I don't note the various activities of the international glitterati too often on this blog, but I have to make an exception in this case. Sean Penn, who seems to think he can solve the world's problems on his own, came to New Orleans to mount a rescue. But he wound up needing rescue himself:

Penn had planned to rescue children waylaid by Katrina's flood waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch.

The actor, known for his political activism, was seen wearing what appeared to be a white flak jacket and frantically bailing water out of the sinking vessel 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 New Orleans street.

Asked what he had hoped to achieve in the waterlogged city, the actor replied: "Whatever I can do to help."

With the boat loaded with members of Penn's entourage, including a personal photographer, one bystander taunted the actor: "How are you going to get any people in that thing?"

I love how he planned to 'rescue children.' Presumably any non-children he encountered (or just unattractive ones) would be ignored so his 'personal photographer' could get the right shot.

(via Tim Blair)

UPDATE: I should have known; this story is everywhere in the blogosphere. LGF has a photo.