2009 archive
The Free Hand of the Market 0
Doctors don’t open up the prescription pads and start writing prescriptions for improper, unproven, and, sometimes, dangerous uses of powerful (and often grossly over-priced) drugs (emphasis added).
Drug companies encourage them to do it:
The guilty plea in Philadelphia federal court had been expected since earlier this month, when the Indianapolis company agreed to a settlement that also included a $1.4 billion fine.
The Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s office had charged Lilly with illegally promoting Zyprexa to treat dementia and Alzheimer’s in the elderly.
That’s the free, as in unfettered and unmonitored and conscienceless, hand of the market.
Chart of off-label drug marketing here.
Bushonomics: The Hangover 0
January reports coming in this week, and those folks who got seasonal (Christmas) jobs in retail, package delivery, and things like that there don’t have them any more:
The Labor Department will report on the January employment report on Friday, the cap of another busy week for economic data, most of which are expected to be gloomy, if not doomy.
The data calendar includes January purchasing-managers surveys from the Institute for Supply Management; January auto sales; December data on consumer spending, consumer credit, factory orders and construction spending; and the latest weekly figures on jobless claims. The Federal Reserve is also likely to report on its quarterly survey of lending conditions at banks.
The news is expected to be universally grim. The jobs report is the big one, however.
Site Update 0
I have shot the trouble and reactivated the WordPress Mobile Plugin.
Is Nothing Sacred? 0
No.
Afterthought: At one time, persons could talk about the “rights of Englishmen”–and English women.
Indeed, the Founders did so in the Declaration of Independence; one of their grievances against King George III included the phrase,
Now it’s the surveillance of Englishpersons.
And it’s happening in the U. S. A. too.
Eight Is Enough? (Updated) 2
Facts are starting to trickle out about the woman who, with the help of implanted embryos, bore eight babies last week.
Now, I’m not going to get involved in any discussion of the morality of fertility drugs, in vitro fertilization, or stuff like that there. For one thing, I haven’t thought it through, because I’m well past the age when stuff like that could conceivably (as it were) affect my daily life. For another thing, it’s just not worth the effort.
But this sentence at the end of the article in today’s local rag caught my eye:
Forty-six physicians and staff assisted in the deliveries of the six boys and two girls.
I know persons with serious health problems who refuse to go to the doctor because they have lousy or, indeed, no health insurance.
Something about that makes my nerves jangle.
Addendum, That Evening:
According to the Times of London, Mama wants to go on a Magical Money Tour.
Stray Thought 0
A dog is man’s best friend. Except when it is man’s most annoying friend.
And there’s no looking forward to the empty nest.
(Wanna dog? Free shipping. Tranquilizers are on you.)
Blogroll Amnesty Day (Updated) 0
Jon Swift, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, and Blue Girl are leading the charge to this year’s Blogroll Amnesty Day.
Mr. Swift explained the requirements for participation (post linked above) as follows:
Celebrating Blogroll Amnesty Day is easy. You don’t have to put up a tree or a poll or buy candy or flowers, wrap presents or risk your life playing with dangerous fireworks. All you have to do is link to some smaller blogs that you like or celebrate the idea of linking or blogrolling in any way you see fit.
Mr. Kangaroo (linked above) encourages inclusion:
tho we are happy to point out, one need not link exclusively to progressive/liberal blogs. we highly encourage you to find a sensible rightist blog and link thereto. (ha! that’ll keep ya busy for the weekend!)
Ms. Girl (linked above) says, “No excuses.”
Small and newbie bloggers please be aware of the ironclad rule that you are not allowed to make “hey no blog is as small as mine” jokes regarding Blogroll Amnesty Day. The rule is, straight from the queen of the indy blogs herself (ahem), that you are not allowed to complain or mention your blog’s low traffic until you have been posting daily for a year. If you’re little, link other blogs that are new or still growing their audience, and encourage them to practice their craft daily.
To join them in the celebration, I will add at least five new blogs to my blogroll over the next three days. (I added two today, but I’ll not count them.) I’ll also figure out some way to make them stand out without using the acronym for Blogroll Amnesty Day. (Adding a site to the blogroll and labelling it B. A. D. would probably defeat the purpose.)
I won’t necessarily know whether they are bigger or smaller than I, because, frankly, I decided a long time ago not to worry about “hits” all that much, but I will promise that they will be off the main highway and down the side streets of the Inner Tubes.
