Dear readers, we interrupt our Smart Couple Online interview and send our apologies to Steve and Erin, but there is a most pressing issue we would like to address, relative to the devastation wrought by Katrina.

We have been scrolling around the net and reading some heart-wrenching stories, some personal accounts at Ernie the Attorney's blog, thought-provoking writing by David Pollard, which we found via one of our favorite lawyers, Dennis Kennedy, and insight into the utter failure of our government to handle this extreme emergency, via the Corante blog.

Of vital importance is your participation, dear readers. Jane (and Yvonne) urge you to continue watching your television for updates and reports. Please, donate to the Red Cross (see icon here, upper right) and consider, if you will, a small donation to Noah's Wish, a site that is doing everything it can to help the animals left stranded and abandoned by Katrina.

Jane admits to being an animal lover. We have made our donation to the relief efforts...putting all human life first. But, we weep openly for the animals, also. Noah's wish was brought to our attention by Marti, who mentioned her friend at 2nd Chance Books as a supporter of animal rescue. We applaud 2nd Chance Books, Noah's Wish, and the many, many organizations working round the clock to help all the victims of this tragedy. If you can, we merely ask that you please consider helping the animals, too.