Stan Kyle Eric & Kenny Go To Florida

Lotus faithful everywhere, it’s time for the now annual Ascendant Technology South Park video.

Yes, Kenny and Cartman are back in the yellow saddle, starring in a brand new Lotusphere 2010 preview video that features, among others, Steve Ballmer (as the Lotus Knows bus driver), Kenny, Cartman, others from the South Park gang, and customer #2 from the final episode of “The Sopranos” (rumored to be the guest speaker at this year’s opening session!)

Just keep an eye on your backpack — Kenny’s got a hunger for yellow.

Though you won’t likely see Kenny, Cartman and the gang there in Orlando (they are fictional animated characters from a popular television show), you can see some of mi Lotus amigos, including Bilal Jaffery, Lotus social media guru, who will be co-hosting the first ever (but surely not last) Lotusphere Tweetup.

Check out Bilal’s post here for all the details of this Sunday night festouche.

I can finally feel it.  The yellow fever is coming on!

Helping In Haiti

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti after the extremely devastating earthquake there yesterday.

CNN is reporting this morning that most of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, has been “destroyed,” with a top American envoy there calling the situation there a “major catastrophe.”

As has been the case with major natural disasters in recent years, social media is playing a key role in helping get information both into and out of the country — in particular, Twitter.

If you’re interested in learning how you can help, this page from USA Today has some very useful tips on providing relief and making contributions.

I’ve put together this easy-to-use Google news alert where you should be able to see the latest news on the situation.

Fox News’ Fox Facts reported earlier that the earthquake there was the strongest since 1770, with a 7.0 magnitude and the epicenter striking only 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince.  There have been 33 aftershocks at last count.

The Voice of America reports that the Red Cross has indicated Haiti has an urgent need for search and rescue volunteers as well as field hospitals, emergency health, water purification and telecommunications.

The organization says it has volunteers in the country and expects another team to arrive in Haiti later today, even as other offers of international aid are pouring in.

If you’d like to take a quick and easy step to help provide relief , text the word HAITI to “90999” to donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross.

I just sent my donation and it worked like a charm (just be sure to respond “Yes” to the acknowledgment message you’ll receive.  The donation will be charged to your phone bill).