anyone read italian? (assuming it's Italian, his Orkut profile puts him in Brazil)

I can parse that he's curious about my last name and that he's in Palermo (or his family is from Palermo)? Can anyone get it more specific? I ask because there's a good chance we're related. Mainly because of that whole Sicily is the West Virginia of Europe thing. Apologies to the West Virginians.

Oi, fiquei curioso com o teu sobrenome, igual ao meu. Como meu avô veio de Palermo e até então achava q só tinha nossa família, gostaria de saber mais sobre vc. - Otávio

a cat in need

I don't know city_glitter but manhattan does. Last night, someone set her cat on fire. A godd samaritan rescued him, got him to a vet and called her. The little guy is going to live, amazingly, but has a huge vet bill. If you're inclined to help her with this you can visit her journal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/city_glitter/844663.html

I know some people have strong misgivings about LJ fundraising. That's fine. Please hug your animals and do your good works wherever you are comfortable doing so.

I know some people will also read this and say "but what about cause x y or z?" -- feel free to post a link in the comments, and if there winds up being a lot of stuff maybe I'll make another post listing everything.

ETA: The kitty in question got out of his second surgery and is doing well but will have a log recovery period (obviously).

ETA2: The kitty's vet bill needs have been met and things continue apace.