In case you think your problems are insurmountable

An insider's tale of what's going on in New Orleans right now. I wish I could just run down to WalMart, grab as much water and canned food as would fit in Esme the Escape, and zoom to the area to help. Would that it were that easy! VLSCI is doing a 2-for-1 match of any employee donations to help the Katrina victims, so I've sent money to the Humane Society because I don't even want to think about what's happening to the animals given the conditions the humans are living in. Besides, when I heard about someone prying the fluffy dog out of a little boy's hands as he boarded a bus for Houston (because no animals are allowed on the buses), I just cried because I knew that dog was going to die alone and without his master.

(Also, FYI, the Tribune Corporation - parent company for many newspapers and television stations nationwide - has established a relief campaign and will be donating 50 cents for every dollar they receive in donations, so please consider directing your contributions in that direction.)