Advertising as Education: CME
Posted on May 16, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list
Mid physicians become licensed to currency medicine, they must outlast to make port informed regarding the wide strain of treatments including plans feasible to their patients. To ensure this doctors outlive informed, it is condign this they accommodate “continuing medical technique,” which theoretically keeps physicians updated nearby the latest developments mid their work rural seat. So far, so good. But what, exactly, is continuing medical drilling (CME)? As I will describe in this post and likely others to come, continuing medical education is close to a farce, as the “education” more closely resembles advertising than it does any recognizable form of education. As an illustration, let’s begin with continuing education via professional journals. What could be a better source of information than a medical journal, right? These journals are supposedly the beacons of science, yet they prostitute their standards in a manner that leads to the miseducation of physicians, which likely leads to their prescription of more expensive (and at times, more risky) treatments that have few, if any benefits over older treatments. Case in Point: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. JCP regularly offers CME credits through what can best be labeled as extremely brief correspondence courses. By reading a couple of articles, then answering a few questions, doctors receive valuable CME credits, which are then used to maintain a doctor’s license. JCP is far from the only journal which participates in this practice. CME Standards: CME material is not subjected to the same peer review process as are regular articles. Though certainly flawed, the peer review process at least ensures that a group of academic researchers has the chance to evaluate the merits of a study to determine whether it should be published in a journal. One of the standards regarding the commercial sponsorship of CME states The content or format of a CME activity or its related materials must promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest. When reviewing the example below, think about how loosely the above standard is enforced (read: not at all). An Example -- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) : In the February 2007 supplement to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, one of the CME options, that appears quite ironically under the heading of “Academic Highlights,” is titled: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Potential New Treatment for Resistant Depression. The article summarizes “highlights” from a “teleconference series” that was held in August and September 2006. The article was “prepared by the CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., and was supported by an educational grant from Neuronetics, Inc.” The teleconferences were chaired by Alan Schatzberg of Stanford and the faculty at these teleconferencs were: Mark Demitrack of Neuronetics [which manufactures the NeuroStar TMS device], John O’Reardon of the U of Pennsylvania, Elliot Richeslson of the Mayo Clinic, and Michael Thase of the University of Pittsburgh. Context: When these “teleconferences” occurred, Neuronetics’ TMS treatment was under review by the FDA as a potential treatment for depression. At least one academic reviewer had concluded that the evidence favoring TMS was pretty weak, but the data were mixed, with some research showing favorable findings. Much was at stake for Neuronetics, as FDA approval could open up a sizable market for their product. In January 2007, the FDA rejected the TMS application of Neuronetics due to weak efficacy data. Faculty: In the publication, Demitrack is listed as “faculty” – how can the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Neuronetics who holds no academic appointment be listed as a “faculty” member? Conflicts of Interest: Each member of the “faculty” whose names appear on this article is described as having some financial interest in Neuronetics, as a consultant, employee, shareholder, and/or recipient of research funding. Thus, each faculty member has something to lose financially if Neuronetics TMS treatment does not receive approval. Should Neuronetics falter financially, the company would be less able to fund research would show a decreasing stock value, and would have less cash to offer consultants. While I am fairly certain that most, if not all of the authors, lacked nefarious interests, it is important to note that there was not a single independent voice on the panel. In CME articles such as this, however, this is just par for the course. Introductory Advert: In the overview section that serves as the introduction to the piece, each speaker was paraphrased. Demitrack (Chief Medical Officer of Neuronetics) was paraphrased as saying: Transcranial magnetic stimulation has shown promise within the device-based platform of interventions because it is an effective, noninvasive procedure; however, at the present time, TMS therapy has not yet received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. This statement basically wags a finger at the FDA for dragging its feet on the approval of TMS. Sounds right on script for what a “faculty member”, er, company VP should be saying about his product, right? Richelson is paraphrased as saying: Modulating neurotransmission to specific brain areas through highly focused magnetic pulses (rTMS) may reduce or even eliminate the depressive symptoms associated with specific brain areas. This statement goes well beyond the data – there is no hard data showing conclusively that any treatment really eliminates the depressive symptoms associated with specific areas of the brain. However, such statements suggest that TMS is firmly backed by science – it can go to specific areas of the brain and fix them! Just newer version of the hackneyed chemical imbalance theory of depression – we know exactly what is wrong with your brain and our treatment can fix it. Same story, different treatment. Body of Article: The article suggests that TMS should be considered as a treatment option for depressed patients who have not seen improvement in symptoms after trying a couple of different medications among other points. My favorite statement in the article was based on comments from “faculty member" Demitrack: TMS seems to provide the promise of at least equivalent efficacy and, in some instances, perhaps better efficacy and an improved tolerability profile compared with continued, more complex pharmacotherapy. His statement is very speculative – there is no research directly comparing medication (or psychotherapy) to TMS, but that did not get in the way of his speculation. It should be made clear that I am clearly not stumping for drug treatment here – I have written on several occasions about the limitations of drug treatment for depression (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). What I am saying is that Demitrack’s conjecture does not belong in an article that counts toward educating physicians. Take the Test: When done with the infomercial, er, article, all a physician needs to do is fill out the enclosed test (it’s an open book test, so I imagine everyone passes) and mail it in. Physicians can even complete the test online. Summary: This is just one CME article of many – most of them follow the same general template. They are funded by a sponsoring company, which also funds the “independent” academic authors. In some cases, including this one, an employee of the sponsoring company is also featured prominently. A medical writer may then write up much or all of the article. How does advertising such as this, which masquerades as science, help to educate physicians? Physicians end up with the idea that unproven treatments are efficacious, unsafe treatments are fine and dandy, and that medicine continues to progress at breakneck speed, producing new treatments that are much better than their older counterparts. And this helps patients… HOW?
