MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'alex'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:29 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125969&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FP452Yvu9Hlk%2F And so yet another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment to soon, yes? This is, of course, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our own agenda includes taking one of the short people to a soccer match, catching up on some reading and tidying up around the Pharmalot corporate campus. In other words, a few small pleasures. And what about you? How about a day at the beach or a ride in the country? Maybe curl up with an e-book? Or a shopping trip to stimulate what is left of the economy? Whatever you do, have a grand time, and be safe. See you soon… US Ambassador Tells Czechs Not To Auction Meds Online (Prague Daily Monitor) Icahn Wants To Narrow Forest’s Research Focus (Bloomberg News) MannKind Claims To Have Clear Path Forward On Afrezza (Pharma Ti... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125969 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:09:49 +0100 5125969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653309&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTKbMzZrj4kI%2F By Tim LynchCongress has made it a crime for persons to falsely claim, verbally or in writing, that they earned military medals.  Some federal courts have declared that law, the Stolen Valor Act, unconstitutional because it violates free speech.  Judge Alex Kozinski warns of the danger of having prosecutors decide which tall tales warrant eye rolls, disgust, or jail time.  Here's an excerpt from the Kozinski opinion: Saints may always tell the truth, but for mortals living means lying. We lie to protect our privacy (“No, I don’t live around here”); to avoid hurt feelings (“Friday is my study night”); to make others feel better (“Gee you’ve gotten skinny”); to avoid recriminations (“I only lost $10 at poker”); to prevent grief (“The doc says you’re gettin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653309 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:35:47 +0100 4653309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615427&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9mVJw9XqOAA%2F For those wondering when Bill Weldon will gracefully relinquish the corner office at Johnson & Johnson headquarters, well, he has no plans to do so until the widespread manufacturing problems are fixed. In an effort to rebut increasing speculation about his departure and criticism of his oversight, he says that he has more work to do and that he will retire when he is good and ready. “That’s, to me, what is first and foremost in my mind,” Weldon tells Bloomberg News in response to questions about the widespread recalls and recent FDA consent decree (see here and here). “People that know me said I’ll fix this problem and, you know, I will fix it.” And the 62-year-old ceo dismisses retirement talk: “It will be the right time (at some point). When it is, I don’t know... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615427 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:16:03 +0100 4615427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536064&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-the-king%25e2%2580%2599s-speech-teaches-us-about-stuttering%2F2011.03.01 The film “The King’s Speech” won the Academy Award for Best Picture [on Sunday night.] The movie has come in for some criticism for its depiction of the political machinations surrounding the abdication of Edward VIII  and Britain’s appeasement of Hitler. The British-born writer Christopher Hitchens, unsparing and deliciously eloquent as always, puts the politics of  George VI in a far less favorable light than the movie does.       But ”The King’s Speech” has won almost universal praise for its portrayal of the reluctant monarch’s stuttering, a speech pattern that includes involuntary repetition of sounds and syllables and “speech blocks” that cause prolonged pauses. Many young  children who stutter grow out of the problem, but p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536064 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:13 +0100 4536064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522062&cid=t_115475_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fcanadian-surgeons-describe-lack-positions-wait-lists-grow%2F Canadian surgeons are increasingly finding a lack of jobs that are available to them after their training is completed, despite the fact that wait times for surgical procedures are lengthening. Drs. Alex Rabinovich and Timothy Daniels comment. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522062 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:14:47 +0100 4522062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517346&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fmore-pharma-social-media-pioneers.html As evidenced by the first-ever pharma-hosted Twitter Chat (see "OMG! AstraZeneca Hosts Twitter Chat & World Does NOT End!"), there is still plenty of work for Pharma Social Media Pioneers to do and new pioneers to be recognized.Last year, I awarded the coveted "Pharmaguy Social Media Pioneer Award" to Alex Butler (see "First Pharmaguy Social Media Pioneer Award Given to Janssen's Alex Butler").I will continue to search out, find, and promote new pioneers, especially those who are actively using Twitter to engage in conversation. The chart below shows the pioneers I currently have in my database (view that database here). I have included in my list people who are employed by pharmaceutical companies (or very recently so employed) and who have over 200 Twitter followers.  If you kno... