New Orleans

My heart goes out to the people of New Orleans today. I'm hoping for the best, but fearing the worst with Katrina. I heard that they were using the SuperDome as a refuge from the storm last night. I thought I couldn't think of a worse place to stay as a wide open roof = disaster waiting to happen in my view. This morning, I heard that part of the roof had blown off. How scary! Anyway, I hope that the damage or flooding doesn't get worse down there.

When we took our trip to Texas this spring, it initially was planned as a trip to New Orleans. I was in NOLA for Mardi Gras about 5 or 6 years ago. I liked it a lot, but really felt that I wasn't able to see the true nature of the city, so I had always planned on going back during non-Mardi Gras times. I'm hoping that it will still be there in close to its original splendor when I do make it back.

In a related thought, last night, the thought occurred to me that if I were Bill Gates or one of the Walmart clan or _______insert billionaire name here, that I would have a staff of 100+ "do-gooders" whom I would pay handsomely, of course. When disasters were to strike or after disasters happen, I would send the staff off to clean-up, assist with evacuations, etc. They could be dispatched quickly on the private planes from my fleet. On "normal" days, they would be sent to inner city areas or rural areas to do clean up activities, painting, rebuild structures, etc. It would be like my own private Peace Corps. But, no politics. No middle man. Just me, sending out my extended hands to "do good" whatever that might be? How cool would that be?