Philippines: A State of Calamity

We I had planned a short trip to Cebu to celebrate my birthday, but now we are in the process of canceling it due to the horrific typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda).  A deadly storm by any other name is just as deadly.  The president has declared a state of national calamity.

Looking at the pictures of the destruction in the storm's wake, our thoughts are with the people in the Philippines.  The pictures from Tacloban are stark and eye-opening.