Here's something else I haven't heard in the American Press, although the foreign press is all over it. Actor Sean 'Spicoli' Penn attempted to rescue people from New Orleans, with his entourage and personal photographer in tow, of course.

AN ATTEMPT by Sean Penn, the outspoken Hollywood actor, to stage a personal mission to help victims of Hurricane Katrina descended into farce when his rescue boat sprang a leak.

The activist star headed to New Orleans with a photographer and entourage to rescue victims clinging to roofs and attics in the wake of the deadly storm. But he forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of his small vessel which began to take in water almost immediately.

Reports said the 45-year-old Oscar winner was seen frantically bailing water from the boat with a red plastic cup. When the boat's motor failed to start, those aboard were forced to use paddles to propel themselves down the flooded street. It is not known how far the boat then travelled.

Earlier Penn, who has visited Iraq to campaign against the war, said that once in the city he would do "whatever I can do to help".

But according to reports, one bystander, referring to the actor's large entourage on board, taunted Penn, saying: "How are you going to get any people in that?"