While I enjoy ridiculing crackpots who won't shut up about ridiculous hurricane theories, I am really worried about Hurricane Rita. Yet I can do no more to stop it than I could to stop Hurricane Katrina. Comic relief directed against those who'd compound the misery of the victims (by blaming their favorite political enemies) seems to be the only thing I can do. At times like this, a little gallows humor can't hurt.

But I'm hoping, and praying, and keeping my fingers crossed that Rita will continue what appears to be a process of winding down.

I'm glad it's now downgraded to a Category 3.

And I'm delighted to see that thanks to armed citizens (and civil liberties victories like this) Texas won't be another New Orleans.

(It seems the data's already trickling in on Rand Simberg's controlled social experiment. Advantage: Second Amendment.)

MORE: Oil prices drop, but New Orleans is flooded -- again. (While the French Quarter always survives, the wisdom of rebuilding in neighborhoods which were so quickly reflooded escapes me.)

UPDATE (09/24/05 -- 11:46 a.am.): It could have been worse, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, because I'll never forget the premature sigh of relief after Katrina -- before the horrific flood.

(Not out of the water yet.)