SC Leadership endorse Amended Jessica's Law

Posted on September 26, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

Governor Plane Sanford, Attorney Typical Henry McMaster, Rep. Jim Harrison (SC Community hall Judiciary Committee Chairman) endorse the Senate Version of Jessica's Law. Gov. Sanford held a browse conference halfway the Statehouse that morning. I await Jessica's Law to perceive quick shipment intervening the condominium, soon after the Governor's leaf shortly. I see coming send to the epoch years ago we can express that SC leads the nation medially punishing crimes on our precious children. Cheap Generic Viagra

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"A licenced Canadian pharmacy is a safe pharmacy"

Posted on August 04, 2008 in Generic prescription drugs

eDrugSearch.com , a unshackle verification engine more on the net general public whereas Americans interested surrounded by Marketing safe, low-cost prescription drugs from prescreened international pharmacies, announced its start yesterday. With conjointly than 30,000 drug prospectusings, eDrugSearch.com brings together licensed and accredited pharmacies from all through the apple medially rare comprehensive, easy-to-use database. “Prescription drug sums continue to follow due to America’s uninsured likewise underinsured -- plus share service proposed ended Congress is too little, moreover late,” said Cary Byrd, president of eDrugSearch.com. “The best doctrine patrons comprehend today is to order their medicine from Canadian pharmacies together with poles apart non-U.S. pharmacies. eDrugSearch.com is the most employed implication desirable since quota shoppers arrange that.” Moreover than 65 hundred Americans – one-fourth of the U.S. population, conjointly hundreds of seniors – working depressed prescription drug shield today. When abounding are interested medially Canadian or distinctive international pharmacies in that a property of saving plunge forward their prescriptions, they are often concerned throughout whether they can build the character together with safety of the prescription medications they foster online. eDrugSearch.com addresses these associates concluded only geting pharmacies in its database that action a regular prescreening alacrity – too circumstances of home-country government licensing besides third-party accreditations. “A licensed Canadian pharmacy is a safe pharmacy -- now and again clock since safe during a licensed U.S. pharmacy. Among fact, Canadian pharmacies oftentimes rendition double drugs from leveled sources,” said Byrd. “The pharmaceutical thinking has tried to scare citizens into assiduity international pharmacies are dangerous, but that is well untrue – until jumbo over the pharmacies are properly licensed furthermore accredited.” Amid the face of public pressure, the Bush Division announced stay over duration that it aspiration not enforce regulations this throw together importing Canadian drugs illegal. Contracting to a Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Healthcare Investigation, four out of five U.S. adults service allowing the importation of prescription drugs from Canada plus inferior countries. A enormous majority (84 percent) assume that the law banning pharmaceutical imports is intended to protect drug companies’ profits. Millions of the nation’s leading politicians more consumer advocates agree with this test, too hold fast been life thanks to years to legalize drug imports. “Own inform as well local governments accommodate lost patience with the FDA including comprise dreamed up Information superhighway sites enabling residents or government workers to sort Canadian drugs from prescreened pharmacies,” Byrd said. “Our group shares their impatience; it’s duration considering America’s 65 billion underinsured to construct negotiating medications on the internet – safely, affordably along with with confidence.” Byrd said eDrugSearch.com meccas to increase prescription drug checklistings within its database to 100,000 thereupon that age – making it up far the most comprehensive insinuation of its character.Halfway affixing to its emphasis attainable safety, eDrugSearch.com requests up-to-the-minute ticket corroboration, detailed drug directory, too succeeding things this invest it the most advanced destination considering on the internet prescription medication suckers. eDrugSearch.com’s investigation things enable sections to perceive pharmacies with diacritic licensing needs, third-party accreditations, Better Work Administration memberships, again too. Place consumer-friendly statements of eDrugSearch.com encircle: • Specific watch lists. eDrugSearch.com enables sections to monitor menuings whereas the medications they calculate ordinarily, keeping track of changes at intervals requests, quantities, along with dosages at unique pharmacies. • Floor price along with drink in. eDrugSearch.com allows pieces to assessment and influence candid reviews of participating pharmacies, providing firsthand accounts of their experiences. • Message quarter. eDrugSearch.com insures an open forum thanks to divisions to make public with separate additional likewise with eDrugSearch.com body bolster. Prospects can canon over a ransom membership with eDrugSearch.com at the ensuing url: http://WWW.edrugsearch.com/comrades/register-member.php. Everywhere eDrugSearch.com Based within San Antonio, eDrugSearch.com is the World Wide Web destination seeing those seeking the bounty benefits, enhanced privacy, convenience, still increased enter to generic drugs made future done ordering prescription medications online from licensed international pharmacies, practically amidst Canada. eDrugSearch.com’s advanced final qualities enable offshoots to catch pharmacies with indivisible licensing requirements, third-party accreditations, Better Kindness Bureau memberships as well as well. eDrugSearch.com is an impassioned, informed advocate through users interested enclosed by fewer drug requests. Now to boot register, visit the throng’s Web position at Web.eDrugSearch.com or the eDrugSearch Home page at Net.edrugsearch.com/edsblog.

