For more than a week we have been watching, like everyone else, with a variety of feelings of horror and revulsion as the tragedy unfolds in Lousiana and elsewhere on the Gulf Coast. If I could write about it, I expect I would be working along the same lines as Tom Engelhardt, and Juan Cole, but I can't.

Isaac tells me that Jonathan Freilich made it out to LA with his friend before the hurricane struck. That's good.

We've been working on organizing and unpacking, slowly but surely, and enjoying our new place. Patrick has an interview at a pre-school tomorrow. Tonight is the Fall Garden Party to welcome new members at the American School of Classical Studies.