Varied Thoughts for Thursday

1. Before and After Pictures
Here from NASA, two pictures only a couple days apart...

2. Life Goes On
Yes, for most of us that is true. Perhaps we don't try to think about what has happened and is still happening along the Gulf Coast. We have our everyday lives to lead. We can't become paralyzed by events beyond our control or even imagination. But the pull of the news has been real. You mention the Hurricane and everything gets quiet. The reminder of our mortality? The fear that it could happen to me? Being so overwhelmed by the massive size of the destruction that it no longer sinks in?

It can't, of course. We can't think that big. We can't grasp such a quantity of images and data. We are experiencing overload.

3. One of the Heroes
I know he doesn't see himself that way, but Brendan Loy, a 2nd year law student at Notre Dame has become one of the blog heroes of this past week. His blog, Irish Trojan, has been bringing us insights and aggregation of news since last weekend. He is just another concerned human being whose passion has made the whole thing more real and more personal. Thanks, Brendan!

4.A Beautiful Reflection
Brendan last evening had a chance to reflect on what he has been involved in. His post says in greater beauty than mine yesterday what he was feeling. Go read it.

5. The NBC networks will be having a benefit concert Friday evening including my hero, Wynton Marsalis as well as Harry Connick, Jr. and Tim McGraw. Just thought I would mention that as I listen to his new album, Live at the House of Tribes, on Rhapsody. What an amazing musician! What a wonderful way to remember a New Orleans that will never be the same. Hopefully it will grow into a new and wonderful reincarnation for a new generation.

6. Another New Orleans music icon, Fats Domino, has been rescued, according to CNN.