The worst disaster in recent history. There are pictures and informative graphics at this link at the NY Times site. Before this tragedy, I didn't even know the Andaman Islands were part of India. The scale of destruction is unbelievable, especially at the human level where a third of the victims are said to be children. A second "tsunami" of sorts comes as the parents, relatives and friends of all the victims come to find out about the demise of their loved ones. We all have much to be thankful for if we weren't directly affected.

As bad as things get, we have to remind ourselves that:

• things can always be worse
• this, too, shall pass