While you were watching Dancing with the stars

or getting upset at the latest kerfuffle about the US elections, maybe take a moment out and write a check to your favorite charity for the folks in Haiti.

first earthquake and death, then hunger and homelessness, and now, Cholera.

And don't forget the folks in Pakistan, although the bad news there is unless you give wisely the money might be diverted into the pockets of politicians and others instead of helping those in need.

Here in east Asia, several countries have had local floods. In the nothern Philippines, a lot of people are still displaced, but are getting aid...how badly the rice crop has been affected is still uncertain.

Photo from the Inquirer
HELPING HANDS. Philippine policemen and US Marines load relief goods into a US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter for a mercy mission in Isabela province which was ravaged by Supertyphoon “Juan” on Monday. The Philippine weather bureau lifted all typhoon warnings as Juan, moves further away toward Taiwan and southeastern China. EDWIN BACASMAS