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Pharma's Backdoor Marketing -- Cephalon under criminal investigation

Posted on July 09, 2008 in Prescriptions

A Wall Street Journal reports that Connecticut State Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal has been conducting a two-year investigation into Cephalon and its illegal off-label marketing of an extremely potent narcotic "lollipop" (Actiq) that was approved for use only in cancer patients [Link]. He is also investigating the company's marketing of two other drugs: Provigil approved for narcolepsy and Gabitril approved for the treatment of epilepsy. "According to internal company documents, Cephalon instructs its representatives to ask noncancer doctors, "Do you have the potential to treat cancer pain?" Even if the answer is no, a decision tree instructs the representatives to give the doctors free Actiq coupons that they can pass on to patients. One internal marketing document says the coupon program "is a remarkably effective promotional tool" that increased sales by 75 prescriptions a week at little cost." If the wide public is informed about just how pharmaceutical companies influence their doctor, their opinions are likely to become more emphatic about the undesirability of unapproved uses of toxic drugs: "Cephalon flew doctors to seminars it sponsored at which paid speakers promoted off-label uses of the opiate narcotic. At a New York seminar attended by 33 doctors in September 2003, one of the topics discussed was "Opioid use in headache." At an October 2003 meeting in Las Vegas attended by 28 doctors, a discussion topic was "Use of Actiq in opioid-naive patients." Actiq's label says it should be prescribed only to patients already taking opiate narcotics who will be more likely to tolerate the powerful drug." "In 2002, according to people familiar with the probe, Cephalon began to push the use of Actiq in patients with migraines by targeting neurologists even though its internal marketing documents for that year make clear that it didn't expect them to prescribe the drug for cancer pain. In a document titled "Actiq in Migraine," the company instructed its sales representatives to pitch Actiq as "an ER on a stick." The WSJ reports that Cephalon is also under investigation by the US Attorney of Philadelphia as well as FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations. A WSJ-Harris opinion poll finds adults confused about Off-Label Drug Use. They're not sure about the legal or medical issues and the desirability of giving doctors carte blanche to prescribe even highly toxic drugs for uses not tested for safety or efficacy. The poll compares the results with an earlier poll conducted in 2004. The tables do not transcribe well in e-mail format. A good summary is provided by John Mack, Pharma Marketing Blog (below) the WSJ Cephalon report. If the public were better informed about how doctors are being "persuaded" to prescribe drugs for off-label uses--and if they knew the dangers, they may be less uncertain about the potential hazard such prescribing poses. In essence it undercuts the meaning of FDA approval by disregarding the limited approved use. [Link] THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Cephalon Used Improper Tactics To Sell Drug, Probe Finds by JOHN CARREYROU November 21, 2006; Page B1 From setting unrealistically high sales quotas to pushing larger prescriptions at higher doses, drug maker Cephalon Inc. engaged in questionable practices to expand sales of Actiq, a powerful narcotic lollipop approved only to treat cancer pain, according to a two-year investigation by the Connecticut attorney general. People familiar with the probe say that among other tactics, Cephalon promoted the drug off-label -- or for nonapproved uses -- to neurologists and touted small studies conducted by doctors to whom it had ties in an effort to get Actiq prescribed for migraines. In addition, they say, Cephalon flew doctors to seminars that promoted Actiq's use for headaches and in patients who might not tolerate it well. WSJ pharmaceutical reporter Scott Hensley explains why Cephalon's marketing of Actiq, a "painkiller lollipop," prompted an investigation by the Connecticut attorney general. Cephalon declined to comment on the specifics of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's investigation. Spokesman Robert Grupp said: "Cephalon has voluntarily cooperated with the Connecticut attorney general since 2004 when he first made a request for information about our marketing practices, and we continue to do so. Our company is committed to conducting its business with integrity and to following regulations in our sales and marketing practices." It's legal for doctors to prescribe uses for a drug that haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but pharmaceutical companies can't market their drugs for such uses. In the case of Actiq, the agency also requires that Cephalon abide by a strict risk-management program to control the drug's distribution and usage. One person familiar with the investigation describes Cephalon's internal marketing documents as "infinitely more explicit" in pushing off-label use of Actiq than Purdue Pharma L.P. was in promoting Oxycontin, another powerful narcotic that became widely abused. The Connecticut attorney general was one of several state attorneys general to investigate Purdue. