Grassroots relief organizations are complementary to the efforts of big multinationals like the Red Cross and Unicef, donations to which I also encourage wholeheartedly. Local organizations have an existing network of volunteers in place, local knowledge, and a long term commitment. The challenge for foreigners wishing to help is finding one that they can trust, and will accept online donations.

If anyone is interested in donating to a reputable grassroots charitable organization in Sri Lanka that allows online donations, I have identified one. My wife is Sri Lankan, and her cousin, Erangit Wijenaike, is involved with the Colombo Chamber of Commerce, a long established organization with an excellent record of service.

They have created a web site at: http://www.sossrilanka.org.

A key problem is simply understanding what the needs are and how to efficiently meet those needs based on the resources available. A long term perspective and commitment is important. Organizations like the Colombo Chamber of Commerce are thinking about the longer terms issues of housing and improved warning systems, as well as immediate aid and comfort.

If anyone has further questions, please contact me directly.

I write this note from Colombo, Sri Lanka, thankful to be safe, but knowing that my family and I could have easily been part of that tragedy, had we spend a different weekend by the seaside to the south.

The two most visible signs of grief and coping are white banners and the collection stations. The traditional white banners of mourning are everywhere– ringing temples, mosques, and cathedrals, fluttering from homes, businesses, and cars.

The collection stations in every neighborhood reflect the diversity of Sri Lanka and the diversity of the victims. Sri Lanka is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, with big gaps between rich and poor, and divisions between these groups have boiled over into conflict in the past.

The tsunami affected every ethnic group and religion, and every income level, from poor fishermen to corporate directors. (We personally know a number of people who died or who narrowly escaped death, as does virtually everyone in this small country of 20 million.)

Contributing to the relief stations provides a way to in some way confront the tragedy and perhaps to heal some of country’s divisions.

Even the poorest people are giving what they can at the collection stations. A man donates a bag of new clothing who looks like he could use a donation himself. A group of stylishly dressed teenagers buy powdered milk. Two men on a scooter carry armloads of sleeping mats. University students collect money by the roadside.

Many couples have canceled weddings this month. Hotels have canceled their New Years celebrations, and people are instead making donations equal in value to the cost of the tickets.

To my American eyes, the closest comparison is the way the United States and the world came together to mourn and and to aid the survivors after September 11th. Much of this unity has been lost, both within the US and in our relations with the other countries.

Our generousity in standing shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and every other country devastated by the Tsunami is more than desperately needed assistance. It’s a chance for us to heal some of our own rifts that divide nation from nation and rich against poor, to prove that the world can stand together to confront and prevent further tragedy.

If you’d like to help, see CNN.com’s list of aid sites. We see Unicef doing some especially good work here.

T-Mobile cuts Blackberry users off from full internet access

Please read and let T-Mobile know they need to restore access!

There’s something about small things and spaces that makes you want to arrange them just so. And there’s something about arrange things just so, and seeing them arranged that way, that provokes a certain meditativeness and calm.

I am undoubtedly the millionth or so person to have observed this, but it means much more when you feel it from your gut.

I write this for a hotel room in Narita, so when I talk about small spaces I speak of first hand experience. Many things– like the tray at breakfast– are intentionally smaller than they need to be, and in an odd way I really appreciate it. It gives me an intuitive insight into both the Japanese aesthetic and Japanese technology.

I’m continuing to enjoy XBox Media Center. It’s a tribute to the ability of Open Source software to create consumer friendly user interfaces. (The difficulty of setup is another matter altogether.)

I particularly like the good slideshow capability, the ability to play ripped DVDs, support for just about every streaming audio and video format known to man, and– last but not least– the potential to extend XBMC through Python scripts.

Alexpoet’s XBMC-Python Scripting is an simulator for the XBMC that you run on your PC, allowing you the convenience of developing scripts on your PC.

Berry 411 version 2.0 is now available.

Berry 411 is a Blackberry application that takes advantage of the Blackberry’s screen and keyboard to provide free and convenient 411 services anywhere you go.

Version 2.0 adds Froogle support, address book integration, easier setup, and a number of usability improvements.

Details and Installation instructions are here.