Today’s a collection of short items I’ve been meaning to get down, but have found myself with little time.

RIP Irving R. Levine

For those of you of a certain age — and for these purposes, I’ll go with anyone 35 and over — probably remember the NBC correspondent, Irving R. Levine, who so easily explained such complex issues as the economy, monetary policy, global finances, and myriad other financially-related subjects to the viewing audience, passed away last Friday due to complications from prostate cancer.

While Mr. Levine has the distinction of being the first network correspondent dedicated to economic news, he spent decades as a foreign correspondent, working in such places as Rome, Moscow, and London. During his 35-year career, he found himself stations in over two dozen countries. He was the first accredited journalist in the Soviet Union, witness and reported the erection of the Berlin Wall, and was noted by Time Magazine as being a “pioneer” in economics reporting on television.

Most will remember him as concluding his broadcast with the announcement of his name, placing the distinctive emphasis on his middle initial.

For those interested, here’s his obituary in the New York Times.

The Economy and Philanthropy

While it comes as no surprise, I was disappointed to see the Chronicle of Philanthropy announce that 40% of foundations anticipate a drop in giving during 2009.

Over a trillion dollars in government bailout to corporations, and the groups doing to most good in society are going to have to go back to holding bake sales. Sad….

A Twitter Funny

As seen on a Twitter post (tweet): Dear Person with the license plate frame in front of me: When you get raptured away to Heaven, can I have your gold Lexus SUV? God bless!

Quick Trivial Distraction – By The Numbers

Daily Data Explorations

Because Love Just Isn’t That Simple….

I’ve made a new acquaintance who has an insightful/humorous/helpful blog and bills herself as The Queen of Relationships.

She posted one recently, How To Stay Single Forever which I think you might find entertaining (and insightful). While you start out smiling — or even laughing — when you read something of hers, you usually get hit with the lesson somewhere along the line.

Read. Enjoy! And wander around her site a bit.

Have an Itch? A Drip? Does it Burn When You Pee?

Lastly, I wanted to point out that April is STD Awareness Month. While the heading may make you snicker, STD’s are no laughing matter. Get informed. Get tested. Tell your friends.

Why? You may ask… Here’s why:

- In the United States there is an estimated 19,000,000 new sexually transmitted infections every year — one of the highest rates in the industrialized world

- While STD’s affect people of all races, ages and backgrounds, over 9,000,000 cases are seen in young people ages 15-25. Think you teens aren’t in jeopardy of an STD? Think again!

- Often, a sign that there is an infection takes longer than a week or two to show up, so how someone feels is not the indicator to get tested.

- While “the pill” may help prevent pregnancy, it does not prevent the transmission of an STD. Use condoms, plain and simple.

- The CDC recommends that ALL women 25 and under get tested for chlamydia once per year. Older women with new or multiple sex partners, and pregnant women are encouraged to get tested also.

- Sexually transmitted infections even occur in people who have had very few partners, and it is not reflection on your characters or morals. In fact, the majority of sexually active people are estimated to have an infection of HPV (human papilloma virus (HPV) at some point in their lives and most will never know it. (Note: There is an approved HPV vaccine available for females ages 9-26)

- STD/STI testing is not painful or complicated. A simple blood test and/or peeing in a cup is about as complicated as it gets.

So, what’s the take-home point? DRAG YOUR ASS TO THE DOCTOR OR A FREE CLINIC AND GET TESTED! Visit the American Social Health Association for more information and where to find a testing resource in your community.

Screw around, have fun, just be safe and smart about it!