US Diplomacy and Development Review Renews Interest in Impact:
This week’s release of the QDDR emphasizes targeted interventions with impact. The report is themed around impact, efficiency, and effectiveness of international development efforts. John Sullivan of the Huffington Post speculates that this could translate to removing development silos, integrating democracy and economic growth, building staff capacity, or institutional reform.
How to Measure Maternal Mortality?
Whose counts count? When it comes to maternal mortality figures, a growing number of institutions (such as the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) offer new approaches in a field traditionally dominated by the United Nations. Christopher Lindahl of Maternal Health Taskforce highlights discussions on the topic “Can we Count on Global Health Estimates?”
2011 Congressional Political, Cultural and Holiday Schedule
What do the Super Bowl and the Senate’s Memorial Day recess have in common? They’re both on at the Council for a Livable World’s nifty Congressional 2011 schedule (recreated below). You might use this to balance your advocacy efforts and vacation time around Congressional holidays, elections, etc.
Items marked with “*” are related to Congress
January
Saturday January 1: New Year’s Day
Wednesday, Jan. 5: 112th Congress convenes*
Monday, Jan. 10: Auburn vs. Oregon for BCS college football championship
Friday, Jan. 14-Monday Jan. 24: Senate recess for Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday*
Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (federal holiday)
Tuesday, Jan. 25: President Obama’s State of the Union address (tentative)
Wednesday, Jan. 26-Tuesday, Feb. 8: House recess*
February
Sunday, February 6: Pro-football Superbowl
Monday, Feb. 7: Administration submits Fiscal Year 2011 Budget to Congress (tentative)
Monday February 14: Valentine’s Day
Thursday, Feb. 17-Monday, Feb. 28: Congressional President’s Day recess*
Monday February 21: Presidents Day (federal holiday)
Sunday, February 27: 83rd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles
March
Wednesday, March 9: Ash Wednesday
Sunday March 13: Daylight Saving Time starts
Tuesday, March15-Monday, April 4: NCAA collegiate basketball championship
Thursday March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
Thursday, March 17-March 29: House recess*
Friday, March 18-March 28: Senate recess*
Thursday, March 31: Major League baseball season begins
April
Friday, April 15-Monday, May 2: Congressional Easter/Passover recess*
Friday, April 15: Emancipation Day (Washington, DC holiday)
Monday, April 18: Tax due to the Internal Revenue Service
Monday, April 18: Passover Begins at Sundown
Friday, April 22: Good Friday
Sunday April 24: Easter
Friday, April 29: Prince William and Kate Middleton marry at Westminster Abbey
May
Saturday, May 7: Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse
Sunday May 8: Mothers Day
Friday, May 13-Monday, May 23: House recess*
Friday, May 27-Monday June 6: Senate Memorial Day recess*
Monday May 30: Memorial Day (federal holiday)
June
Friday, June 3-Monday, June 13: House recess
Friday, June 24-Wednesday, July 6: House recess
Sunday, June 19: Father’s Day
July
Friday, June 24-Wednesday, July 6: House Independence Day recess*
Friday, July 1-Monday, July 11: Senate Independence Day recess*
Monday July 4: Independence Day (federal holiday)
Friday, July 15-Monday, July 25: House recess*
August
Monday, August 1: First day of Ramadan
Friday, August 5-Tues, September 6: Congressional summer recess*
September
Monday September 5: Labor Day (federal holiday)
Friday, September 23-Monday, October 3: Congressional recess*
Wednesday, Sept. 28: Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown
October
Saturday, Oct. 1: Fiscal Year 2012 begins
Friday, October 7: Yom Kippur begins at sundown
Monday October 10: Columbus Day (federal holiday)
Friday, October 14-Monday, October 24: House recess*
Friday, October 21-Monday, October 31: Senate recess*
Monday October 31: Halloween
November
Friday, November 4 – Monday, November 14: House recess*
Sunday November 6: Daylight Saving Time Ends
Tuesday, Nov. 8: Election Day –Kentucky, Louisiana and MIssissippi elect governors
Friday November 11: Veterans Day (federal holiday)
Friday, November 18-Tuesday, November 29: House Thanksgiving recess*
Thursday November 24: Thanksgiving (federal holiday)
December
Tuesday, December 20: Hanukkah begins at sundown
Sunday December 25: Christmas
Monday, December 26: Federal holiday for Christmas
Monday, December 26: Kwanzaa
Saturday December 31: New Years Eve