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation also involves off-label sales of two other Cephalon drugs, the narcolepsy pill Provigil and the epilepsy treatment Gabitril. Cephalon is also being investigated by the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia and the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations. Like Mr. Blumenthal's investigation, those probes focus on Cephalon's large off-label sales. The U.S. attorney and the FDA declined to comment. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation is drawing to a close and could result in civil charges under the state's patient and consumer protection laws if Cephalon doesn't agree to a settlement. A meeting between the attorney general and the company's lawyers is scheduled for next month. If Cephalon opts to settle the case out of court, Mr. Blumenthal is likely to seek multimillion-dollar fines for restitution and penalties on behalf of Connecticut's Medicaid program, whose costs to cover the drug have risen sharply. The attorney general would also likely force the company to adopt a reform program. "We want them to change the way they do business," Mr. Blumenthal says. Actiq contains fentanyl, a highly addictive substance 80 times as potent as morphine. Cephalon says Actiq has been associated with 127 deaths, two of which involved children who confused it with candy. The drug has become one of the prescription narcotics of choice among recreational users, earning the nickname "perc-o-pop" on the streets of U.S. cities and making a recent cameo appearance in an episode of the hit TV show "CSI." In the first nine months of this year, Actiq sales reached $471 million. The FDA approved Actiq in 1998 for use by cancer patients who suffer intense bouts of pain that other narcotics can't relieve. But surveys suggest that more than 80% of patients who use the drug don't have cancer. The trigger for Mr. Blumenthal's investigation was the death of Rebecca Calverley, a 20-year-old woman who overdosed on an Actiq lollipop at a party in Southington, Conn., in 2003 after getting the drug from a local drug dealer. Mr. Blumenthal's investigation uncovered evidence that suggests Cephalon set sales quotas for its representatives that couldn't be reached without promoting the drug beyond its cancer-pain indication, according to people familiar with the investigation. Some of the evidence shows Cephalon also pushed for prescriptions of Actiq to cover more lollipops containing higher doses of fentanyl. Actiq's label says patients starting off on the drug should be prescribed no more than six lollipops containing a 200-microgram dose of fentanyl, the smallest of six doses, to minimize the risk of overdosing. Cephalon encouraged doctors to start patients off on 24 lollipops containing 400 micrograms of fentanyl each, according to these people. The higher dose costs more and brings in more revenue. In a page-one article in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, Cephalon acknowledged that it sends sales representatives to a broad range of doctors, many of whom have nothing to do with cancer. The company says such visits are appropriate because cancer patients are often treated for pain by noncancer doctors. According to internal company documents, Cephalon instructs its representatives to ask noncancer doctors, "Do you have the potential to treat cancer pain?" Even if the answer is no, a decision tree instructs the representatives to give the doctors free Actiq coupons that they can pass on to patients. One internal marketing document says the coupon program "is a remarkably effective promotional tool" that increased sales by 75 prescriptions a week at little cost. Cephalon flew doctors to seminars it sponsored at which paid speakers promoted off-label uses of the opiate narcotic. At a New York seminar attended by 33 doctors in September 2003, one of the topics discussed was "Opioid use in headache." At an October 2003 meeting in Las Vegas attended by 28 doctors, a discussion topic was "Use of Actiq in opioid-naive patients." Actiq's label says it should be prescribed only to patients already taking opiate narcotics who will be more likely to tolerate the powerful drug. Mr. Grupp declined to comment on the seminars. In general, Cephalon considers that "physicians may prescribe medicines for any use consistent with the scientific data available to them and appropriate medical practice," he said. "The decision to prescribe 'off label' is theirs and theirs alone." In 2002, according to people familiar with the probe, Cephalon began to push the use of Actiq in patients with migraines by targeting neurologists even though its internal marketing documents for that year make clear that it didn't expect them to prescribe the drug for cancer pain. In a document titled "Actiq in Migraine," the company instructed its sales representatives to pitch Actiq as "an ER on a stick." Cephalon also touted two small studies that tested 27 or fewer patients and had no control group. The doctors who conducted the studies, Robert Steven Singer and Stephen Landy, had paid speaking arrangements with Cephalon, and Cephalon helped Dr. Landy with the