Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, has suffered a devasting cyclone.

Monday morning at 8 am the news reported 3,000 dead. At 8:30 am the figure had jumped to 4,000. At 9 am predictions of 10,000 dead were being announced.

Now I am reading that at least 15,000 people are dead and 30,000 missing.

This is a closed society and must open its borders to allow rescue efforts to take place. As I watched some of the soldiers using a chain saw it was apparent to me they didn’t know how to properly work it as they were trying to saw a normal-sized limb from a tree by moving the chain saw back and forth instead of holding it steady and allowing it to do its work.

Rescue workers need to get in to clean up the water, provide doctors and medical attention, food and temporary housing for those who have survived.

A military transport plane was scheduled to land in Yangon later Tuesday with emergency aid from Thailand while a number of other countries and organizations said they were prepared to follow.

The United States, which has slapped economic sanctions on the country, said it likewise stood ready. The U.S. Embassy is providing $250,000 in immediate aid from existing emergency fund. But First Lady Laura Bush said Monday the U.S. would provide further aid only if one of its own disaster teams is allowed into the country.

The storm has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without clean drinking water, said Richard Horsey, a spokesman in Bangkok, Thailand, for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

We must get help into that country. If, like me, you have no useful skills to offer then get in touch with the Red Cross or charity of your choice to give them a donation to help these people as soon as possible before disease kills even more pe

Civic responsibility in the form of Jury Duty calls today so I will not be posting the traditional Tuesday Tid-Bits.

I did however see this interesting video at the NRCC website which defines a series which has recently been completed.

The NRCC recently sat down with several Members of Congress to ask them about the most pressing issues facing voters today, and why the Republicans can, and will, win back the Majority. The web series, entitled “Rediscover Your Party,” will run throughout the fall.

This above video reflects a compilation of the 6 individual videos linked below. Many of the longstanding differences between the two controlling parties in Congress are addressed. The entire collection takes roughly 20 minutes to view.

Episode 1: Iraq
Episode 2: Earmark Reform
Episode 3: Accountability and Transparency
Episode 4: Free Speech
Episode 5 - Republicans Running to Regain the Majority
Final Episode: Election 2008