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517346 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:18:00 +0100 4517346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4446029&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fsocialisation-of-internet-is-bogus.html "The whole web is now socialised..." said Alex Butler in a pharmaphorum interview ("Psoriasis 360: How pharma can do social media").Alex does NOT mean that socialists have taken over the Internet, although, if you think about it ... hmmm. I digress..."We live in a post-advertising age where messages no longer resonate without dialogue, and where information is best exchanged through community," said Butler (see "Social media doesn't really exist" and listen to this Pharma Marketing Talk podcast interview of Alex Butler: "Is 'Social Media' a Distinction Without Meaning in Today's World?"). "But although it is tempting to think that contact is now king, in fact high value dynamic content, valued by the consumer, has never been more important...there is little of value on the internet that is... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4446029 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:42:00 +0100 4446029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230269&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspiewebnet%2F%7E3%2F0EaoR4DAyzk%2F Austistic Elementry Student Alex Barton has been awarded $350,000 dollars for being voted out of his St. Lucie School District Elementary Class in a vote that was initiated by his then teacher, Wendy Portillo.  If you recall Alex Barton was emotionally abused by his teacher Wendy Portillo last year.  The teacher was orriginally suspended and [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230269 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:32:28 +0100 4230269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175696&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Falcoholic-energy-drinks-health-hazards-and-bannings%2F2010.11.17 In this video, you will see an interview I was asked to do on November 11th on local TV about alcoholic energy drinks like Four Loko that has been in the news recently. I talk about the potential harmful effects of the ingredients of a product like this. As of this posting there have been a number of states, colleges, and universities who have taken steps to ban these type of beverages.   At the end of the interview, I talk about how I don’t think banning a product like this is going to solve the problem. In the article “Banning Four Loko Doesn’t Solve Problems,” Alex Belz from The North Wind explains: It seems these health officials are either unaware of or choosing to ignore the fact that combining a caffeinated beverage with an alcoholic one is a time-tested... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175696 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0100 4175696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086513&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Ffirst-pharmaguy-social-media-pioneer.html Discussion with 'Psoriasis 360' on Facebook?").When I handed over the Hawaiian shirt to Alex, I stated that another important factor in my decision was that Psoriasis 360 is the first consumer-oriented pharma FaceBook page to allow comments without pre-moderation. All comments are posted first and then reviewed afterward. So far, only a few comments had to be removed -- mostly because of vulgar language or mentions of product names. If a comment includes a product  name, the moderator(s) ask that the comment be resubmitted with the product name removed.Psoriasis 360, however, may NOT be the FIRST pharma Facebook page that allowed unmoderated comments to be posted. Sanofi-Aventis' VOICES Facebook was probably the first, but only unintentionally! Listen to that story and its aftermath h... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086513 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:02:00 +0100 4086513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040787&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fmarkets-as-conversations-can-you-have.html Alex Butler, Digital Strategy and Social Media Manager at Janssen and candidate for the Pharmaguy Social Media Pioneer Award, just informed me by email that he and his team have launched the Psoriasis 360 Facebook page, which is part of a larger disease-awareness campaign.Alex wrote:"The Psoriasis 360 campaign has been developed by Janssen as part of an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of patients through the provision of useful and relevant information about psoriasis. We know that people who live with psoriasis don’t always get the help and support they need to manage their condition. Many people are not aware how severe their psoriasis is, the impact that this has on their life and how to speak to their doctor about managing the condition."This information forms the core of t... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040787 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:18:00 +0100 4040787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013151&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFKV1Qhml-8k%2F By Walter OlsonEconomists can actually measure the value of insider connections: [L]obbyists connected to US Senators suffer an average 24% drop in generated revenue when their previous employer leaves the Senate. The decrease in revenue is out of line with pre-existing trends, it is discontinuous around the period in which the connected Senator exits Congress and it persists in the long-term. … Measured in terms of median revenues per ex-staffer turned lobbyist, this estimate indicates that the exit of a Senator leads to approximately a $177,000 per year fall in revenues for each affiliated lobbyist. The fall is steeper, the researchers find, when the departing member of Congress sat on a powerful committee such as Appropriations, Senate Finance, or (on the House side) Ways and Mea... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013151 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:40:51 +0100 4013151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942970&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Falex-plank-internet-scum%2F It has come to my attention that Alex Plank uses his website Wrongplanet.net to harbor pirated copyright information.  