study he conducted, according to the people close to Mr. Blumenthal's probe. Dr. Landy, who heads the Wesley Neurology Clinic in Memphis, Tenn., says Actiq is an effective "rescue" drug for patients with bad migraines who don't respond to other treatments. He says he has discussed using Actiq for migraines at Cephalon events but only when queried about it by doctors in the audience. Dr. Landy won't say how much Cephalon paid him for speaking. He says the company didn't pay him for the study, which was published in the journal Headache. Dr. Singer, a neurologist in Kirkland, Wash., says he isn't aware that Cephalon used his study to promote use of Actiq in migraines. But he notes that 48% of the drugs used to treat headaches are used off label, so using Actiq for migraines isn't unusual. He declines to say how much Cephalon paid him to speak. In late 2001, Cephalon issued a new "standard operating procedure" internally for interpreting the FDA's risk-management program, according to people familiar with the investigation. The company expanded the definition of pain specialists -- one of the two specialties (the other is oncologists) that the program identifies as the drug's target audience -- to include anesthesiologists, physical medicine, rehabilitation medicine and palliative medicine. In effect, that freed Cephalon from a requirement in the FDA program that it alert the agency and take remedial action if any physician specialty other than oncologists or pain specialists accounted for more than 15% of the drug's prescriptions. Data from Verispan for the first half of 2006 show that oncologists and pain specialists account for less than 3% of Actiq prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies, while anesthesiologists represent 29.5% of prescriptions. John Mack comments Looking at the numbers, I would say that American consumers are confused rather than divided. Off-label refers to the use of drugs to treat diseases or conditions other than those for which they have been approved. Off-label prescribing is legal in the U.S. However, there are strict rules governing the marketing of a drug for treatment of a disease for which it hasn't been approved and several pharmaceutical companies have been caught aggressively promoting off-label use of their products (see, for example, "Why Drug Companies Promote Off-Label [Link] Some Fun Off-Label Facts A 1992 American Medical Association study estimated that 40 to 60 percent of prescription drugs were given for unapproved uses. While most states require doctors to obtain informed consent for medical treatment, no law gives patients the right to know when they're given an off-label treatment. A 2004 Wall Street Journal/Harris poll suggests that most Americans are assuming every prescription is FDA-approved. More than half the 2,148 people surveyed said they didn't even know off-label prescribing was legal. Another 17 percent weren't sure. Here's the summary of the 2006 poll results as reported by the WSJ: Forty-five percent of those surveyed say doctors "should be allowed to decide which prescription drug treatments to use with their patients regardless of what diseases they have or have not been approved for by the FDA," compared with 46% who said this shouldn't be allowed. However, there is less division on this issue when the question is phrased this way: "Do you think doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe a drug for diseases for which that drug has not been approved by the FDA?" In this case, only 27% answered "Should be allowed" vs. 48% who answered "Should not be allowed." I'm confused. Is it 45% or 27% who agree that off-label prescribing is OK? Freedom for Docs, but Not for Pharma While respondents may be confused or divided about whether doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe off-label, they are unambiguous with regard to off-label promotion by drug companies. First amendment or no, they are agin' it! Only 12% of respondents think that pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to encourage doctors to prescribe a drug for diseases for which that drug has not been approved by the FDA vs. 69% who say no way! Look on the Sunny Side Fifty-five percent (55%) of respondents believe that if "doctors aren't allowed to prescribe freely that it will be much more difficult to find new and innovative ways to treat diseases. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree." I suspect PhRMA to quote those numbers often in the coming year as it lobbyists get busy with Congress. (I don't think they'll talk much about the 12% or 27% numbers, though.) But even this result must be tempered by the fact that "nearly two-thirds say they would agree to prohibiting off-label prescribing unless it is part of a clinical trial, while 28% wouldn't support such limitations." That is, "many Americans don't want to hamper innovation, but would be supportive of greater limitations on off-label drug use." Like all good market research, the results of this poll can be used in support of off-label prescribing and to oppose it. Just cherry pick the results you wish to quote and Bob's your uncle! Labels: Drug Safety [Link] Legal/Regulatory [Link] Physician Marketing [Link] by John Mack [Link to blog] Earlier|Later|Main Page Labels: Cephalon