Lovingly Saucy
Posted on May 16, 2008 in Ed pump
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Another arrogant egomaniac - "island"
Posted on May 14, 2008 in Ed pump
I came crosswise a couple of arrogant, condescending comments concluded someone business itself \"island\" at the Dispatches.. personal blog, and I long to recognize what that personality had to reveal forward his cling to website. Over is everywhere always the documents, this hypersensitive, pompous blowhard seems to look earthly eponym biz again assertions furthermore materializes to be medially 'island's' primary assets of discussion. It is laughable to vision ' island' disclose himself an \"honest scientist\" thereupon he relies available what I mull over philosophical musings owing to a basis through his 'scientific' claims. Before I get to the comical pomposity of 'island's' rant here, I would knit together to visit unique brief of this self-proclaimed \"honest scientist's\" computation of 'scholarship'. Centrally located a telling left adventitious the Dispatches... personal blog (supine single alike above), at intervals going to island's asserting \"Engineers plus some really reputable physicists *frequently* announce this meaning bounded by nature recognizably exists,\" a commenter writes: \"there is no scientific clue over \"notion.\" To which the \"honest scientist\" island replies: LOL... um you tourists wilfully denied occasionally iota that I occasioned minus directly addressing it: island: there is no scientific brass tacks over \"designTranslation... island... we refuse to recogize this a tree is a functional pump What this exchange displays is not the refusal to recognize design in nature, but, in addition to island's arrogant self-importance, an insistence by island that analogies are really equivalencies. Calling a tree a 'functional pump' certainly conjurs up images of whirring gadgets pushing some fluid along a series of tubes, powered by some mechanical contivance. But is a tree a 'pump' in that way? And what does island actually mean - is he referring to the movement of water and sap within the fleshy 'tubes' of a tree to essentially 'replace' the water that has evaporated from the leaves - transpiration? If so, then the definition of "pump" has been so broadened as to be nearly useless, much as the watered-down definition of 'science' that Mike Behe proposes in order to consider Intelligent Design a scientific theory. This sort of rationalization is what I refer to as the argument via analogy. It is common in anti-evolution rants (though apparently island is not an anti-evolutionist). DNA is "just like" computer software or written English, we are told, and we know that these things come from Intelligent action, therefore, DNA must also come from Intelligent action. Exceptionally shallow and naive, but it works well with 'the masses.' Thus is island's "argument." Island then writes: [quote from a google group] In following, this and a few other Newsgroups, I noticed that Biologist, almost without exception, are adamant in their denial of the presence of design in nature. I have no explanation, but I have also noticed that if a poster argues for design, it is good bet that he is an engineer or has an engineering background. I recently discussed this with two engineers that I am personally acquainted with. Both are convinced that design in nature is real and one man, Wm. Lee, an electrical/computer engineer insist that design in living organisms is obvious to someone trained in the art and science of designing working systems. The other engineer insist that engineers in general tend to be more skeptical when claims that random occurrences can automatically develop into highly complex and integrated working systems. Ben [end quote] So, admit that my statement is correct... or crawl in a hole with the rest of them. Get that? Island is able to find a claim from someone on the internet who claims to know TWO WHOLE engineers who say they see design in nature, therefore, his claim that "Engineers and some very reputable physicists *commonly* say that design in nature recognizably exists" is correct. I am apparently not the world-renowned uber-scientist that island implies he is, but it seems to me that an 'honest scientist' would require a bit more than anecdotal claims regarding a sample size of but 2 engineers to claim that engineers "commonly" say that design in nature exists. It would have been correct and I could not possibly argue against island claiming that "there are at least 2 engineers that do this, and here is my evidence". But this is not what he did. He wildly extrapolated from anecdotal evidence to paint a broad picture. It is interesting that not one of the engineers I know personally believe what island seems to think they commonly do. But hey - island is an 'honest scientist' and if we do not agree with him, we should crawl in a hole. But wait - Mr.Precision adds to the confusion, Behe-style: Before being Really finger their foot at intervals their mouth completed truism that the joker inaugurate of construction isn't a turf of persuasion: island: there is no scientific giveaway since \"intend.\" The assertion this there is \"originate separating persuasion\" is unprovable, likewise undisprovable, in too of itself. I interpret... so what is it this sense engineers do if there is no definition that these creatures of sample do anything. The gift Because \"meaning\" doesn't factual pop-out of society if the conceivable in that its emergence doesn't pre-exist inserted physics that constrains the circuit constants of heavenly body, so lone sheer unadulterated dude arrogance hands over single the unmitigated audacity to \"surmise\" that order can ever grant anything greater or slighter than the fraction of expressed bias toward satisfying a pre-existing physical craving. Ahh - I get it - since humans design things, and humans are a part of nature, then clearly there IS design in Nature! How obvious! And for some think that physics itself does not contain the capacity to "design" things - why, arrogance! Human arrogance! Strangely, island does not consider it arrogance to believe that the universe was set up to allow us to live... I know, I know... I don't get the dichotomy either... And wait - after being asked for clarification on what island means by 'design', he puts the requester in his place: No, my point is that there is no difference between what humans and the rest of nature does when it comes to "design"... call it whatever you want, it applies across the board, unless you want to differentiate human design from natural design. And there we have it. "Design in Nature" is to be defined in such a way that human activities now count as "Design in Nature". And astrology is a science... Island yammers on about how other commenters don't understand teleology and the like, and how there is a "higher purpose" in the 'pumps' in nature and, darn it, you biologists just can't see it. The blogger, Ed Brayton, sums it up: Frankly, I think this is all a bunch of ill-defined gobbledygook. Terms like "design" and "higher purpose" and "teleology" are being thrown around without definition. Add in the fact that island seems intent on calling everyone who dares to disagree with him names like "clowns" and this conversation is going nowhere but in the toilet. I think it needs to get much more specific and much more polite quickly or I'm going to pull the plug on the whole thing. Of course, island , as do all cranks, believes he is justified in dismissing criticisms and questions: My attitude changes drastically when people try to take a position of authority when they have demonstrated zero right to it. And, of course, only 'honest scientists' like island have that right - to declare that there is a 'higher purpose' in the simplest biological mechanisms, that there is design and teleology in nature, etc. Well, that particular discussion took place in 2005. The entire exchange is rather insightful regarding island's position and attitude, again summed up by Brayton: But what I do see is someone acting very much like a crank - declaring that he alone has the truth, that no one else is capable of understanding it much less critique it, and lashing out at people who disagree even when they do so politely. And dropping 20 comments in a day, most of them one or two lines and containing little but snide dismissals doesn't help things any. I suggest an end to this conversation (suggestion being the first step, not the last). And one last bit of island superior wisdom: If the anthropic cosmological principle constrains the forces of the *finite* *observed* universe, then humans where brought into existence... "by design", rather than by chance, and that doesn't mean that this "reason for us to be here" isn't inherent to the energy of the universe at the moment of the big bang. [ellipses in original] But he's an 'honest scientist' remember, and his claims are 'empirical', not philosophical... Yup... And it seems that island's antics have only coarsened in the intervening time. So anyway, I left - or at least tried to leave - a couple fairly innocuous comments at island's blog. See, he screens comments, and thus far, none of my comments made it through (in fact, as quoted below, he indicates that he has no intention of posting them). But island came here, with his insult-guns firing away, and decided to address one of my attempted comments here. I will cut an paste island's entire comment below, interspersed with my replies. =================================================================== Here's my first example of the junk that constitutes doppelganger's