Yesterday a user of wrongplanet.net copied and pasted an entire blog post of mine into his forum and I requested that it be removed and was told to ‘f. off’ by the userbase there.  So I sent [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942970 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:00:25 +0100 3942970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896089&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Falex-butlers-signature-says-it-all-well.html I am getting excited about presenting at the upcoming DigiPharm Europe 2010 conference in London at the end of September mostly because I will be meeting several pharma people who are doing digital marketing in Europe! One of these people is Alex Butler who is Digital Strategy and Social Media Manager at Janssen-Cilag.You can tell that Alex is immersed in communication and social media just be looking at his email signature, which I reproduce below (without revealing his personal phone and email address):I need to update my sig file to look more like this!I first learned about Alex when I asked people to nominate candidates for the Pharmaguy Social Media Award (learn more bout that here).Alex's signature says it all, or ALMOST all. There is a lot more to learn about Alex and what he is doi... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896089 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:34:00 +0100 3896089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858333&cid=t_115475_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Fgeorgia-techs-ovarian-cancer-early-detection-blood-test-exhibits-high-accuracy-in-small-study-larger-study-planned%2F Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have attained very promising results on their initial investigations of a new test for ovarian cancer. Using a new technique involving mass spectrometry of a single drop of blood serum, the test correctly identified women with ovarian cancer in 100 percent of the 94 patients tested. Because of the extremely [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858333 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:50:07 +0100 3858333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802588&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FggVixYqVFFE%2F To what extent, if any, should restrictions be placed on prescribing powerful painkillers that are increasingly linked to abuse and overdose deaths? That issue is being debated in the state of Washington, where regulations are being developed to prevent docs from prescribing higher doses to patients who are not benefiting, The New York Times reports. Instead, docs would be required to refer patients for evaluation if no improvement is shown. Nationwide, fatalities from prescription drug overdoses are the second-leading cause of accidental death after car accidents and, in some states, are the leading cause, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, narcotic pain killers accounted for 7 percent of all prescribed drugs, and the number of patients annually taking... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802588 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:09:17 +0100 3802588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714148&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F186231%2F Hurricane Hits Gulf: High tides and rough seas caused by Hurricane Alex spread oil onto beaches and roads. (via MSNBC) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714148 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:10:12 +0100 3714148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656807&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-best-videos-on-blisstree-last-week%2F IKEA commercial banned in Texas In case you missed any of our Blisstree videos last week, settle back and watch our top 10 list: 1. Keeping Your Boyfriend While In Prison: Piper Kerman, Author of “Orange Is the New Black” Opens Up on Video 2. Another Wicked Yoga Pose From Alex Auder, Our Resident Yogi (Exclusive Video) 3. BP Spills Coffee: Upright Citizens Brigade Videos That Crack Us Up 4. Orbit Gum Dirty Shorts: Will Arnett and Jason Bateman Even Make Chewing Hilarious 5. Yoga on Skates: Kris Fondran’s Mobile Yoga Workout 6. BP Oil Spill Remix With President Obama and Matt Lauer: Auto-Tuned News 7. Can Home Design Be Sexy? Not in Houston: See the IKEA Commercial Banned From Texas TV 8. Diet Coke and Mentos Explosions: What to Do With Your Coke Now That You’re Not ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656807 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:18:19 +0100 3656807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632243&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend%2F Are we the only ones who felt like that four-day week didn’t go by quite as quickly as we’d hoped? Thankfully, the weekend is upon us. Here’s what we want to do: Drink a mimosa. Skipping coffee isn’t normally something we look forward to, but if it means slowing down our immunity to the benefits of caffeine, we’re willing to take a short break. Thank god for mimosas; without it our brunches would get ugly. Eat an ice cream cone. …Instead of a high-calorie, ice cream man diet-buster. Not that we don’t love ice cream sandwiches, but the nutrition facts have convinced us that we only need a small swirly cone. Bike in the park. By now, you should know that we have a real thing for bikes. But the good news is that pretty soon you could even charge you... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632243 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:20:24 +0100 3632243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588847&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-best-videos-from-blisstree-this-week%2F If you can’t be discreetly hit “play” at the office during the workday, then here are the best videos you missed on Blisstree last week. Now that it’s the weekend, play away: Our interview with Piper Kerman, author of “Orange is the New Black”, part 1: Share this video on your own site: Our interview with Piper Kerman, author of “Orange is the New Black”, part 2: Share this video on your own site: Chris Klein’s Mamma Mia audition (Is it real or fake? We’re still stumped.): Share this video on your own site: Melina Kanakaredes on Breast Cancer: Share this video on your own site: Alex Auder’s Crazy Yoga Pose #1: Share this video on your own site: Alex Auder’s Crazy Yoga Pose #2: Share this video on your own site: Alex ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588847 Sat, 22 May 2010 12:46:59 +0100 3588847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588849&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbake-borrow-steal-10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend%2F The weekend’s so close, we can smell it. Here’s what we’re itching to do as soon as we lock our office doors behind us. Happy Saturday and Sunday! Bake If you can’t make it to the Babycakes bakery in LA or NY, we suggest trying the recipe for vegan, gluten-free brownies from their cookbook. Borrow From Jamie Eason You might want to steal her great body, but try borrowing this tip from fitness model Jamie Eason: Download the AroundMe app to stay fit on the road. Steal We don’t normally condone stealing, but EBOOST’s offer of 25% off their pink lemonade drink mix is a good one, and what’s even better is that they’ll donate $10 to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. Wear Comfortable Shoes We love looking sexy in heels, b... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588849 Fri, 21 May 2010 22:26:37 +0100 3588849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585597&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fo3I329STTmw%2F By Tim LynchLaw Professor Michelle Alexander: Lately, I’ve been telling people that I’m a criminal. This shocks most people, since I don’t “look like” one. I’m a fairly clean-cut, light-skinned black woman with fancy degrees from Vanderbilt University and Stanford Law School. I’m a law professor and I once clerked for a U.S. Supreme Court Justice — not the sort of thing you’d expect a criminal to do. What’d you get convicted of? people ask. Nothing, I say. Well, then why do you say you’re a criminal? Because I am a criminal, I say, just like you. Read the whole thing. (H/T Sentencing Law and Policy).  Judge Alex Kozinski and Misha Tseytlin make a similar point in an essay in my book entitled, “You’re (Probab... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585597 Thu, 20 May 2010 18:46:51 +0100 3585597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3566598&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F10-things-we-want-to-do-this-weekend-3%2F It’s that time of the week again: You’ve just got a few more minutes before you can take off for 48 splendid hours of free time! Here’s how we’re prioritizing our weekend hours: Drink Water - You know it’s good for you, but it’s also a natural beauty product – keeping your skin hydrated is an easy beauty trick. Watch a Sunset - If you’re like us, the release of yet another superfluous Robin Hood movie this weekend isn’t rushing you to the theatre. Watch a sunset, instead. (photo: Flickr user RonAlmog) Collect Sprigs and Recycled Vases – Instead of buying flowers, we’re going to take Apartment Therapy’s home decor tip: putting sprigs in old glass bottles and jars to add some green to our homes. Slather on Sunscreen &#... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3566598 Fri, 14 May 2010 21:46:55 +0100 3566598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467734&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3Tj_w72mg6I%2F By Jim HarperCEI’s Alex Nowrasteh has a commentary on Townhall.com illustrating how restrictive immigration policies confound security. Twenty-three Somalis with suspected ties to an Islamist group were mistakenly released from a Mexican prison last January, and their whereabouts now are unknown. He continues: Forcing immigrants underground creates an enormous black market where terrorist activities and serious crimes can continue undetected. If legal immigration were much easier, the American government would know who was entering the country and do a better job in screening out criminals and suspected terrorists. I’m leery of touting terror threats for any reason beyond alerting the public to information they can use for national and self-protection. A small group of possib... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467734 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:02:28 +0100 3467734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322667&cid=t_115475_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F84GFtUD320Y%2F You own the code. This code is not a secret and it doesn’t have to be broken or translated in order to understand its meaning. All you have to do is to make the choice to enter the code into any aspect of your life to begin receiving what you want. Whether it’s improving relationships, losing weight, finding success at work, or making more money, the code is applicable to all areas of life and uses the exact same logic. The code isn’t hidden in a secret vault; it can be found in clear sight when we choose to look for it and then use it. Getting Past Go Perhaps the biggest obstacle to getting what you want is to just get going. Sometimes after you make the decision that “I will [fill in the blank with your goal]” you begin to hear “I can’t do it because…” These self-limiti... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322667 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:14:58 +0100 3322667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204890&cid=t_115475_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fdoves-time-and-pianos-together-again.html Three new translations of mine of three Yiddish poets - Avrom Sutskever, Yonia Fain, and Boris Karloff - are up now at InTranslation. Have a look! (And thanks to Alex Cigale for making me aware of the journal. While you're there, check out his translations from the Russian.) (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger) Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204890 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:14:00 +0100 3204890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172199&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fs267wPumJdo%2F Just when you thought the Zyprexa off-label saga was history… Jim Gottstein, an attorney who was one of three people named as conspirators in the infamous Zyprexa document scandal three years ago, will begin oral arguments on Feb. 2 in his fight against an injunction leveled against him by a federal judge in New York. For those who don’t recall, Gottstein, who runs The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights, a non-profit against forced drugging, was accused along with two others by US District Court Judge Jack Weinstein of violating a court order by scheming to leak and publish sealed Zyprexa documents. The Zyprexa documents, which detailed hidden side-effect data and improper marketing, were published by The New York Times (Gottstein provides documents and related background here), se... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172199 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:18:24 +0100 3172199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167446&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8TqyxkbfqrA%2F Before a crowd of some 600 people at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Genzyme ceo Henri Termeer told investors that about 80 percent of patients who use Cerezyme, which is used to treat Gaucher’s disease, have resumed treatments after manufacturing problems at its Allston Landing, Ma., plant interrupted supplies last year. Termeer also insisted the biotech hasn’t had any contact with Carl Icahn, who holds 1.5 million Genzyme shares and has been rumored to be interested in waging a proxy fight in the wake of the production gaffes. Icahn associate’s Alex Denner attended the presentation, which drew a standing-room-only crowd for a subsequent question-and-answer session, according to The Pink Sheet. Want background? Try this, this and this. [full disclos... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167446 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:25:07 +0100 3167446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075485&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVt8wKpaQGQs%2F By Tim LynchYesterday, Michael Dreeben, the attorney representing the U.S. government, tried to defend the controversial “honest services” statute from a constitutional challenge in front of the Supreme Court.  When Dreeben informed the Court that the feds have essentially criminalized any ethical lapse in the workplace, Justice Breyer exclaimed, [T]here are 150 million workers in the United States.  I think possibly 140 [million] of them flunk your test. There it is.  Some of us have been trying to draw more attention to the dangerous trend of overcriminalization.  Judge Alex Kozinski co-authored an article in my book entitled “You’re (Probably) a Federal Criminal.”  And Cato adjunct scholar, Harvey Silverglate, calls his new book, Three Felonies a Da... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075485 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:28:50 +0100 3075485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908572&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FfoiXrGdeluQ%2F Via the Spectator’s Alex Massie, comes this ABC News report on last Thursday’s Obama town hall in New Orleans: “Why do people hate you?”, a fourth-grade boy asked Obama …. “They’re supposed to love you. And God is love.” Massie comments, Obama’s answer is actually pretty reasonable. But this is what happens when you make a mere elected politician assume the status of Priest-King. It is, in its own way, a corrupting influence. I don’t blame the kid asking the question since, heck, there are plenty of professional journalists in DC who basically think along the same lines. This isn’t Obama’s fault, but it’s a problem nonetheless. True enough, Americans had an irrational conception of presidential responsibility lon... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908572 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:00:54 +0100 2908572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741539&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Falex-barton-pt-st-lucie-sue-autism-voted-class%2F Melissa Barton, the mother of Alex Barton a student with Aspergers Syndrome a form of Autism filed a federal law suit against Port St. Lucie County School District. Barton claims to be suing in order to create a better environment for students with disabilities, saying “I want change for Florida. I want change for the United [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741539 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:16:09 +0100 2741539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473900&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fport-st-lucie-portillo-barton-aspergers%2F You may remember Port St. Lucie, FL teacher Wendy Portillo who was suspended for having her class vote on kicking five year old autistic student Alex Barton out of class.  