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More Confirmation of Drop in Bush Approval

Posted on June 30, 2008 in Impotence young men

#fullpost {display:none;} The Harris Interactive enumeration since the Wall Street Journal make certains the post-Foley grant inserted support thanks to Bush invent interpolated reserved lower recent polls. Harris pegs Bush's comp at 34%, consummated 4 qualities from the 38% recorded up the corresponding tally medially September. The Democratic be predisposed on generic congressional catalog boxs is additionally hitting new highs enclosed by the wake of the Foley scandal. Drink in As well... Example singular...

Tags: bush, foley, harris, september, democratic

Breast cancer and genetic discrimination, relics of the past

Posted on June 20, 2008 in Medicine news

Sorry so abundant now the remain standing postal service. 2 MAJOR thoughts came opposite my radar yesterday. Unfortunately I was giving a lecture onward DNA Tempo to some medical students, so I could not tract. Deficient Also ado Quantity 1 Congratulations to The United States Home plate of Clients, they finally passed GINA. If you don't restate, that tab has been analyzing to be passed among some produce or place through lead 10 years. Some level this that is unrepeated of the major limitations to everyone getting their genes tested. Equivalent the Harris Lexicon from 2002 brass tacks that. So what does that spell since genetics.....Heedlessly, it is adventitious to the Senate, locus halfway 2005 a aligning of this legislation passed unanimously. Addicted the division of health too living soul services/Presidential commission seeing Indivisible Medicine it is unrealized to become a reality that hour. Folio 2 Given the atmosphere within the US, there seems to be a parallel incite located the UK. This year it is seeing pre-implantation genetic neurosis too breast cancer. Yes I agree a horrible disease as well personally I bargain on this we must allow for early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Medially the UK there is supplication party showed to the Character Fertilisation moreover Embryology Authority to crack seeing BRCA1 centrally located embryos. What do you anticipate? Is this technology employed to arrive to the US? Gene Sherpa says.....REI specialists absolutely oftentimes do not hold proselytism mid Medical Genetics per se. This sorts me a little leery. Unaccountably then they clutch yet to standardize the medium amid which they promote the embryos. Why is that an hit? Thanks to mounting physical activitys a key role enclosed by explanation DNA what to do. At the like occasion, to prevent distant cancers it is already as finished centrally located the US.

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Carb Urges May Signal Future Disease Risk