Addendum, the Next Evening:
Thanks to the Facebook app, “Networked Blogs” (see the sidebar on the main page), I’ve found a bunch of neat blogs.
Stray Thought 1
One of the appalling things about modern American conservatives is that so many of them seem to be nasty, unpleasant, hate-full persons.
Diversion Tactics: DTV Dept. 0
The furor over the digital TV conversion is much ado about not much of anything.
Jeffrey got me thinking about this.
Suzabell at GNC discusses some of the issues facing her parents, but still believes the switch should go forward:
Todd at GNC reports that Hawaii, where he lives, went digital a couple of weeks ago and, so far, he’s seen or heard no complaints either in person or in the news.
I have several thoughts:
- Whether or not it was a good idea, it’s soon gonna be a done deal.
- No matter when it happens, there’s some folks will have trouble. Putting it off helps no one.
- The rhetoric seems to focus on “old folks will have trouble.” That sort of rhetoric is a sure sign of FUD.
- What’s the difference between five or six (remember, we’re talking over-the-air broadcast here–this has nothing to do with cable or satellite television) channels of garbage and no channels of garbage?
Survival of the Fattest 3
Pay attention to their actions; ignore their words.
The Republican definition of “fiscal responsibility” is “make the rich richer and the poor poorer.”
Colbert King:
Well, they are back with another howler — and a reminder why the GOP is no longer the nation’s dominant political party.
This week, House Republicans voted in lock step against President Obama’s economic stimulus package, using as one excuse their deep concern about the impact of government spending on the future debt burden of America’s “children and grandchildren.”
(snip)
In their slavish devotion to Hooverism, today’s Republicans are repeating the mistakes that banished their party to the political wilderness in the ’30s.
Boehner and his colleagues should worry less about what today’s children and grandchildren will inherit from an Obama administration and spend more time trying to undo the present-day lessons taught by business chieftains, to wit, that:
- Need and greed are synonymous. (How else do they give themselves $20 billion in bonuses as their companies sink in a sea of red ink?)
- Government bailouts trump creating and saving jobs.
- Business tax credits are superior to investment in programs that repair holes in the social safety net.
Health Careless 1
Report from the field:
Two women were laid off today – the only two with health insurance. When my wife asked why she was being laid off, the reply was quick, “Because you and her have health insurance and I must reduce costs.”
Disownership Society 0
Foreclosed.
On that day in December, however, Dawson told Rexrode that he had come to the end of the road. He should have taken exception in April, before the foreclosure sale took place, Dawson advises. The bank had every right to ask for Rexrode’s keys immediately, Dawson acknowledges later.
Instead, Dawson allows Rexrode to stay until Jan. 31. It is the best he could do, he said.
This week, the bank agreed to an extension with Rexrode because of his health problems, Rogers said. Rexrode must be out by Feb. 28.
Remember, the customers did not approve themselves for mortgages.
Reality Bits and Bytes 2
From Balloon Juice (emphasis added).
Ya think?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Nah.
Ain’t gonna happen.
Too much invested in fantasy.
Another One Three Bite the Dust
0
“Run the government like a business” has been the theme of those who fail to realize that government is not a business.
Well, for the last eight years, that bunch has been in charge.
And they have, indeed, run the government the same way they run their own businesses.
Into the ground.
The glories of Republicanism.
Utah’s MagnetBank became the fourth bank failure of the year, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was forced to directly refund depositors after being unable to find another institution willing to take over its operations.
That marked the first time the FDIC has been unable to find an acquirer for a failed bank in nearly five years, according to FDIC spokesman David Barr.
(snip)
The FDIC later said it has also closed Maryland-based Suburban Federal Savings Bank, and Florida’s Ocala National Bank.
Hopeless 0
Jon Swift analyses the Republican Party’s strategy of hope. Here are the high points. Follow the link for a full analysis and explanation:
Look beneath the Fold for Two of the Seven Hopes–ed.
Seen on the Street 0
Delaware license plate:
GIGGLES
On an upscale-looking massage therapy office parlor salon business in the downtown crossing of a fast-growing, fashionable suburb:
Couples Massage $150 per hour.
(Aside: . . . Oh, never mind.)
Readers Digest: The Condensed Version 0
Bet they’ll keep sending me those sweepstakes notices, though.
That’s good. They go right into recycling. I like recycling.
The job cuts will leave RDA with about 3,220 full-time employees.