POST-SCRIPT

If after reading the last post you get the urge to donate 0.5% (or more!) of your net-worth to Hurricane Katrina victims, here is a short list of some reliable charities that will spend your money on actual Katrina victims:

Jewish Funds for Justice

Salvation Army -- make sure you indicate in the "specific use" field that you want the money to go to Katrina victims

Habitat for Humanity

And for more information on Katrina relief programs (and donating to charities in general) charitywatch.org is a great resource for rating which charities are on the up-and-up.