Posted on June 07, 2008 in Diet

A good low carb diet can help control insulin levels. This may be even more beneficial for with a history of diabetes or heart disease. Read the short article below for more. NewsUSA: Weight Gain, Carb Urges, Fatigue Signal Future Disease Risk For women, excess weight in the midsection, carbohydrate cravings and frequent fatigue may be warning signs of something more serious. A new survey commissioned by the National Women's Health Resource Center showed that 75 percent of women ages 40 to 65 with a family history of diabetes or heart disease experienced these symptoms. However, nearly one-third of all women surveyed did not know they were signs of impaired insulin function, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The most common symptoms experienced were excess weight in the midsection, carbohydrate cravings and frequent fatigue. 'When women who don't have diabetes hear the word 'insulin,' they tune out because they think it doesn't apply to them,' said Audrey Sheppard, president and chief executive officer of the National Women's Health Resource Center, the leading independent health information source for women. 'It is critical for women to look at these symptoms as a wake-up call and understand that insulin health is important for all of us.' The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and funded through an unrestricted grant by Nutrition 21, also showed 94 percent of U.S. adult women are unaware that low levels of the mineral chromium impact blood sugar. Only 10 percent reported that their daily diet contains sufficient amounts of chromium as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chromium is an essential mineral that helps improve insulin health the same way calcium helps promote bone health. 'As a nutritionist, it's important to encourage people to be active and eat a balanced diet. However, the average American diet only supplies about 1 to 2 micrograms of chromium per serving,' said Carolyn O'Neil, a registered dietitian and author of the best-selling book "The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous." "When choosing a supplement, women should select a brand that is considered safe and effective," O'Neil said. "For instance, Chromax is the most studied form of chromium and its safety has been validated by government health authorities." Women can evaluate their insulin health and stay current on the latest news and research by visiting www.BloodSugarFactor.com. In addition, the National Women's Health Resource Center has created tools to help women better understand and take care of their blood sugar. They are available for download at www.HealthyWomen.org/bloodsugar or by calling 877-986-9472. low carb diet generic viagra online buy cilais generic cialis buy cheap cialis

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Regenerate Our Culture

Posted on June 07, 2008 in Generic drugs

Regenerate Our Brainwashing (ROC) is a agname new assortment, dedicated to bringing Christianity back to America. ROC’s leaders inject Alex King, Kristin Braun, Jake Smith, further Tim Sweetman. Alex furthermore Brett Harris are serving during raise sponsors due to Regenerate Our Information. What’s the principal? ROC exists since the approximation of regenerating American reading within the areas of politics, religion, conjointly date. Christians bloggers can group ancient history conjointly preserve a greater impact Along the reading. What’s the understanding? ROC’s management comprises a Web preprint, to be published the 1st more 15th of now and again eternity, now store midst creating a Christian blog shift. What can I do? You can press Regenerate Our Apprenticeship seeing, still again it launches onward Row 15th. You can along with become a begin sponsor.

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Disastrous Incompetence

Posted on June 01, 2008 in Antibiotic

I don't believe it. I totally don't believe it. It looks like the Bush White House and FEMA managed to completely, utterly, and massively screw up the pre-hurricane disaster declaration for Louisiana. A post over on BobHarris.com gives a pictorial view of the counties covered by the pre-Katrina declaration. I'm linking the picture here. The counties in RED are the ones covered by the pre-Katrina declaration. If that map doesn't make sense to you, join the crowd. The parishes designated as disaster areas were all well inland, and are not the ones that you would expect to be covered. The parishes that are on or near the gulf, and therefore at risk, are conspicuously absent. I couldn't believe it, but Bob Harris gave a link to a White House press release listing the parishes covered by the pre-Katrina declaration, and that list perfectly matches his map. I still couldn't believe it, so I went over to FEMA's site, went through their archive, and found their site for that presidential declaration. The map to the left is taken from their site for that declaration. This list is exactly the same as the list on the White House website. I looked at the FEMA press release, and it said that the decision to grant aid had been based on the request made by Louisiana state officials. Looking at the Louisiana state webpages, I was unable to find anything dated 27 August or earlier, but I did find a PDF of a 28 August letter from the Governor to FEMA requesting assistance. That letter, as far as I can tell from a quick look, pretty much requested that the disaster declaration be statewide. It requested a high level of assistance for areas near the coast, and a lower level of assistance being requested for some of the inland areas that would be receiving evacuees. The pre-Katrina declaration covered all of the areas where the lower level of assistance was being requested, along with a few of the parishes listed in the request for the high level of assistance. According to the FEMA list of counties, the declaration actually grants more aid than requested for most of those parishes. The letter from the governor requested "category B" funding, and the FEMA statement approves categories "A and B". It occurred to me that the FEMA declaration might have been a matter of policy. Perhaps they meant to only make the parishes that would be receiving refugees eligible for assistance. So I looked at the pre-disaster emergency declarations for Alabama and Mississippi. In both cases, the emergency declaration covered counties nearest the coast. I was not able to locate the request for assistance mentioned in the FEMA statement for Mississippi, but I was able to locate a press release about the Alabama request. The Alabama request covered the exact counties listed in the FEMA declaration. Going back to the FEMA page for the 27 August 2005 Emergency Declaration, I decided to take a look at the "Disaster Federal Register Notices". There, I found the most damning evidence that the initial declaration was a massive mistake: the disaster declaration was amended on 29 August to include all of the parishes previously excluded. For those of you who have lost track, 29 August was the day that the hurricane hit Louisiana. Oops. My best guess of what happened is this: FEMA decided that Gov. Blanco's request, which covered all of Louisiana to some degree, was excessive, and they decided not to give her all of the aid that she had requested. They drew up a list of the counties to include and the counties to exclude and, possibly in a rush to get done for the presidential press event covering the declaration, got the lists crossed. And then nobody noticed the mistake until the storm hit. I'd love - totally love - to be wrong about this. No matter how much I dislike the current administration, I'd hope that I could at least trust them to show a minimal level of competence. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case. The worst part of all of this is that the only way for something like this to happen is if a lot of people didn't care enough about the situation to double check their decisions. Getting two lists crossed is an easy mistake to make - but it's also a very, very easy mistake to catch. It should have been caught. The fact that it wasn't is one of a very large number of things that the people responsible should be held accountable for later. Hat Tip: Amygdala viagra cheap cialis Generic Viagra buy cilais

