Amy Alkon, the advice columnist I love to hate, has outdone even her usual shallow, self-centered self.

In a blog posting titled "Help for Katrina Victims," she coos about the $75 lavender Pashmina shawl she bought for a Katrina victim who lost nearly everything in the storm.

I am willing to concede that a generous impulse, however bizarre and misguided, is still a generous impulse. And a generous impulse from a woman who hates children (or at least shows very little tolerance for them), but sees nothing wrong with sneaking her dog into a restaurant (hello? Ever think that some people might be allergic?) is something to be savored.

Still, one can't help but think that Alkon doesn't quite understand what it means to "lose nearly everything." I hardly know where to begin.

Let's assume that Alkon's friend is one of the fortunate majority who evacuated before the storm hit, so at least she's not wallowing in filth in some vermin-infested building downtown. Did it ever occur to Alkon--even for a moment--that the $75 spent on a stylish shawl could have been better spent on an emergency wardrobe. That $75 could buy clean underwear, socks, T-shirts, and shorts to last a week. Nothing fancy, but enough to cover someone up who has no other clothes.

A shawl won't even cover you up.

And have you looked at the weather reports recently? It has been in the 90s and humid all week. Even if the basics are taken care of, who would want to wear a shawl in that weather anyway?

But at least it isn't a totally worthless gift. Right now, the highest and best use for a $75 Pashmina shawl in New Orleans is to be cut into four pieces and used to very tenderly clean the feces off of four babies' bottoms, thus showing at least some compassion to those suffering what must be by now raging diaper rash.

Edited to correct spelling of Alkon's name