I hope all VC readers will consider donating to the Red Cross relief efforts (or some other worthy charity) to help out with much-needed relief following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to Stephen Aslett for the gentle reminder.

  UPDATE: CNN reports:

  Hundreds of thousands of people in Gulf Coast states are without homes or power in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and aid agencies are warning the situation might not improve for weeks, maybe months.
  Veteran staff members from the Federal Emergency Management Agency who have surveyed the destruction said the flood damage is the worst they have ever seen, the head of the agency said.
  "This is truly a catastrophic event," Michael Brown told CNN.