These days, reading the news is enough to make one feel unclean. So an email from Jim Hake of Spirit of America was timely. Jim writes:

I recently met in Washington with Brigadier General Joe Dunford of the Marines. The last time we saw each other was at Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi, Iraq in June 2004 when I was visiting on behalf of Spirit of America. General Dunford repeatedly thanked Spirit of America and our donors for supporting the Marines in Iraq. He said we had no idea how much it meant to them. He noted that the war is a 'test of endurance' and appreciated that we have continued to offer help throughout.

Jim also passed on an email from a Special Ops soldier in the Horn of Africa, talking about flood relief efforts there that are being supported by Spirit of America. This photo is from Ethiopia:

I'd recommend going here to check out ways you can get involved in Spirit of America, and support people who are doing things a whole lot more important than sending lurid IMs.