i have to share this news. so i'm part of this group ACT UP that goes around and bird dogs (i.e. publically harass) politicians on key issues relating to HIV/AIDS. They're trying to get a group together to go to CAlvin's commencement to birddog bush! heehee. Should be interesting...if only i could make it, they're a colorful crowd. Look what they did to Gore back in sept 1999 [click here]. MIght i add that the eventual result of all that political pressure(that still continues) along with action from other AIDS groups and international organizations was 1. the removal of trade sanction threats from the negotiation table,2. in 2001 the 30 trans-national drug corporations dropped their lawsuit against the South African Government over patent laws, 3. Generic Drugs for South Africa imported from india now at the cost of less than $200/yr/pt vs the patent price of $10K-14K/yr/pt that drug companies what to charge. RIght now ACT UP is pushing for support for the Global Fund and protesting medicaid cuts in light of the fact that the majority of HIV/AIDS patients in the US rely solely on medicaid to provide their medical care and medication. ¶ 23:42