Semi-Semi-Semite-Daily Statistic

In light of my recent meeting with Larry Kramer, I decided to throw up some very real AIDS statistics. From Avert.org:

Total number of AIDS deaths between 1981 and the end of 2003: 20 million.

Number of children orphaned by AIDS living in Sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2003: 12 million.

By December 2004 women accounted for 47% of all people living with HIV worldwide, and for 57% in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2003, young people (15-24 years old) accounted for half of all new HIV infections worldwide, more than 6,000 became infected with HIV every day.

In this giving season (I hate that line), please remember those who are not on your gift list. And if you can't think of a good gift for someone, why not donate money to an AIDS charity or other type of charity in their name?