okay, i feel better. thank you, freakish bitchiness, for departing so simply.

also, and perhaps connected, i went to the gym last night for the first time since i joined three weeks ago. i took a stretch class with an INSANELY flexible russian woman, rode a bike for 15 minutes (go 58 calories go!), and ran a mile on the treadmill while watching VH1's guns n' roses "behind the music." it was awesome. i like exercise. i think i forgot that.

anyway, birds singing and stuff. it's all good.

sucked into one of buuunnnnnny's memes:

[My name is]: sam
[in the morning i am]: tired
[love is]: all you need? tasty?
[i dream about]: monkeys

( Read more... )

the ramifications of bush's reelection continue to slam into my brain. example: the notes from a recent health information professionals' meeting:

(note: FP = family planning, RH = reproductive health, MH = maternal health)

Ad hoc presentation by Sandra Jordan (USAID, GH/PRH, Director of Communications & Outreach)
Sandra spoke very frankly on three topics:

LPA Approval
- Four-color exceptions often approved for, e.g., posters
- Cc Sandra if approval needs to be expedited
- New FP materials, and press releases on any topic, aren’t being approved.
- In response to a question about why the standards haven’t been updated:
It’s better not to seek updating, since it would probably mean more
restrictions on content, etc.

USAID Climate
- USAID wants to expand the range of partners they work with: no sole-source
agreements and no extension of agreements are likely to be approved. There
is a sense that all the same players (Beltway bandits) have been getting
all the funding.
- The current “hit list” includes all organizations
with "FP," "Family," "Population," or "Youth" in their names.
- Repositioning FP: Funds are likely to be moved from RH into maternal health
(MH must always be the context for RH), esp. if Bush is re-elected.
- Competition for RH funds from infectious diseases.
- Language for RH: Don’t use "RH services," "reproductive rights," "demand
creation." There can be no publishing on emergency contraception.
- Language for HIV/AIDS: Use "safer sex," "correct and consistent condom
use." No needle exchange. No programs (except abstinence) for teens, youth,
or adolescents. (Call them "young adults.")
- Advocacy and education are seen as lobbying.