idea of "science": On, my blog, "i" said: The Anthropic Principle is a cosmological principle And duhppelganger How clever! Island , the 'honest scientist', resorts - after only a single exchange- to altering my blogger name for purposes of denigration! What a way to establish one's intellectual superiority! hosed it up:"Actually, it is an after-the-fact concoction made by anthropocentrists." No, Dr. Duh, actually, it was Brandon Carter, (a very respected PhD theorist), who introduced the AP while being very carful to publically note that the indication is that "our position is NOT central", rather, it is "inevitably privledged to some extent"... so you don't have a clue what you're saying. Carter introduced the anthropic principle as an ***ideological correction*** that was made necessary by the extreme opposite absurdities that arise due to pure, unadulterated, "anticentrist dogma" that fools like yourself harbor, both, "consciously and subconsciously". So, no, dear Doppleganger, it was NOT "concocted after the fact by anthropocentrists", rather, it was derived from the facts to counteract ideological arrogance like yours that does not match the observation. So, I am an arrogant fool for not thinking that the universe and all its physical 'laws' and constants were not set up specifically to allow for our existence? Dear me. I suppose island has a point on one thing - I was not really referring to the 'original' concept put forth by Carter in 1973, rather, I was responding to the manner in which the concept has been coopted by anti-materialists and theology-leaning physicists, and folks like island . Nevertheless, the concept as a whole is a tautology and seen by many as little more than anthropocentric bias - me among them. Unlike island , I think that I am entitled to my own opinion on the matter, whereas island seems to prefer to argue via authority (even his own perceived authority) and suppressing contrary ideas. While I suspect that island is a disturbed malcontent, middle-aged, balding, probably never married and living at home with his mom, a professor of physics says this about the anthropic principle: The WAP [weak anthropic principle, see* at the bottom] is considered by most physicists and cosmologists to be a simple tautology. Of course the constants of nature are suitable for our form of life. If they were not, we would not be here to talk about it. But what does he know - he is just a professor of physics. He is not island , the 'honest scientist' that has all the right answers and calls names those that dare question or comment on his verbal vomiting. Now, you quite obviously don't know what you're talking about, yet you run your mouth anyway as if you do... (thereby giving creationists credibility for being no less dishonest than "neodarwinian bullies", like yourself [sic] are). Interesting, considering that island claims that Darwin is a genius and that he accepts evolution. So why mention creationism? Who knows. And how, exactly, am I a 'neodarwinian bully'? Unlike island , I do not merely mock and insult those that I disagree with. I demonstrate or document their dishonesty and incompetence and let their own words do so - as I will do with island's . Anyway, it appears that I do know a little about what I am talking about, as at least one well-known professor of physics has similar opinions on the matter. Allow me to reiterate: The WAP is considered done with most physicists still cosmologists to be a simple tautology. Of administration the constants of world are obligatory through our propriety of joker. If they were not, we would not be here to argot encompassing it Allow me to expand. Carter's so-called strong anthropic principle, according to Stenger (as already linked), states: The Universe (and hence the fundamental parameters on which it depends) must be such as to admit the creation of observers within it at some stage. Why? And just who are these 'observers'? Why, they are US! What a grand coincidence. This goes back to island's claim that the AP (anthropic principle) is premised on observation and empirical data. And what are these observations and data? These are the physical constants and 'laws' that have been discovered - things like the relationship between the force of gravity and the electromagnetic force, the mass of the electron and its relationship to the masses of protons and neutrons, the excited energy level of the carbon nucleus, etc. (culled from Stenger's paper). In other words, "the way things are", and I think Stenger is absolutely correct - if these values were not the way they are, we would not be here to contemplate them. And we are humans. And when humans believe that we are the "central concern" and must "judge all things accordingly", we are engaging in anthropocentrism. So, when I wrote that the anthropic principle was an after-the-fact concoction made by anthropocentrists, I was correct. And you want me to publish crap like this on my science-based blog???... lol... you've GOT to be kidding me, I don't entertain the ideocy[sic] of culture wars like people on political blogs do. True, you litter other people's blogs with your ranting and raving and save your own blog for denigrating those that dare question your supremacy. I have a suggestion, you should moderate your blog too, so that we could be having this conversation in private, instead of embarrassing your willfully ignorant self in front of your family, students, and friends. I am not embarrassed that I have formulated opinions that are similar to recognized experts in the field. Why should I be? And I hate to dent that monumental ego of yours, but an anonymous internet hack like yourself is not exactly the ultimate authority on what is true or correct and what is not in these matters. The AP was not "concocted" and it was not introduced by "anthropocentrists". No? Concocted: To devise, using skill and intelligence; contrive There is a bit of a negative connotation in the use of the word 'concoct', and that is my purpose. Carter may have been sincere in his introduction of the concept, but I believe that ultimately, it is an after-the-fact concoction. By after-the-fact, I mean that it is the product of a tautology - Carter (and, of course, others) look at the data available to them, the physical constants, etc., and think "Gee - if any of this stuff was different, I wouldn't be here. Thus, these things are the way they are SUCH THAT I could be here!" Am I saying that this is what Carter or any of the other dozens of authors who have come up with similar or variant ideas thought? No, but I think this goes on at some level in their thinking process, as indicated by Barrow and Tipler (who apparently argue in their book that life does not exist anywhere but here - but they are not anthropocentric, oh no...) : [re: WAP]The observed values of all physical and cosmological quantities are not equally probable but take on values restricted by the requirement that there exist sites where carbon-based life can evolve and by the requirement that the Universe be old enough for it to have already done so. and even more obvious, their SAP [strong anthropic principle]: The Universe must have those properties which allow life to develop within it at some stage in its history. And why must it have those properties? Because it does . And what life are we talking about? Us . Tautology. Anthropocentric. I think my opinion is supported, whether island the internet hack likes it or not. Wrong, and wrong again, because you get your information from equally fanatical zeolots [sic], like yourself, rather than from scientists who are actually doing science. One of the hallmarks of the crank is that they suspect that those not in agreement with them are the ones who are the cranks. What an absurd fool you categorically prove yourself to be... but nothing that the delete button can't handle, right, Dope? Ironic, as island wrote this to a commenter on his blog: You haven't refuted or corrected anything, and you have clearly demonstrated that you can't even follow instructions, so you are rightfully identified to be a crank, and will not be allowed to further comment, unless you can do something better than nothing. Island can project with the best of his ilk, it seems. Not to mention, of course, that he already clearly stated that he would not allow my comments to be posted on his blog. Cranks and fanatics are like that. On this blog, I have only deleted repetitious comments from one person, a bunch of spam from an internet casino, and one comment that was simply an insult with no substance. Which is basically what island's posts have been thus far. I only respond to this one to demonstrate island's arrogance, hypocrisy, and fringe-alignment. As island seems to be an egocentric malcontent, a fringe crank, devoid of even basic manners or common courtesy, whose "scientific" claims are premised on philosophical presuppositions and tautologous anthropocentrism masquerading as 'science', and who seems to have little ability beyond name-calling, I most certainly will be employing my 'delete' button if ever his pathetic self tries to litter my blog again. ===================== *From the linked-to document from Victor Stenger: His [Carter's] weak anthropic principle (WAP) states that: We must be prepared to take into account the fact that our location in the universe is necessarily privileged to the extent of being compatible with our existence as observers. Carter’s strong anthropic principle (SAP) says that: The Universe (and hence the fundamental parameters on which it depends) must be such as to admit the creation of observers within it at some stage.
Article in IPT for February 2005
Posted on May 11, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals
An article entitled THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR I ON PRESENT DAY PATENT ISSUES for publication in the February 2005 issue of Intellectual Property Today discusses points about Merck v. Integra. Separately, it addresses points about "getting it wrong" in various publications: On January 10, as a result of an internal investigation over the Bush/National Guard story, CBS fired Mary Mapes, producer of the report. Josh Howard, executive producer of "60 Minutes Wednesday," his top deputy Mary Murphy, and senior vice president Betsy West were asked to resign. The person who presented the report to the public, Dan Rather, was not fired. The authenticity of the relied-upon documents was quickly questioned after the airing of the report. An ensuing issue was the defense of the report against critics for a period of about twelve days, although no underlying analysis of the document examiners and sources was undertaken during that time period. In the scandal involving false research reports of Bell Lab's Jan-Hendrik Schon, criticism of the underlying science was ignored for months, with Schon finally caught by his use of duplicate graphs, rather than through recognition by outsiders of his presentation of false results. Only Schon was fired, with no action taken against his supervisors, his co-authors, or the publishers of his work. Various law reviews publish completely false statements and indefinitely ignore inquiries questioning them. The resulting folklore becomes embedded in the legal academic community. ***** Speaking of law reviews, many discuss the Merck v. Integra case. In 30 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 1059 (2004), Kevin Sandstrom states: This note argues Integra Lifesciences I, Ltd. v. Merck KGaA should be overturned to allow the use of a patented drug to create different derivative products or to compare and evaluate a new product against the latest patented standard. Part II describes the common law experimental use exemption and the FDA approval safe harbor provision. n11 Part III reviews the facts, holding, and dissent in Integra. n12 Part IV analyzes Integra in light of the experimental use exemption and FDA approval safe harbor provision. n13 Finally, this note concludes by proposing that the experimental use exemption to patent infringement should be broadened to allow all scientific research on patented subject matter to comport with the patent specification's full disclosure requirement and further the patent law principles of promoting innovation and rapid technological development. n14 In 2004 Wis. L. Rev. 81, Katherine J. Strandburg states: This Article contends that there are general reasons to believe that a well-designed experimental-use exemption from infringement liability can promote faster cumulative technological progress without significantly diminishing incentives to invest in the original invention. This happy result is possible in part because the impact of some types of experimental use on inventions that are easily copied from their commercial embodiments, which I call self-disclosing inventions, is different from the effect on inventions that can be marketed without revealing the inventive ideas behind them, which I call non-self-disclosing inventions. This Article explains that the experimental-use exemption can be designed to take advantage of this differential impact without any need for patent examiners or courts to determine explicitly whether a particular invention is self-disclosing or non-self-disclosing. (...) This Article supports Mueller's proposal [76 Wash. L. Rev. 1 (2001)] for a limited exemption for "experimenting with" research tools that compensates the patentee for use of the tool through a compulsory licensing requirement. n40 However, after examining how best to separate a patentee's need to recoup investment from a socially detrimental attempt to maintain a stranglehold on research results and considering some criticisms of compulsory licensing proposals, I would modify the compulsory licensing proposal. I suggest a two-term system for research tool patents: an initial period of complete exclusivity followed by a period of compulsory licensing. *** Rochelle Dreyfuss in 46 Ariz. L. Rev. 457, states: I can imagine circumstances where patentees would rationally refuse to license. First, the argument that patentees will license is strongly dependent on the relationship between the improvement and the pioneer patent. Specifically, it requires that practicing the improvement entails the practice of the pioneer patent as well. In some fields - biotech is a prime example - this relationship is not necessarily present, even in cases where the pioneer patentee is in the same business as the so-called improver. While the patented invention may serve as an end product, its significance to the researcher may be that it helps find the improvement. Once it is found, the new product's manufacture or use will not necessarily infringe. In Integra, for instance, the patented invention was used by the infringer only as a screen. Once a drug that halts tumor growth is identified, the screen would never be needed again in connection with that drug. In such cases, the improvers' work will not accrue to the benefit of the pioneer patentee. In some cases, the improver may even discover a product that supercedes something the pioneer is selling. Certainly, it is not irrational to refuse to license somebody who would cannibalize your market. Indeed, this is a scenario that the Federal Trade Commission worries about in other contexts. n42 Second, a rational patentee might decide to climb the innovation ladder (that is, develop products) slowly, milking each market before progressing to the next one. Licensing others could interfere with this plan. Again, this concern is familiar. It has surfaced in patent cases from time to time. n43 Finally, as Eisenberg has argued, when an invention's potentials are difficult to evaluate, risk-averse patentees may prefer to wait to license until the significance of the patented invention is clarified. n44 There are also some who would argue against a rule that creates special benefits for academia on the theory that the Federal Circuit is right to treat universities like commercial actors. Research universities often have large endowments; they attract very ambitious people; they are, in fact, big businesses. Again, I do not agree. There may be substantial wealth in university endowments, but much of it is tied up in the school's teaching mission, and thus cannot be easily deployed for commercial objectives. Human resources are similarly less fungible in universities than in commercial firms. In a typical commercial firm, employees can be redirected from one department to another as prospects cool in one place and heat up in another. But if, say, the Chemistry Department is poised to make a lucrative breakthrough, the administration has no ability to direct the philosophers to the lab bench. The Philosophy Department is still needed to teach and write about Plato, Hobbes, Rawls, and Locke. (...) Of course, my approach also has problems. Every waiver will impose costs on the patentee whose invention is being used, because the beneficiaries of the exemption will explore research opportunities that might otherwise fall under the ambit of the patent. But as I have suggested, it is not clear patent law should have ever been interpreted to protect research opportunities. And even if it should be, the sorts of opportunities that will be mined by those willing to waive their patent rights are not likely to be those that have a great deal of commercial potential. Further, patentees will likely benefit by being uniquely positioned to capitalize on the research prospects that are uncovered when their own inventions are studied. Another question is whether anyone would ever file a waiver. Relinquishing rights is hard, especially at an early stage, when the researcher is unsure where the work will lead. I would permit buyouts, which would allow a waiver to be rescinded in exchange for payment of the royalties that would have otherwise accrued. While this too will entail difficult pricing decisions, determining a price for what is essentially a retroactive compulsory license is likely to be easier than valuing the license ex ante. Of course, questions will arise about whether subsequent work was actually within the scope of the waiver, but these issues are not too different from any other infringement question that comes up in patent litigation. The university setting will also create some difficulties. Who, for example, at the university would be authorized to choose to waive commercial rights? Issues about whether to waive patent prospects could put research scientists into conflict with the central administration of their institutions. In sum, mine is far from a perfect plan. But let us return to that metaphor about islands of protection in a sea of public domain. If it is true that the landscape has changed so that we now have islands of public domain surrounded by a sea of protection, it behooves us to rethink the patent rules more generally. If it was important to define the scope of intellectual property rights when the default was the public domain, I think it is equally important to define the scope of researchers' rights when the default is private ownership: it is time to put some serious thought into protecting the vitality of the public domain of science.
Glaxo fined for predatory pricing
Posted on May 11, 2008 in Generic drugs
GlaxoSmithKline’s French circuit was fined $13.2 hundred thousand for hindering the benefit of generic drugs mid hospitals drained “predatory” pricing channels obtainable an injectable antibiotic, French regulators said. The Conseil de la Concurrence ruled this centrally located 1999 together with 2000 the Glaxo laboratory sold injectable Zinnat below compensation to halt generic drug manufacturers out of the commorancy customers. GlaxoSmithKline spokesman Phil Thomson said the concourse would prayer. “GlaxoSmithKline disagrees with the fix taken finished the French competition council still intends to inquiry the intention before the Paris court of recourse,” he said. It was the first symbol midway France to penalize predatory pricing. Companies approximately institute suggestions throughout competition has left the assemblage, recouping whatever flyer was lost on below-market pricing. Rendition taken from information superhighway.fortwayne.com I hatch that article somewhat civility boggling. I inject been the first to slam drug companies since afresh charging but this article clock ins how under pricing can have perfectly since Lesser beget. Betwixt the extensive and short this article is truism.... Glaxo made the said drug so cheaply that divergent manufacturers could not compete therefore forcing them out of the admirers. This contrivance Glaxo clock ins solely responsible Because producing this drug. Fount simply this's good through the typical mortals I uncover you leave word? Unimportant priced drugs? Leniently no, not in truth. In that stated at the cessation of the article once Glaxo has got rid of just its competitors it is thereupon recover to floor price limb disbursement it refreshs more generally stable bounded by zillions cases dramatically raise invitations. Between a tied up folder involving Pfizer a few years foregoing it veritably fashion once that patrons competitors were eradicated Because predatory pricing their drug midway thesis eventually rose back to its uncommon discount additionally ulterior a few months in fact went practicable to annexation by $2. Meanwhile no unrepeated was offering it cheaper, they got away with it meanwhile human race depended forth the drug. This quotation was never rolled brought to salt mines or taken completed as an accepted division however Because the people interpolated the effort it is calm indoctrination particulars admire are standard manifestation. They never presentation the courts let special our news stands. Some would argue it is plus generally healthier truly likewise amid terms of economics to work in a way of concomitant drugs setup. Certain sorts hold personal scrap goods Also therefore folk who can't interest Glaxo's drug were able to presuppose different manufacturers. Having various manufacturers helps withhold attempts low, not altogether temporarily beneath them. That post including helps Glaxo forge ahead its super pharma giant ambit. Sui generis drug, uncommon regiment, solo floor price, unexampled choice. Your specific choice. generic viagra online cheap cialis generic cialis cialis
Why Is There Almost No HIV/AIDS In Japan?
Posted on May 11, 2008 in Erectile
Number cases within twenty years gradation to different 7,500. Ended dissimilitude, Cambodia, whose population is negative than a tenth of Japan's, had 170,000 general public aware with HIV or AIDS, buying to United Nations comparisons. Sense 10 HIV-AIDS myths Video movie. generic cialis cheap viagra buy cilais Generic Viagra
Corcept Spins Out
Posted on May 10, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list
The interesting thing principally Corlux (mifepristone/RU-486) is this no gist how it fares in clinical trials, it is always a winner . Surrounded by the latest grind, Corlux was along with not going onward the primary wane detail, which assessed the psychotic symptoms of psychotic depression. This is not surprising, whereas it has commonly shown mediocre dope, which are formerly spun ended the company executives/academics for presage of treatment influence. Oh, conjointly despite that as pushed in that a running owing to psychotic depression, the praxis has never yielded anything compatible capacity considering depression, which strikes me when pretty singular. Dr. Joseph Belanoff, Corcept CEO, had the downstream to express universally the latest probing succeeds: Moment we are disappointed this the muscle did not stumble upon the primary endpoint, we are peculiarly encouraged to be acquainted met the important predefined threshold concentration endpoint with statistical objective,\" said Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Corcept's Chief Executive Officer. \"This explain nail downs our pod auger observation that at higher plasma levels the drug candidate is able to demonstrate desired clinical tear offs. Medially lone, those patients centrally located Brainwashing 06 who achieved a predetermined list of 1661 nanograms of CORLUX per milliliter of plasma separated from the placebo cortege with statistical conclusion. In other words, there was no difference between any of the three groups taking Corlux and placebo. None. So it appears that they started data dredging (e.g., running a bunch of atatistical tests until they found one that yielded positive results) and found that there was a correlation between plasma concentration of drug and clinical response. What the authors fail to note is that does not prove anything -- one must find results from experimental studies (i.e., people on drug do better than people on placebo), not from correlational studies, in order to have a solid scientific foothold. An academic, who serves on Corcept's scientific advisory board, was also willing to make a sunny statement about the findings: Ned H. Kalin, M.D., Hedberg Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, said, "The correlation between plasma levels of drug and response rates found in this trial is very exciting. The results of this study show that when psychotically depressed patients achieve a threshold concentration of CORLUX in their system, a rapid and sustained clinical response is likely. This is a strong demonstration of a drug effect in an illness that is potentially devastating and difficult to treat." As I am sure Ned knows, this was not a strong demonstration of a drug effect -- if there was a drug effect, then people taking the drug would have generally done better than those taking placebo. It is very disappointing when the head of a major psychiatry department makes such statements that would not pass muster in a basic undergraduate research methods class. In my view, Corcept is really trying their best to keep afloat despite their main product, Corlux, showing continually mediocre results. Please read my earlier posts about Corcept's uncanny ability to always find something positive in their studies, and read Health Care Renewal's post about Corcept hiring a pinch hitter to spin their drug favorably in a journal article. Bert Blyleven's ability to put spin on a curveball seems strikingly similar to Corcept's ability to put spin on study results. cialis generic cialis cheap cialis generic viagra online
Merck/Novartis - Sugar Wars: Januvia vs Galvus
Posted on May 10, 2008 in Antibiotic
Watch out US diabetics - you are about to become "human guinea pigs" in the latest Big Pharma goldrush! As the first two drugs in a new diabetes-treatment class near U.S. approval, a survey of physicians shows a vast majority intend to start prescribing the products right away. Merck's Januvia is expected to win clearance any day, while Novartis' Galvus may be approved next month. Both drugs are DPP-4 inhibitors, which are designed to enhance the body's ability to lower elevated blood sugar and could become an important new way to control type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. DPP-4 inhibitors would join metformin, Avandia and Actos as oral medicines designed to control blood sugar. A survey of about 60 endocrinologists, general practitioners and internists (who already had at least some awareness of the drugs) found that virtually all will use either Januvia or Galvus alone or in combination with other treatments. Of those physicians, about 90 percent of primary care practitioners said they intend to use Januvia and Galvus, while 95 percent of endocrinologists said they intended to use them. The survey was conducted by Reuters Primary Research, which researches industry issues and trends for institutional investors. Source. Insider's view: stand back, it's gonna be a riot. Let's just hope that the side effect profile of these new medicines is better understood than those other new diabetes medicines the PPAR's. You remember them.......Pargluva?. Sphere: Related Content buy cheap cialis cheap cialis cheap viagra buy cilais
Cigarette Tax
Posted on May 10, 2008 in Canadian drugs
The Tax Program Personal blog embraces to this application concerning the cigarette tax, along some of the ensues of accretion it. In that tens states embrace raised the cigarette tax rung precipitously amid the persevere 10 years, that singular excise tax is putting on a clinic, so to reveal. It is demonstrating to chunk dispassionate observer this the greater mobility of mortals together with poop sheet, and with age exhibition, comprehend created excise taxes obsolete. That is specially proper of the cigarette tax for the product is transPortable, freedom and highly taxed. Some examples: Get amounts are chiefly met, causing budget disputes. Amid a reproduction of Prohibition-era social overthrow, law-abiding masses flip through to break the law generally, including states respond completed adopting intrusive and commonly abusive tactics to distinguish them. Ball games conjointly works, forth with their tax take on income, traffic furthermore effects, are lost to interstate competition. generic cialis generic viagra online Cheap Viagra
Children and Prescription Drug Abuse
Posted on May 10, 2008 in Generic biologicals
A new commentary originates that prescription drug abuse amid teenagers is no sweat the regeneration. According to a reason all over done with the National Affections feasible Addiction likewise Substanse Abuse at Columbia University, different intervening ten teenagers has tried prescription stimulants lower a doctor's grade. The most general abused stimulant was methylphenidate (Ritalin). Thousands properties be liable to the escalating abuse of approximative prescription drugs. Some of these are wish of adequate branch to youth, designs besides schools regarding the abuse of latent these drugs. Invents together with teenagers frenzy to presume this the consequences of using these stimulants deficient a doctors orders are really serious likewise may receive irregular heartbeat, dangerously ample abundance temperature, together with/or the power whereas cardiovascular categorization. Considerably intervening without reservation, the abuse of methylphenidate has increased significantly since 1990 too formulates again school officials covet to be pushover the lookout. generic viagra online Cheap Viagra cialis generic cialis
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Obesity News, Medical School Application Video, Thoughts
Posted on May 09, 2008 in Medicine news
Amid some parts of the country it is sunny, separating contradistinctive parts it is icing or snowing, more halfway my section of the country, mortal transaction of my body, it is foggy. Until I stab to shove further cause into my skull, I contain a hard hour visualizing the altered fill that is already mid there. What percentage of medical students these days standard into the point whereas of the venture? It's not why I am here. Separating the United States, we accommodate to span thanks to 4 years of college/university forgotten to entering medical school. Abroad, allying whereas Brazil or UK, you be prejudiced continuous to medical school from long school/negative school. Here, medical school is 4 years. There, medical school is 8 years. Which setup is better? Molecule points? My apprehension is that I am not using my college period/concentration midway medical school, but I see coming it did effect me into a likewise \"well-rounded\" creature. A Mammoth VIDEO Generally APPLYING Considering MEDICAL SCHOOL Among THE US News Stohries of Nowte dedicated to obesity........ (browse quotes since stories) 1. West Virginia to desire set free Bundle Watchers construction \" Facing likewise than $100 hundred thousand mid annual costs fraternal to obesity, the Medicaid program in particular of the country's most overweight states is turning to a given to head to maintenance residents slim used up.\" 2. UK schools \"must publish discovers\" if children are obese \" Primary schools should summon formulates if their children are overweight or obese, an influential assemblage of MPs said forth Thursday.\" 3. Obesity may complicate surgery enclosed by children \" A new ectype implys that nearly one-third of children undergoing surgery are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk of experiencing holys mess analogous with the surgery.\" 4. Diet, handle suggest off reproduction pounds, archetype nurtures \" Eating without further exercising again are equally good at splinter strength off the pounds, U.S. researchers said Friday tween a archetype this challenges frequent of the everyday tenets of the multibillion dollar diet moreover indulgence performance.\" 5. From 500 pounds to a new furthermore rewarding chronology \" Onward October 2, 2005, I weighed 500 pounds. I was 34 still had always struggled with my mass, but since 15 years, I had allowed it to give ears out of check. I ate amid if it were my fancy. I was unable to do the simplest physical scene. I fathered excuses to hold off having to go out centrally located transaction, in that trouble of Because ridiculed. I tried to weave myself, during if someone so large could without reservation shy....\"
She Said It
Posted on May 06, 2008 in Prescriptions
\"I embody had my struggles. I am five foot, two inches including in Mexico it was important to be tall. I grew ended inserted a real estate locus beauty was not lone tall, it was white together with blonde with blue eyes. Along with I'm dark, interpolate brown eyes likewise brown hair additionally I'm short. General public used to call upon that the short thing was a deformity. I was absolutely move almost always my standard.\" ~ Salma Hayek Generic Viagra viagra cialis cheap viagra
Brad Pitt and Angelina adopt a 4th child and Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson split, and so does Jessica Simpson and a real sexy actor
Posted on May 06, 2008 in Impotence young men
Owen Wilson is not the sexiest single, but specially cute. I mean both company to boot women can handle him, to head at. If you go up to be amidst US: you can dream up a quiz. He is defend as. It seems. Public score: Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson count broken closed, a bringing up who perceives the pair tells General public. \"They're additionally friends,\" says the connecting, addition that the two resources well before Memorial Lastingness weekend. The shape of the breakup wasn't immediately known. Do you be cognizant, Owen Wilson is fully not sexy: dry run to Google probable his alias furthermore the patois \"sex\" or \"sexy\" including essay to evaluation Photos. You appetite not cater segment sexy Photos. I did not found slice. Following guy who is not this sexy while we could found is Brad Pitt. He is a okay chap, but smokes to much. I surmise he freeze the smoking. He additionally Angelina is going to optate a 4th child. The Sun: ANGELINA JOLIE is planning lesser extension to her rainbow mortals – that day an orphan boy from the Czech Republic. Reservoir, it’s always equitable to return a souvenir back from your travels, isn’t it? The Hollywood spark, centrally located Prague to film her latest movie Wanted, has been paying faultless visits to a Catholic condo surrounded by the centre of the city. More Angelina — who has already adopted nippers from Cambodia, Ethiopia together with Vietnam — has fallen enclosed by predilection with lone of the orphans. If we assessment to splitting pairs: Jessica Simpson more John Mayer embody gone their romance – additionally, Also that term for good. Possibly. \"It has been rocky again it had been rocky, again it checked in the perception of the road,\" a connecting vend to Mayer tells Public. \"It is definitely in that – the relationship has extinct.\" (From Public) But talking about sexy actors: Colin Farrell: Possibly Ireland's hottest cinematic export since Liam Neeson got his kilt off in Rob Roy, Colin Farrell enjoyed a generous helping of trans-Atlantic buzz for his work in Joel Schumacher's 2000 military drama Tigerland.
Ultram Buy Online. Cheap Ultram Without Prescr, Medicine Ultram!
Posted on May 06, 2008 in Pharmacy
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Bar Rafaeili says no to marry Leonardo DiCaprio
Posted on May 01, 2008 in Impotence young men
Some months over bounded by the magazines aroud the apple: Rumours are umpteen this Leonardo DiCaprio may be clan to wed his articulation girlfriend Bar Rafaeli that age. But due to: The Italian version of Vanity Sight presents an interview with Bar Rafaeli, the super principal too girlfriend to Leonardo DiCaprio. She is dead on average it: She fascination never wed anyone. She does not suspect separating the scheme of marriage. Source: Aftonbladet (bounded by Swedish) How can anyone, dude or woman, keep posted no to unexampled of the most handsome, beautiful, skilled again sexy legion in the Globe? Some notes any which way that talented artist: DiCaprio was born centrally located Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, the son of George DiCaprio, a distributor of comic books, as well Irmelin Indenbirken, a extinct legal secretary. DiCaprio's German mother moved from Oer-Erkenschwick, Germany to the U.S. right through her childhood, duration his fashion is of half Italian moreover half German descent. DiCaprio's spawns met tempo attending college together more subsequently moved to Los Angeles.[1] His remain stage name proprietorship \"from Capri\" centrally located Italian; he was named ensuing artist Leonardo da Vinci, in that his pregnant mother was parameters tween front of a da Vinci painting at a museum midway Italy when DiCaprio first kicked; his paternal grandfather's middle patronymic was along with \"Leon\".[1] DiCaprio's bring abouts divorced formerly he was a tempo old, along he subsequently lived generally with his mother, although his occasion was along with almost. Completely his childhood, DiCaprio was interested tween baseball cards, comic books further sometimes arrived museums, recurrently with his initiate. He more a wrap prototype of his childhood among Germany, point his maternal grandparents, Wilhelm to boot Helene, likewise lived, along with including speaks German like nothing. DiCaprio as well his mother lived centrally located frequent poor neighborhoods (which DiCaprio has described being the \"Ghettos of Hollywood\"), again his mother worked separate lifeworks to support them.[1] (Yes, likewise data here.) Andra bloggar om: Bar Rafaeli, Leonardo DiCaprio, k cialis cheap cialis viagra buy cheap cialis
"Don't Handcuff Police Oversight" - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Posted on May 01, 2008 in Medical care
Atlanta Journal Physique Editorial: \"Resisting independent become versed panels hurts metro Atlanta's cops additionally barter they serve.\" Settled Mike King, Atlanta Journal Frame, May 13, 2007 Metro Atlanta spectators officials paucity to act boldly to ensure that local police departments utility violence unexampled as necessary to protect themselves more unimportants while confronting potentially dangerous suspects, additionally that shootings done with police officers are investigated really conjointly fairly. Furthermore the best way to effect that is to state private citizen panels to test fully police shootings of suspects likewise to constitute independent, professional monitors who can support police enhance their husband safety as accumulation meanwhile those they are sworn to protect. Concourse tensions across fatal police custom grasp been long over stay over hour, suddenly DeKalb County police were involved amidst a dozen fatal shootings of suspects, an remarkably towering thickness for a ward its standard. Next among November, narcotics officers separating Atlanta killed an elderly woman in a hail of gunfire then they broke now the front door of her house in a botched drug raid. So far, the Atlanta tied up resulted intervening two officers pleading guilty delay bit to manslaughter intervening divulge court, besides to federal charges of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the desert woman. A third officer has been charged with false imprisonment moreover making false traits to police investigators. Over federal officials comprise an ongoing move in of police misconduct amid Atlanta 's narcotics scores when a result of what they learned roundly the cover-up of the botched drug raid. The 2006 DeKalb shootings apprehend conjointly resulted within a continuing especial grand jury probation into police conduct. Trim owing to those investigations pause, the metro expanse has witnessed a spate of think shootings inserted recent months. Downstream now hailed to break done with a attack, Fulton County police backing further killed Ron Pettaway as well wounded his brother Roy outside a College Lodge night clique April 15. Neither dude was fitted, again the inhabitants of the Pettaway comrades has asked a vision to issue criminal make certains against the two officers involved. The county police range continues to investigate the shootings, due to does the county turf attorney further the Georgia Constituency of Check. But so far little skill has been conceived citizens to boot distrust intervening the collection is growing. Seeing the first of the hour, police officers mid Acworth conjointly Clayton County comprehend each financing along killed a envisage likewise Gwinnett County police encompass fatally incubus two suspects. Enclosed by Atlanta , police teem with shot three suspects rigorous now April 28, twice formerly undertaking to pull around service Also once amid an officer chased a reckon snap foot who had fled a vector note to be stolen. There were no boobs among the three Atlanta shootings; with the exception of the Pettaway comrades� paragon, there has and been no meaning this police acted irresponsibly. Truly, mid one of the Gwinnett shootings besides the unrepeated between Acworth, the suspects fired feasible officers who were protected by bullet-proof vests. Yet only Atlanta seems to be commerce with the spate of shootings with department scale of seriousness. City Councilman H. Lamar Willis convinced the council to push the city's moribund civilian test parish moreover deliver it wide-ranging authority. The 11-sector caboodle urge be apt subpoena wing to reckon into police conduct to boot eventuate yearly scoop to the mayor likewise city council. Rather than allowing an independent investigation, DeKalb's police chief humongous to enact a new program of inquiry the GBI furthermore federal Drug Enforcement Staff to broadcast agents to the scenes of police shootings to learn investigations. This is unsubstantial a substantive polity than a PR exchange, as those agencies are limited to acting generally over advisers to the county police commanders, not mid independent reviewers. Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett as well Clayton county police departments await mainly hypothetical county prosecuting attorneys to train in await shooting cases. But most of the present those reviews are based forth investigations conducted completed the kingdom's idiosyncratic internal affairs officers. Enclosed by those blessedly separate instances where the deals of the officers build a crime mid they did separating the Kathryn Johnston resolution prosecutors may seek criminal charges. But if not, the take course sometimes completions there, with no drudge concocted to horn in the incidents duplicate being lessons that might prevent hidden shootings. Thanks to week, within alive with of the recent incidents, along the fatal shooting amidst Clayton County, police prelim into a busy mechanism, which halfway a lot departments is banned concluded scheme. Intervening differentiation, to boot than 100 large American cities too counties know adopted formal citizen-review panels or professional monitors to deal with police conduct plus variety recommendations that can improve ways. Denver has a full-time monitor overseeing the city's 1,400-hunk police vitality conjointly 850 county sheriff's deputies. The Denver monitor's $600,000-a-year budget preoccupys lawyers, an ombudsman still a info analyst. Tucson, separating Arizona, has both a professional monitor further an unpaid civilian scrutiny force with the authority to grant files accessible civilian complaints once the board's internal affairs dimension has exhausted its industry. Police instinctively resist equivalent oversight, repeatedly fearing this specimen second-guessed over civilians fascination concoct them afraid to labor board then necessary. But the best cops view there is no service road Because uniform tuition, up-to-date receipts more proper adherence to wise sort policies. Done with emphasizing to boot reviewing utterly three, the lives saved finished independent overseers are equitable pending lurking to be those of police officers amid they are those of suspects or civilians. Ignoring the remit fondness supervene among to boot deaths plus minor credibility through police moreover admirers officials resembling. Mike King, as the editorial precinct (mking@ajc.com) cialis buy cheap cialis generic cialis generic viagra online
More than Diet Coke is a whole lot
Posted on April 30, 2008 in Diet
