Haven't had much to say lately. Mostly I've been compulsively following hurricane aftermath coverage (to the point where E. has had to call a moratorium on my CNN exposure this weekend). During the day I still break that rule, so here are a few links from the New York Observer:

After years of putting its tail between its legs, the media is feeling a little prouder of itself. With reason, I think. The Story of the Hurricane: After a Period of Self-Suppression, the Horrific Story Spurs the Press

But the folks at nola.com are really doing their jobs, and more: Newhouses Right Times-Picayune As It Bails Water

The story contains many startling statistics:
At the outset of the disaster, The Times-Picayune Web site, NOLA.com, posted missing-person accounts that told of nightmare conditions in a city adrift. As of Sept. 5, the Missing Persons Database contained 22,592 people and averaged close to 30 million viewers.

22,000? The mind reels. Here's hoping they're found.

On a lighter note, here are 10 tips for beating the end-of-summer blues.

These stories will eventually disappear behind a paid-access wall (the site doesn't spell out when this will happen), so get 'em while you can.