Passings

I had intended on posting something to you all earlier, but I've been glued to CNN International and other outlets in the wake of the deadly tsunami disaster to hit SE Asia and Somalia. The LAT reports this morning that the death toll may hit 48,000, which is a numbing figure. The Times also ran an article on local communities scrambling to contact loved ones in the countries hit by the waves:

Thousands of Asians who have settled in the Los Angeles area scrambled to restore lifelines to their native lands, organizing vigils, offering prayers, raising money and trying to contact missing loved ones.

Southern California is home to 4,442 Sri Lankans, 90,757 Indians, 28,395 Thais and 11,896 Indonesians, according to U.S. Census figures.

Consular officials, however, estimate that the populations are vastly larger.

It also hit close to me. One of my brother's colleagues was staying on Phuket, and has yet to be heard from.

In times like this we need a strong voice to make sense of the incomprehensible. Sadly, I read today that we have lost Susan Sontag at the age of 71.