With the current Earthquake relief efforts going on in Haiti, it's great to see some innovative efforts being taken to bring help to the region.

I read a blog this morning that showed how the Red Cross charity organization has already raised $3,000,000+ using a "donate $10 to Haiti by texting Haiti to 90999". I'm not sure if they've used this during past crises, but this is the first time I've heard of so much money being mobilized so quickly using text campaigns.

The success of this campaign really does amaze me. How could other non-profits in your area use this strategy on a local level to raise funds for their cause?

It may not be $3,000,000 for a worldly disaster like the Haiti earthquake, but this style of campaign could be used to generate donations from local citizens for a local charity.

Looking forward to seeing your thoughts in the comments below.

I constantly surf the web, sometimes at times when I know I shouldn't. If you're an avid smartphone user, you've probably jumped online once or twice while driving recently.

I had an idea last year that I never moved forward with, but I saw a company that made this idea a reality at the Consumer Electronics Show. It was really cool to see it in action.

The idea is essentially to turn browsing the web while driving into something as un-distracting as listening to a radio station. The app, by Aha Mobile, enables you to create "channels", where you add blogs you like to read and other online content. It then reads blog content aloud to you, enabling you to "read" your blogs and web based content without having to take your eyes off the road.

Do you listen to music or talk radio when driving? Do you read blogs and web content a lot?

Would you use something like this to "read" web content while you're on the road?

Share your thoughts in the comments area.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, I sat in on a competition of mobile applications. It was really interesting to see the apps that entrepreneurs and large businesses are putting together these days.

One app enabled women to run simple background checks on men they meet to see if this guy is someone they should go on a date with. By just entering someone's name or phone number, the app presents you with quick and comprehensive criminal background info and can even reveal if the guy owns a house or lives with his parents. The app, designed by data warehousing company Intelius, puts tons of personal background data right at your fingertips.

I find it amazing the various things apps are being developed for. This is something I'm sure will continue to grow in coming years, especially considering Google's recent entry into the smartphone market.

What are the best apps you've seen? Share them in the comments and we'll start to see which apps all of you are interested in.