That's not a lot of aid, is it?

The Philippines recieved aid worth - hold your breath - USD 50,000 after a devastating typhoon there caused widespread damage and killed an estimated more than 1,000 people.

I am sure it's a very humane gesture...and more countries should help The Philippines in this time of need, but fifty thousand bucks? A mere fifty thousand? At a time when Philippino President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of national calamity?

That's like saying "We will help in fighting to clear the haze caused by the fires in Indonesia by all going to the roof tops and emptying our bladders"

This is the kind of cynical mindset you can get to when you watch too much of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (a show which I absolutely adore!).