Sorry. I have plenty of excuses (moved to New York, etc. etc), and I will detail them excrutiatingly in the coming days as I start blogging again. And in the future it will be very funny. But today, no jokes.

I generally oppose the use of the word "heart" in reference to anything other than the blood-pumping organ. But it breaks my heart to see New Orleans, the most beautiful and distinctive American city, so utterly devastated.

Okay. One joke. In Alabama, we like to tell this joke. Because Alabama is 49th in everything, we like to say that our state motto is, "Thank God for Mississippi." There's a friendly rivalry between Mississippi and Alabama--well, there would be a rivalry, if their football teams were any good. Living in Alabama, I always took umbrage when anyone accused me of being from Mississippi. But today, to borrow a phrase, we are Mississippians.

I'm sure everyone is linking to the Red Cross, but so will I. The web site is having traffic problems--you can also call 1-800-HELP-NOW.

And to think, too, that 1,000 Shi'as died in Iraq today. Lord, have mercy.