News in a nutshell: Aug. 29-Sept. 4

Sound smart
Well, obviously the biggest news of the week was the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. If for some reason you didn't already know, the quick version of events is this:

Hurricane Katrina made landfall early last Monday, veering east at the last minute and sparing New Orleans a direct hit. However, that was of little comfort the next day when a few of the levees broke and 80 percent of New Orleans became submerged in water, up to 20 feet deep in places. One-third of New Orleans residents live in poverty; the same amount don't own cars. So many were unable to evacuate the city. Thousands fled to the Superdome or the convention center and endured days of squalid conditions. Others took refuge in their houses -- a fatal decision for many. Many were rescued from rooftops. Because of the extensive damage and flooding, among other reasons, the aid and rescue was slow to come. Lawlessness and anarchy reigned for among the desperate survivors, with looting and violence rampant. Soldiers and help have since begun to arrive and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the city to other areas of the country. It will be months before the water is drained, the power restored and the city is even close to being habitable. It will be years before it is rebuilt. Rescuers spent most of the week pushing aside the dead bodies in the water in their search for survivors, so the death toll is unknown. But is expected to be in the thousands and some officials have said as high as 10,000. Communities in Mississippi were especially hit hard as well, especially around Gulfport -- some towns were completely destroyed. The entire Gulf Coast is in shambles. Katrina will most likely be the costliest hurricane on record. Hundreds of thousands of people have nowhere to go -- they've lost their homes, their jobs, their possessions, everything but the clothes they were wearing and any meager items they might have taken with them when they left. They have nothing but an uncertain future.

For those interested in helping, the Red Cross is the main organization taking donations, but there are many other ways to help. Wired News has compiled a list of hurricane-related links. The ladies over at Fug have amassed an extensive list of relief organizations and also stores where you can shop to help out the survivors. I suggest checking out your local media outlets for local opportunities to help. This will be especially needed as the displaced are transferred to various cities around the country.

For more information, the Times Picayune's Web site has photo galleries, stories, info on areas and missing people, and host of other things.


In other important but also sad news, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, 950 people -- mostly women and children -- died in a stampede after rumors of a suicide bomber spread through a procession of Shiite pilgrims.

Also, United States Chief Justice William Rehnquist died Saturday night at the age of 80. He had served on the Supreme Court for 33 years. President Bush has nominated John Roberts, who had been tapped for Sandra Day O'Connor's associate justice position, to become the new chief justice. Confirmation hearings will be held in the next week or so.
It should be noted that Pat Robertson, not that along ago, prayed for more openings on the Supreme Court. I would officially like to apologize for making fun of him last week and say, "Mr. Robertson, please don't have God smite me, too."

And that was pretty much the week. I wish had funny, crazy news or good news. Hell, I wish I had something boring. All I can say is: sorry.

Here's hoping this week is better.