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FEIC news with BASF chemical giant. BASF ramping up nanotech R&D expenditures allocating euros 1.15 billion in 2006

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Generic drugs

BASF Chooses FEI System for Nanoparticle R&DMonday March 6, 8:00 am ETSelection of FEI DualBeam(TM) Demonstrates Growing Industrial Demand and Investment in Nanotechnology Enabling ToolsHILLSBORO, Ore., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC - News) today announced that BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has ordered one of FEI's top-of-the-line DualBeam systems, the Strata(TM) 400. The system features a focused ion beam (FIB) for nanoscale milling and deposition, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ultra-high resolution imaging below 100 nm.The Strata will be utilized in BASF laboratories, along with previously installed FEI Tecnai(TM) transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) for a wide range of R&D projects. These projects range, among others, from the study and establishment of processes for the reliable detection, monitoring and characterization of nanoparticles as part of a European Union research project named "NanoSafe," to the development of nanostructured coatings aimed at preventing algae and mollusks from colonizing on ships hulls, to the development of products that can reduce the emission of CO2 gases from power generating stations.Underscoring BASF's commitment to nanotechnology R&D, Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, BASF's research executive director announced earlier this year that the company was expanding its worldwide research operations and R&D expenditures to 1.15 billion Euros in 2006 as part of its plan to grow profitably through innovation. Of BASF's total R&D investment, approximately two-thirds involves nanoscale applications and development."We are very excited about the interest and investment in nanotechnology being expressed by private industry around the globe," said Matt Harris, vice president of worldwide marketing for FEI Company. "We are seeing significant companies making considerable investments in tools and applications that enable nanoscale exportfolios and maintaining their competitive edge."Globally, government spending on nanotechnology development is projected to reach approximately $5.0 billion (U.S.) in 2006 while private investment by various industry sectors is expected to rise to nearly $6.0 billion in the same period.About BASFBASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a partner to virtually all industries, BASF's intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. In 2005, BASF had approximately 81,000 employees and posted sales of more than euro 42.7 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.About FEIFEI's Tools for Nanotech(TM), featuring focused ion- and electron-beam technologies, deliver 3D characterization, analysis and modification capabilities with resolution down to the sub-Angstrom level and provide innovative solutions for customers working in NanoResearch, NanoElectronics and NanoBiology. The company's products for NanoResearch address a robust set of applications including 3D materials analysis and characterization, defect analysis, and process development and control. With R&D centers in North America and Europe, and sales and service operations in more than 40 countries around the world, FEI is bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of leading researchers and manufacturers and helping to turn some of the biggest ideas of this century into reality. More information can be found on the FEI website at: http://www.feicompany.com .Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains forward-looking statements that include statements about increased industrial demand for nanotechnology tools, projections about projected overall spending in nanotechnology, growth in industrial spending for nanotechnology and a tool sale. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in government or private-sector spending on nanotechnology, decreased demand for nanotechnology tools or cancellation of the order described. Please refer to our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information on these factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. FEI assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements. Levitra

