I have a knot in my stomach all the time. It was bad enough when the reports started by saying 11,000 had perished... but now... it is just unfathomable.

All our problems are meaningless in comparison.

Just read a post from Steve Mullen over at COW, he's in Channai. The biggest problem he says is not only are most of the fishing boats lost but also the fishermen. Given that the long term impact will be huge.
Bob.

It really is awful beyond words. I felt bad when I saw 24,000 killed. Now it's just to the point where you put your head in your hands and pray. I've been watching news coverage all day and it just keeps getting worse. And some of the video people have sent in just makes my heart sink. One video shows a family getting washed away... just like that. Nothing anyone could do.

I just can't bear to watch it for long. I have an especially hard time when my countrymen try to compare our experience in New York to this. In terms of the shear breadth of broken hearts, there's no comparison. For every person lost, there must be 20 friends and family who feel that they've lost everything that gave life joy and meaning.

I heard an american woman call in to a CSPAN program today and claim that it was her god's vengence on the Thailand sex trade. I am ashamed.

Rob Mack

Rob,

Don't be ashamed. She's ignorant. Don't let one person's stupid comment paint the picture for all of us. It is humbling for us to know how small our problems are: i.e. hard drive crashed, external preview wont work or V5 won't rip DVD's. Whatever it may be, it is infinitesimal.

I would gladly crash all my hard drives to have those people back with us...very sad indeed.

Skywatcher

I cant even grasp the magnitude of the death and destruction
Feeling guilty , giving a few dolars to the red cross or some other agency seems so little . Puts things in perspective, my problems are bullshit.

Looking at the images of the death and destruction one thing struck me. The developed world has been handed an opportunity to change the course of history. For once this is a disaster amenable to the good use of much of our military hardware. All the affected regions are reachable by boat and the navies of the world have no shortage of them and the means to get aid ashore anywhere.
The cost would run into the trillions, but so have plenty of battles that haven't achieved anything, this battle can win the hearts and minds of billions of people, goodwill works that way.
Bob.

Feeling guilty , giving a few dolars to the red cross or some other agency seems so little

That's true, but I'd encourage all to give what you can. Every little bit helps, and it's better than doing nothing. If everyone in the US gave $10, it would add up quick. I know, I know, not going to happen, but that doesn't mean I can't give something.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp