BLOG/RELIEF: MEXICAN RADIO SALMON FOR GENE BRANAMAN. Gene gave to Catholic Charities, and asked for either of two things; but I’m happy to do both! This is the first request: a new recipe, ideally to feature halibut or salmon fillets. I should warn you all that I don’t cook fish often, so this recipe is more “what to do if you don’t cook fish often and have some salmon lying around for some reason” than “the best, most delectable gourmet... Read more

BLOG/RELIEF: CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR DAVID ROSS. David Ross, of the conservative filmblog Libertas, gave to the Red Cross, and has requested “five children’s books you haven’t read (but you should!)”. (The original blog/relief post, with the list of posts you can request, is here.) This list will be picture books; later I’ll do chapter books. …Oh, and these are all from memory (I’m at work, so can’t check the actual books), so some of the plot points may be a... Read more

WITH AN EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOM… my home computer crashed last night. So although I have gotten your requests for relief-blogging (yay! you all are awesome!), I gotta run and will be incommunicada until tomorrow. Expect the first set of relief-posts then. Read more

BLOG/RELIEF: Hey there. So… there are a lot of things that other people are doing to help, that I just can’t do. Apparently I can’t donate blood for health reasons (grr). Although I have hosted a homeless woman and child once in the past (pregnancy center client), I really can’t do that right now–I was freelancing then, and could set my own schedule, and even so it was only something that made sense to do because there was nowhere else... Read more

DISASTER RELIEF LINKS, both via Amy Welborn, who is an incredible source (with a strong Catholic focus) on what’s being done to help out. Where to send in-kind donations. D.C. Archdiocese seeks housing for evacuees. I know many of my readers are from the D.C. area. Read more

THEOLOGY: …In other words, what did those horrible people do to deserve the hurricane that God dropped on them? I’ve known too many good people who have suffered terrible things (look at the martyrs!), and too many rotten people who’ve sailed through life fairly unscathed, to believe that God metes out sure rewards and punishments in this life. That’s what heaven, hell, and purgatory are for. Rather, I agree with Jesus Christ that God sends rain upon the just and... Read more

TERRIBLE: New Orleans under martial law (scroll down). “Hundreds of people are standing around, wanting to know where they should go to get water and food. They have not had either for days.” “Mothers were giving birth in the locker rooms. The auxiliary gym ‘Dungeon’ was being used as a morgue. I couldn’t take myself down there to see it.” Read more

KATRINA: Times-Picayune weblog. Via Amy Welborn. …Children’s hospital besieged by looters. Devastating stories of families torn apart and children in desperate need. “We carry home with us and some day we might be able to go back to the place.” Via Amy W. Corporal works of mercy. Many links with information on how to help. Also, please consider giving to Modest Needs. (Via the Accidental Lawyer.) Wow. Read more

KATRINA LINKS: Updated, enormous bloggers-in-the-storm list. Where to donate. Read more

SEE HER PICTURE IN A THOUSAND PLACES, ‘CAUSE SHE’S THIS YEAR’S GIRL: My reactions to those Dove ads, in chronological order (and I recognize that this is a very personal reaction): 1. (Hey, I’ll be honest with you) Whoa baby!!! That’s a spicy meat-a-ball! Can I get some fries with that– 2. Rrrrrright. Let’s back slowly away from the billboard. …And Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse, pray for us…. 3. *sound of motor revving* 4. [INNER FEMINIST, INNER MARXIST,... Read more