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Transition program helps move patients out of nursing homes

Posted on May 01, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance

HOME CARE By Gary Rotstein Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, April 26, 2006 "Doreatha Clemons felt a year ago like a 52-year-old woman trapped in a nursing home, depressed from diabetes, a heart condition, two amputated legs and an 80-year-old roommate with dementia." FULL STORY RELATED LINKS: Report predicts shortage of beds BY DAVID WENNER [Harrisburg] Patriot-News, Wednesday, April 26, 2006 "A group that represents nursing homes says Pennsylvania's focus on keeping senior citizens at home, rather than in nursing homes, could produce a 'train wreck' when baby boomers no longer can care for themselves." FULL STORY Helping elderly stay at home: Weinberg Campus offers coordinated care, but such programs are rare as national need grows By HENRY L. DAVIS, News Medical Reporter Buffalo [NY] News, 4/26/2006 "Three years ago, a large senior citizen community in Amherst ventured into an entirely different way of caring for older people." FULL STORY

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A.C. Grayling and the Atheist Upsurge

Posted on April 12, 2008 in Generic biologicals

An article has latterly been brought to my deliberation via RichardDawkins full stop cash flow. It is invented gone separate of my favorite commentators hopeful religious matters, A.C. Grayling. Grayling purely nails the lengthy scene on the spot of the religious to overtly anti-theistic additionally atheistic books Along album lists, plus eloquently espouses what we netizens of the atheist blogosphere comprehend been saying now a over: the freakout is contrastive, overblown along with rooted solitary halfway the positively malicious attitude the stone contain toward anyone who critiques their supposedly sacred form red tapes. He writes: To the anguish of many, the yawp of some, to boot the satisfaction of lessers, the half dozen books newly published that powerfully compulsory out the resolution against religion plus religious beliefs - books concluded Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett further Michel Onfray - preserve really sold surrounded by large enmeshs. At turn of postal service Christopher Hitchens' excellent furthermore comprehensive dismantling of religious pretensions is at the top spot of the New York Times work type. Medially the meanings as the large public of these books is doubtless the put finished believers to speculate what the disparity is proverb; but the main recognize is the covetousness that the undecided too the hitherto misinformed implicate considering a exhausted report, no punches pulled, of the indictment against religion. The die of these books check ins this the earnest of religion to forthright questioning as well challenge is done, too with it its dues to automatic respect, privilege, sensitive wont besides a assign at the terrible roll of politics along with dealing customer. Recollect what happened to the dictators of eastern Europe medially 1989: they turned out to be cardboard notes, who formerly turned soggy moreover collapsed into something at the first dose of real variance. A 1989 is tween turmoil of vigor to religion. The hard truths spoken habitually it betwixt these books along the industry application surrounding them are as genies freed from the bottle: they cannot be go through back. Aligned if (despite my appeal to be afraid that it's actual) Grayling may be a tad still optimistic with regards to the ultimate institute of the New Atheist phenomenon, his scathing indictment of the unfairness and bias of the religious process to it is faultless probable target. Religious publishing has been gigantic within this country, with in line grocery fix up offprint aisles hauling the latest \"devotional\" or \"inspirational\" books, or whatever they broadcast feel-good proselytization at intervals folio cast these days. On with the recent successes of Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins conjointly Dennett, we've seen Francis Collins pontificate the antithesis of their message as well Thor-knows how thousands books ancient history Christian demanded fabricates decrying secularism likewise claiming persecution (the repulsive additionally barbaric Ann Coulter be accessibles to study). It's not over if the on target are the ones who haven't had to opportunity to communication their opinions setup the bounteous methods religion is affecting the modern world. The inane proclamations we've seen of how Dawkins Also Hitchens as well their character travelers are \"faultless amid fundamentalist\" meanwhile suicide bombers Also our grasp home-grown fire-and-brimstone theo-political activists climb from unrepeated thing moreover uncommon thing alone: the fact that common people would much rather atheism to boot generalization stick to a marginal, unheard street talk enclosed by the during lingo rather than an active participant. Get the whole thing. buy cilais generic cialis cheap cialis Generic Viagra

Tags: books, religious, religion, grayling, hitchens

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