Well as of this Wednesday the school board reversed its decision. According to the Associated Press: The St. Lucie County school board reversed its earlier decision Wednesday [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473900 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:47:45 +0100 2473900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473209&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6xKO5pf1yf4%2F The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding hearings today on Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) bill to create a National Criminal Justice Commission. Senator Webb is a long-time student of what has gone wrong with American criminal justice. The bill provides for an 18-month review of the nation’s criminal justice system and recommendations for reform. I plan to attend, and the proceedings will be available on video here. Click here to read The Sentencing Project’s endorsement of the legislation. My colleague Tim Lynch recently published a book on crime and punishment, In the Name of Justice. Notable authors such as Court of Appeals Judges Alex Kozinski and Richard Posner, Professor James Q. Wilson, and veteran defense attorney and law professor Harvey Silverglate weigh in on how the ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473209 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:05:40 +0100 2473209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349379&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FzE1mVNN4gIA%2F Worst thing about Alex? Waking us up in the middle of the night. Even worse than his waking up in the middle of the night is his LAUGHING in the middle of the night. He didn’t used to do this - but about once a month, after I hear the scurry of little feet rousing me, I hear belly-shaking laughs. Laura Kreuger Crawford mentions this as a Smutch custom in her great essay, “Holland, Schmolland,” a parody of the well-known “Welcome to Holland.” When I first read it I thought, Well, we don’t have that. But we do now. It seems to add a layer of misery to an already wrenching situation. Cleft in the chin, devil within? Best thing about Alex is how forgiving he is. Five or ten minutes after yelling at him, he’s back to his sweet-natured self. All is forgi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349379 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:02:26 +0100 2349379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313536&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F08%2Fhow-depression-is-like-the-x-files%2F Huh?? That’s probably what you thought when you clicked on this blog post. Depression….. The X Files….. Right. I’ll admit, I’m a scifi fan, and the X Files is one of my all-time favorite shows. I’m old enough to have enjoyed it the first time around in the ’90s, and now I’m watching the entire series again on DVD. Yes, I’m a big nerd, but I digress. A couple of nights ago, I watched one of the many alien conspiracy episodes involving Agents Scully and Mulder, Assistant Director Skinner, Alex Krycek, and a host of other folks mixed up in a thick plot. This is somewhere in the last of nine seasons, so alien conspiracy and high drama are not new to the regular viewer by this time. I had a few thought collisions today, leading me to compar... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313536 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:24:43 +0100 2313536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2205611&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FQ-KdiO-Q5cI%2F Many of you are familiar with Wendy Portillo now - the teacher that was suspended for having a kindergardner with Aspergers Syndrome voted out of class by his peers - well in a disturbing turn of events the special education director at the school appears to be supporting Windy Portillo - even after she was [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2205611 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:08:29 +0100 2205611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2205612&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F4KSVVbyLRLc%2F Wendy Portillo, the teacher who was suspended for having her kindergarden class vote Alex Barton, a student with Aspergers out of class wept as she appealed the suspension in front of  Division of Administrative Hearings.  According to Portillo, “If I could take that morning back, I would.” Last year teacher Windy Portillo asked her class to [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2205612 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:55:18 +0100 2205612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2187701&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F02%2F13%2Frelationship-advice-from-a-9-year-old%2F You simply have to applaud this kid’s audacity and entrepreneurial spirit. Just 9 years old, Alex Greven doesn’t have a girlfriend and has never dated, and yet he’s already written a guide to dating that’s shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Entitled How to Talk to Girls, it’s based on his week long observations of his classmates in the playground. It took a week to write. He showed it to his teacher, who showed it to the school’s principle, and the rest, as they say, was a total chain reaction. An appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show lead to a contract with Harper Collins and a whirlwind media tour across the States. The books have since been published in five countries and there’s plans for Alex to write three more books for... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2187701 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:38:07 +0100 2187701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116550&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FOkRc9OoX684%2F I ran into an new piece on a man who is disabled to a wheelchair who goes around to businesses and and documents violations of the American’s With Disabilities Act (ADA) and then sues them - making over $100,000 USD a year! Embedded video from CNN Video According to CNN.com Tom Mundy has been doing this as [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116550 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:57:11 +0100 2116550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2096164&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2Ft8swi2-9-x8%2F Wrongplanet.net’s host INetU has responded favorably to my DMCA takedown request I filed two days ago.  