It's really hard to know what to say in the face of all this. But it occured to me that saying nothing at all was not the forward.

Thanks for this - it helps when explaining it to people to be able to say more than, "It's bad, very bad".

There is this weird disconnect between my Real Life and the internet at the moment. My internet people are finding ways to donate, or encourage others to donate, and sending messages of support. The people in RL are barely if at all aware that it is even happening, and I don't even know how to start that conversation at the office.

I'm going to go hit the Red Cross site, and leave messages on the LJs of random Australians.