lot.

-- helen (holding@your.hand), October 05, 2001.

Been there, done that, Helen. I've also tried hot baths with lavendar, melatonin, and more glasses of warm milk than you could shake a cow at, in addition to sleeping pills, Xanax, and the boys, Johnny Walker, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, and both Glens. The results have been less than spectacular. At this point, I'm just waiting it out. No one can stay awake forever, and I figure that when my body is ready to sleep it will tell me. In the meantime I am working from home a lot and avoiding tasks that require too much attention to detail, like driving.

I must say that this bout of insomnia has given everything a very surreal cast, sort of like a dream. It's not altogether unpleasant.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), October 05, 2001.

Hmmm...ok, Tarzan, have you tried exercise? I'm not kidding, but I don't mean the aerobic kind of exercise. I'm thinking you could maybe go to someone's house out in the country and walk, stack firewood, dig some dirt, and stay outside in sunlight for as long as possible. Gentle, constant labor in sunlight might help a great deal. And skip the alcohol. Alcohol interferes with deep sleep.

-- camp helen -- find one near you (we@work.for.food), October 05, 2001.

It sounds nice, but I got banged up pretty good last month. It will be awhile before I can be that phycially active.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), October 05, 2001.

Tarzan, this is a real email address.

When you feel good enough to travel, think about coming out here. You can come here alone or with your family. It's pretty primitive, but we can keep you warm and fed. There's a ... I'm not sure what they call it ... there's a place near here where they teach healing techniques and meditation. This place all by itself has a very calming effect on the nerves. You can just sit outside in a chair, bundled up if it's cold, and relax.

-- helen (this_a_real_address@yahoo.com), October 05, 2001.

Thanks for the invite, Helen, I appreciate it very, very much.

I hope you understand that at the moment, I feel an intense need to be home, around familiar people, places, and things. I do hope to take you up on your generous offer one day in the not-too distant future.

-- Tarzan the Ape Man (tarzan@swingingthroughthejunglewithouta.net), October 05, 2001.

Tarzan, often your muscles are too tense to allow your body and your mind to rest. I know this first-hand. What helps me is to take kava before bedtime, even if you need to double the dose, it's not going to hurt you. It has mild muscle-relaxing qualities, and soothes away anxiety. You can even take it throughout the day to relax, and that way by the time bed-time rolls around, you've been cruising in a more relaxed state, and will find it that much easier to fall asleep. Some people swear by valerian tea, which sometimes helps me, but often gives me horrendous nightmares, the kind that wake you up after 2 hours. Also not sure about side-effects of valerian, but occasional use should be okay.

Also, have someone rub your neck and shoulders right before bed. And one more thing, your digestion and metabolism changes when your body is lacking rest. You may burn calories and fuel more quickly. And if your blood sugar drops too low, you may find yourself waking up after a couple of hours. Try having a healthy snack right before bed, complex carbs and some protein. No sugar. Helen is right about alcohol, it may knock you out but will interfere with good quality sleep.

Hope I could help you.

-- (cin@cin.cin), October 05, 2001.

"Helen is right about alcohol, it may knock you out but will interfere with good quality sleep."

Sinse when?

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), October 05, 2001.

Cin, Tarzan was at the WTC during the attack. That would be enough to keep anyone awake. Tarzan is probably suffering from PTSD. All the touchy-queery crap in the world won't help him get to sleep. He needs help just like any other survivor would need help.

-- (its@ptsd.cin), October 05, 2001.

Oh sure, let's have the entire of NYC walking around as ticking timebombs on prozac after they see their therapists for post traumatic stress disorder. Better yet the whole country. Yah that's the ticket.

-- (maybe it's part@of OBL's. plan), October 05, 2001.

Take a rain check for as long as you like, Tarzan.

Capnfun, we were talking about "quality" sleep, not a coma. ;)

-- helen (wish@there.were.more), October 05, 2001.

Well.....a little herbal therapy don't hurt either : )_

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), October 05, 2001.