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EFFORT/CHASING THE WIND

The day after Hurricane Frances blew through Florida, remnants of the storm appeared for sale on Internet auctions sites.

More than 170 items were listed on eBay the day after the eye of the storm came ashore.

Items up for auction included a T-short worn by a resident during the storm, vials of rain that fell in Orlando, beach sand blown around in Broward County, and containers of the winds from Frances.

Photos even showed residents running around with Tupperware "catching" the wind. Not all of the items received bids, but someone did bid $10 for one of four containers with wind inside.

EBay has cancelled auctions coinciding with tragedies before but did not take immediate action on items from Hurricane Frances.

The storm damaged homes and businesses and claimed at least four lives. Not everybody thinks the auction items are so bad, however. Carol Baroudi, an industry analyst said, "I think these are all tongue in cheek. I don't think anyone's serious about these things." She added, "So far I don't think it's crossed the line of totally tasteless. I don't see anybody being victimized by this stuff. I've seen a lot of positive stuff here."

—Associated Press, Wind From Hurricane for Sale on eBay, September 7, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Eccles. 5:16 (NIV) "This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?"