Though I feel much sympathy for those affected by the earthquake, it's a natural disaster and often part of the price of living. It's very sad, very unfortunate, but this has nothing on the chills that gripped me when the tsunamis hit in December. There was a very bad earthquake down south of New Zealand not even a week before that, and if it weren't for that one important difference (vertical shock waves rather than horizontal), a lot of people I've known all my life could be just as affected.

Anyhow, kudos to IRE, thanks for the sale, and I'll be buying regardless of my ambivalence about the auctions now

I'm very much pondering signing up with travel nursing and going to help in the efforts. I'm not sure I can get rid of my anxiousness about going outdoors though.

This has nothing to do with the thread. I just wanted to say how cute Estarra's new avatar is

I got an call from my Imperian friend last night (he doesn't have a debit card like I do):

Him: Hey, buy me some credits on my new account, I'll drop the money by your house

Me: Don't feel like it. Buy your own damn card, I hate buying credits for you!

Him: But it's for a good cause! Ten percent goes to the earthquake victims.

Me: ...you just want the 20% bonus, dontcha?

Him: ...maybe.

Ha, I'm probably a little guilty of that too...

And my credits have to come like TWO HOURS BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

ARGH.

Despite my selfish hatred of you not introducing the 20% bonus one day earlier, I really think it's neat how IRE donates so much of their money to worthwhile causes. Kudos to all the Divine!

Yeah I bet 10% of all microsofts/sonys/nintendos profits aren't going to charity.

He's just doing his normal angsty teen bastard thing.

This isn't 10% of their profits. It's 10% of their income. Which means an even greater chunk of their profits, depending on how much their servers and staff actually cost.

Thank you for being charitable, IRE!