August 4, 2004
\nColumn 169
\nStop the Caterpillars!<\/b><\/p>\n
PLEASE HELP NOW!!!<\/p>\n
Children in Vietnam are being ATTACKED by caterpillars!!<\/p>\n
YES, it\u2019s amazing but true.<\/p>\n
Billions of wiggly caterpillars have descended like a plague upon a remote village in Kon Tum province. In the small schoolhouse there dozens of very poor deaf and hearing impaired youngsters gather daily to study. Some of the little boys and girls are also mute.<\/p>\n
And now they\u2019re all frightened to death! It\u2019s an incredible situation. They\u2019re so poor. Their community has survived over the years thanks only to government subsidies and the support of generous friends from overseas. But now the children are having their fingers and toes gnawed by the disgusting worm-like insects.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s even WORSE is that they can\u2019t hear them coming! And some of the children (those who are mute) can\u2019t even cry out in fear. It\u2019s a very serious situation.<\/p>\n
I have just returned from an emergency visit to the village. I heard about the situation while I was throwing darts nearby in Hanoi. I just had to check it out.<\/p>\n
It was unbelievable. The black, inch-long larvae are EVERYWHERE \u2013 dangling from the trees, crawling up the walls, slowly snaking across the desks in the schoolhouse.<\/p>\n
But I have good news (though I need your help). The CHILDREN need your help!! There IS hope.<\/p>\n
With friends in Vietnam I have devised a lifesaving plan!<\/p>\n
We are going to USE the caterpillar invasion to HELP the small community lift themselves OUT OF POVERTY.<\/p>\n
According to a report released only last September by the Vietnamese Ministry of Food, there may be an opportunity to parlay the current caterpillar crisis in Tom Kum into a major money making venture.<\/p>\n
It is widely known that caterpillars, when properly saut\u00e9ed with a touch of butter and garlic, take on the texture and taste of the shitake mushroom. In fine restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City \u201ca side of caterpillar\u201d goes for 30,000 dong (about $2). It\u2019s most often ordered with the popular black Labrador entr\u00e9e. At one busy caf\u00e9 the combo sells out daily. It\u2019s called the Number 3 (\u201cSkippy and Worms\u201d) and comes with a coconut fizz.<\/p>\n
Anyway, here\u2019s where YOU come in\u2026<\/p>\n
I urgently need funds to build caterpillar trapping devices. The kids \u2013 the ENTIRE Tom Kum community \u2013 are counting on you. In fact, they\u2019re already doing their part to help…<\/p>\n
As you read these words, the children are scouring the rolling fields which surround their idyllic village to collect unspent land mines. The children will then dissemble the ordinance and use the parts to build the traps.<\/p>\n
But all this costs money! The children need rice to eat and juice to drink during their long, hot days in the field. They will need special glue and wire and small rivets to actually put the caterpillar traps together. Some of the children \u2013 the less careful ones \u2013 made also need major surgery.<\/p>\n
Please, help me help the children of Vietnam.<\/p>\n
For a donation of just $25 dollars we will be able to turn the tide of the caterpillar crisis to the advantage of all of the little disabled children of Kon Tum village.<\/p>\n
For a contribution of $100 we will be able to send them books and pencils and other materials so they will be better equipped to learn in school.<\/p>\n
If you can find it in your heart to send $250, we will be able to buy each child a collection of cartoon videos and a VCR. Of course, they won\u2019t be able to actually use the videos. The village doesn\u2019t have electricity.<\/p>\n
And besides, the kids can\u2019t hear!!<\/p>\n
For a gift of $500 you will make it possible for me to return to Vietnam and continue to do my very best to help bring hope and opportunity to all the innocent children there. I will also be able to buy a lot of beer and throw more darts.<\/p>\n
If you are unable to send a check at this time, I will certainly understand. It\u2019s tough economic times.<\/p>\n
If your circumstances are SO bad that you feel YOU might need my help, feel free give me a call anytime. I have excellent contacts in Vietnam. I can probably get you a good price for your dog.<\/p>\n
From the Field,<\/p>\n
Dartoid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PLEASE HELP NOW!!!<\/p>\n
Children in Vietnam are being ATTACKED by caterpillars!!<\/p>\n
YES, it\u2019s amazing but true.<\/p>\n
Billions of wiggly caterpillars have descended like a plague upon a remote village in Kon Tum province. In the small schoolhouse there dozens of very poor deaf and hearing impaired youngsters gather daily to study. Some of the little boys and girls are also mute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Caterpillars!","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[15],"class_list":["post-6933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dartoid"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":2190,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1",520,390,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=300%2C225&ssl=1",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1",520,390,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1",520,390,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1",520,390,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?fit=520%2C390&ssl=1",520,390,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/darts-image-feature-random-12-1.jpg?resize=45%2C45&ssl=1",45,45,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Dartoid","author_link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/author\/dartoid\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"PLEASE HELP NOW!!! Children in Vietnam are being ATTACKED by caterpillars!! YES, it\u2019s amazing but true. Billions of wiggly caterpillars have descended like a plague upon a remote village in Kon Tum province. In the small schoolhouse there dozens of very poor deaf and hearing impaired youngsters gather daily to study. Some of the little…","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":15,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"dartoid","display_name":"Dartoid","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-02-13-12_01_31-Dartoids-World-_-The-most-widely-read-column-about-darts-in-the-world.png","url2x":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2024-02-13-12_01_31-Dartoids-World-_-The-most-widely-read-column-about-darts-in-the-world.png"},"first_name":"Paul","last_name":"Seigel","user_url":"http:\/\/www.dartoidsworld.com","job_title":"","description":"\"Dartoid\" is the pseudonym of Paul Seigel, a prominent chronicler of darts for over 35 years. His columns are celebrated for their wit and insight, often detailing his quest for a game in exotic locales worldwide. His writing offers vibrant commentary on the competitive darts landscape, including players, organizations, tournaments and the sport's unique culture. Dartoid's articles are highly regarded among darts enthusiasts, solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in promoting and documenting darts as both a recreational pastime and professional sport."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6933\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6933"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=6933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}