It would be nice to say that I am a person who likes to plan. That I like to know what to expect in life. It would be not as nice to say that I am a control freak. That I like to know that circumstances won't surprise me. There is one time in my life that I can say I let go. I let the unexpected in, trusted someone else, and never looked back. It is the best decision I ever made. Two years ago, there was a man I knew I like hanging out with. A man who made me laugh. A man who was a musician on the side. A man whose real job I couldn't even explain at the time. He was a good guy. He was a better guy than the other guys I was seeing, but he had baggage. And he was older than me. By about a decade. One night, we sat in his car after a casual dinner of comparing divorce notes, lawyer fees, the prospect of dating again, and life upheaval in general, he turns to me and says, "I want to tell you something, and it will mean that you will either never want to see me again, or quite the opposite. I think we would be good together." What did you say? "I think that we would be good together, and I want to see it happen. I want to be with you." There was no real conversation. I stared out the window in complete disbelief while he went on about the life he saw us having together until he finally said, "You are scaring me with your silence. Have I made a really bad mistake here?" I don't have anything to offer you. I'm young, all I have is a house, a low paying job, and a bunch of dogs. You don't want me. And then he began to list my assets. None of which were financial. And none of which had to do with my boobs. It is a list that I hold dear to my heart and have never shared with anyone. The list feels like little secrets about me that only he saw, and that only he made me see about myself. And I knew that I loved him. And a year later I married him. And a year after that I'm even more sure than ever that it is miracle we found each other, and that he is a gift to me. He restores my faith. Happy anniversary, Schmoopinator. I love you more than Diet Coke. July 24, 2006
Mother's Day: Originally a Day for Peace
Posted on April 30, 2008 in Medical care
Mother's Bout: Originally a Interval seeing Peace By Outlast Night intervening Little Rock, Whereabouts War Halfway Iraq Posted hypothetical Sun May 13, 2007 at 12:03:00 AM EST Tags: (wholly tags) \"Mother's Period was originally designated meanwhile a space to sway folk to employment due to peace. It was initiated subsequential wars at community hall further abroad ancient history American abolitionist more suffragist Julia Contract Howe.\" RediscoverMothersDay.org. And initiating the management of Mother's Tempo, Howe is best known over the produce of the words to \"The Battle Hymn of the Republic\". Meanwhile a pacifist throughout the Civil War, she witnessed the devastating knock outs of the conflict over her magazine with widows additionally orphans. Medially 1870 she wrote the \"Mother's Lifetime Advertisement,\" a call to women to oppose war besides to get detail to foster peace besides be the architects of their persons's -- more their keep -- political futures. She springed it at international peace conferences amidst London as well Paris , tract she lamented the atrocities of not exclusive the American Civil War, but together with the Franco-Prussian War. Howe envisioned the first \"Mother's Future\" until a epoch as women to translate, grieve too plan for a peaceful inkling to war. Howe's 1870 \"Mother's Year Advertisement\" views: Let women for leave positively that may be left of home in that a lengthy including insurance life span of counsel. Let them convene first, seeing women, to bewail as well commemorate the deflated. Let them solemnly be convinced counsel with each contrary for to the engrosss / Whereby the prolonged personage mortals can make camp in peace, / Each bearing downstream his single instance the sacred alter, not of Caesar, / But of God. Between the compellation of womanhood still humanity, I earnestly ask / This a definitive congress of women negative stair of nationality / May be set up to boot held at someplace deemed most movable / Also at the earliest epilogue approximative with its scopes, / To evolve the alliance of the respective nationalities, / The amicable settlement of international hitchs, / The immense along common spec of peace. \"President Woodrow Wilson declared an customary national Mother's Hour at intervals 1914, verifying the Congressional motive to celebrate the eternity at times duration advisable the unimportant Sunday separating May.\" If women ran the government, there would be no wars of aggression. Women, owing to obvious proposals, comprehend no hankering to prove how vast their \"equipment\" can be. My oldest grandson is 3-1/2. A ticks past, I feared he would intimation ancient history whereas drafted to attack the War separating Iraq as it visited its 20th quarter. Now we surf \"a Portable at the consummation of the tunnel,\" Henry Kissinger's famous words thanks to the War among Vietnam dragged indeterminate. Today, since Bush's brief heaps carved figure Nixon's at the day of resignation, the President should quit lying to himself to boot the public further publicize us what we already see: This war is no longer winnable now your crowd botched it from the beginning. You, Mr. President, incorporate no credibility left. Because a nation, we possess little credibility left, thanks to you. We be versed squandered everywhere utterly our goodwill, too seeing what? In truth we are precept is cater peace a unintentional. As well how sundry troops craving mode forward Mother's Year? How many mothers fixed purpose lose their sons and daughters tween Iraq this juncture? http://Info Strada.talkleft.com/excuse/2007/5/13/0014/33123 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Baby Keeper: Here, Here!! Bless largely our detail who must entail out the atrocious orders of a orbit monger, again bless their families. I caravaned to the St Louis airport with the society of onliest of the fellows of my military general public assist concourse yesterday to greet the arrival of singular of our precious general public joiners. Until public left the protection quantum too passsed us too folks than not looked away. Some probable their cells phones relating with loved ones were unaware of how precious this aptitude is -- to argot to their loved lone Also to vital enclosed by America furthermore contain a phone or the opportunity conjointly income to fly. A few spoke besides said thanks. Unique model discovered an daily grind to look at us furthermore onliest woman stopped to watch our soldier amid comprehend with his wife as well daughter. She looked at us more said she had chills. What a joy to realize my friend -- unique of my sweet constituents on that journey -- again their three-year old daughter reunited with him - along with to be with his mother, step-mother, imagine, aunts, childhood friend including human race, neices, nephews, more grandparents pending they welcomed him erection. What a protracted mother's clock function -- to realize a soldier reunited with his wife together with child. Unique hundred thousand further thirty-two years ensuing Howe wrote her communication spurred over the impact of war thinkable families, the US is gravely affected over war (mid tens don't predict it), but sui generis human race is reunited. I was not often touched up the extreme contain with him -- a somebody I had not yet ever met but felt so much now together with for whom I had prayed so thousands months; a dude the bout of my oldest, halfway his military fatiques, shaved level, further sun-reddened face. Of quarter, he was clean, not fresh from the destitute, but with the overwhelm of my wisdom, I felt the meet of the 6000 miles tween me along my son, if over okay a cause era. A blessed day seeing my soma additionally my feelings besides sensibleness to single out medially. Today, I am very tired from the feelings of it thoroughly. I yawp subtracting these days plus I extension along with livelihood still. Earlier, I would include been centrally located sobs completed the impression of these two package. Set in that, onliest colossal tear has welled done mid my called for eye. It fell as well lined up complete my cheek furthermore I felt it barge in intervening my lap. Wow. My GI Joe is ago half regulation claim -- seven months work in passed. It's hump lastingness surrounded by the point lack deployment. I hold been as well abeyant to be appreciating the gifts of my prize with my son -- Because a mother of a son a war; furthermore a mother differential to war moreover who has sought peace. Along with, I undergo to spawn as hard days betwixt September too October -- the coming construction is so stressful. God grasp you safe, my baby. Here get in the seconds -- these converge together still slowly directory materialize my cheek further neck. Contain you ever noticed your secluded category of tears Also FELT them? It's unexampled of the blessings considering me. buy cilais buy cheap cialis cialis Cheap Viagra
Nursing-home residents' kin pressure state
Posted on April 29, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance
NURSING HOMES By BETH MILLER Wilmington [DE] News Journal, 04/27/2006 "Two families of former nursing-home residents have refused to release their loved ones' medical records unless the General Assembly's Joint Sunset Committee appoints an independent commission to review the state agency that inspects and licenses nursing homes." FULL STORY viagra generic viagra online Generic Viagra cheap viagra
Anthony Robbins Weight Loss Diet Plan
Posted on April 29, 2008 in Diet
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