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There are people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who can't do any of that. They may be alive, but I am sure they slept fitfully if at all, always wondering if someone was about to beat them, rob them, rape them, even murder them. They're wearing the same clothes they escaped in a week ago. The stink around them is awful, and a hot drink, much less a hot meal, is a luxury. Many of them are healthy and young(ish) like me, but many others are small children, infants, and the elderly who need regular medication or medical treatment -- or they'll die.

I won't repeat the stories coming out of the Gulf States here as they can be found in abundance elsewhere on the 'Net. But they all seem incredible, urban legends that you just can't or just don't want to believe. Then we get confirmation and you feel an icy sickness in the pit of your stomach as you realize that this is what is actually befalling other human beings, right now. Echoes of Rwanda.

Sunday's cartoon was the best comment I could make about Katrina at the time because I still hadn't sorted out my perspective. I knew I was angry at much of the media, because as usual they're playing ratings games while people are dying. The anger is still there, but it's subsided. I finally came up with this.

As a cartoonist I'm expected to make social commentary, using satire and humour to ridicule wrongdoing. Sometimes though, both words and pictures fail. That some humans in New Orleans began preying on the weak and helpless at the first opportunity is a blistering indictment on how little we've progressed as a species. I'm still numb from the stories of serial rape followed by throat-slitting in the women's restrooms in the Superdome. There are times I am convinced that we don't know how to live in this world.

The cliche of hope does always rear its friendly head. From a geek standpoint, the constancy of a New Orleans ISP that survived the hurricane and remained up is a mark of pride. One of their staff has a livejournal detailing events in the stricken city. You can bet that the reporting on that blog is bound to be a lot more meaningful than anything you'll get from Big Media.

The stories created by Katrina's wake continue to pour in. Most of them, though, have the same ending: people need help. I urge you to please, please send The Red Cross ten or twenty or fifty dollars, whatever you can afford. Suffering has no boundaries; we're all on this rock together.

If there are any UFies out there who had their lives destroyed by Katrina don't hesitate to hop into the daily forum to ask for help. UFies all over the U.S. are offering a warm couch and food to their fellows in need. UFies all over the world are prepared to send a bit of money or supplies to make life a little more bearable. You need but ask.

UPDATE 2005-09-08: UFies have pointed out a few other relief efforts. Claudia C. wrote in about WISPA: PART-15.ORG and WISPA, two Wireless ISP organizations, have a well-developed volunteer hurricane relief program going strong right now. The two organizations are working with major government agencies, the American Red Cross, and equipment vendors to get Internet access (including VOIP telephones) into relief shelters. We'd like your techie audience to know about this effort. You can read about it at this page.

Dear friend of mine Ange K. brought up two others: Read your plea for UFies to help the victims of Katrina and wanted to make you aware of a couple of other resources: http://www.gryphonking.com/. This is Larry Dixon's website. He and Mercedes Lackey live in Oklahoma. The site says it all. I met them at a con this summer - they are some of the nicest people and have more resources than most.

In terms of donations, the Tribune foundation has a fund set up for Katrina victims. The foundation is covering all the admin costs so 100% of the donation goes to help. They have an online donation form as well as a phone #/address to send donations: http://www.rrmtf.org/mtf/pressroom/2005/pr090105.htm

Thanks guys.