And I'll be here.

There, round a river falling again near the twisted road, your delicate footprint portrays a profile, and also a new atmosphere, backwards, like the sound of a dreamland in the feast of a beautiful sky.

Francesco Sinibaldi

Anyone who has followed AIDS-related prevention research -- as opposed to publicity releases, newspaper accounts, and pointed commentaries -- should know that the biggest breakthrough in the last two years concerns the effectiveness of washing genitals after sex to prevent HIV infections. The U.S. National Institutes of Health has commimssioned major research on the male parts of what are simply referred to as "Hygiene." What would most help women is reseach on the effectiveness of post-sex washing vis-a-vis vaginal infections including HIV infection. In addition to empowering women a focus on post-sex washing to prevent various genital infections would add another health-related plank to campaigns for sanitation and clean water, both of which would help prevent many other infectious diseases. Continuing to focus on the limited AIDS-related prevention techniques explored to date -- abstinence, monogamy, condom use, male circumcision, and pre-sex microbicides -- perpetuates the embarrassing failure of authorities and pundits everywhere to advocate the oldest technique for preventing STDS known to mankind: washing involved body parts after sex.