At this point legally INetU is instructing Alex Plank to remove the offending materials from his website in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in a reasonable time.  Most courts see a reasonable time to be 24 hours.   [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2096164 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:04:23 +0100 2096164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074311&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlCxl1pmVf30%2F Discussion was dominated by two stories, that of 13-year-old Adam Race, against whose parents a priest filed a restraining order, and of 5-year-old Alex Barton, who was voted out of his kindergarden class by his classmates, at the suggestion of his teacher, Wendy Portillo. These two incidents sparked some very heated and often acrimonious exchanges and remind me of why there’s a need to think about autistic persons and the community, in faith communities and all others. Also: It was reported that there had been 72 cases of measles so far in the US, the highest number since 2001—-and the number would only go up, while misinformation about vaccines continued. Sometimes it seems that everything, if not anything, could be said to cause autism (and that everything, and anything, has... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074311 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:47:21 +0100 2074311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033265&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfbXMZNloCH8%2F An editorial in today’s Palm Beach Post reports that Alex Barton’s mother is hopeful that a request for private schooling will be settled soon. A “bigger problem” is also noted: The bigger problem, as public schools have to deal with more problems with less money, will be seeing that all children get the testing and help that they need - without wasting a lot of time. If Alex had received help more quickly, the Survivor scandal might never have happened. If training about autism and special needs kids in the classroom had been provided……… if there’d been more and real understanding of what it’s really like to have Asperger’s Syndrome……. if…………… Tags: alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, aut... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033265 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:11:18 +0100 2033265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990890&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fq24DYqSafHc%2F Back in May, 5-year-old Alex Barton was voted out of his kindergarten class by his classmates. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, had asked the students to vote on whether they wanted Alex to remain. Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, removed Alex from the school following this incident, which received a great deal of attention in the national media. Portillo has been suspended for a year without pay and is asking that her her case be reviewed by the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Alex is now being taught at home and Melissa Barton is requesting that the St. Lucie County School District pay for private school, psychological testing and counseling for him, as reported in today’s Palm Beach Post: Barton filed a complaint with the district in late August seeking an administrativ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990890 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:01:17 +0100 1990890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1992335&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fbreaking-alex-bartons-mom-seeks-hearing%2F Melisa Barton, the mother of 5 year old Alex Barton an autistic kindergartner who was voted out of his classroom is now seeking a hearing before a state administrative law judge - to settle her sons educational needs and may open the door to possible lawsuits against the schools. According to the TCPalm Melissa Barton released [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1992335 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:09:24 +0100 1992335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984962&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FjSoeNg73MGE%2F 20-year-old Alex Bain of Prince Edward Island has been named one of the most inspirational runners in Canada—-here’s the write-up in iRun and here’s more on the Runman blog (where you can leave a message if you’d like). And, here’s CBC News. Go Alex! Tags: alex bain, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Education, irun, prince edward island, running, SportsShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984962 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:52:33 +0100 1984962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975226&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F17r3Rs2jV_k%2F Florida teacher Wendy Portillo—who allowed her kindergarten class to vote on whether or not their classmate Alex Barton could remain in class—-has been suspended without pay for a year, according to the Naples News. More commentary at Aspie Web. Tags: alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Education, florida, Health, survivor, wendy portilloShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975226 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:41:56 +0100 1975226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1945149&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2Fparrot-personhood.html We get stories like this from time-to-time: There was Washoe the chimp who could supposedly converse intelligently through sign language that turned out to be training and subtle prompts. And now, a researcher has written a book about her claims that a parrot named Alex the parrot had the intelligence of a young child. From a review of the researcher's book:Alex, on the other hand, is a delight--a one-pound, three-dimensional force of nature. Mischievous and cocky, he also gets bored and frustrated. (And who wouldn't, when asked to repeat tasks 60 times to ensure statistical significance?) He shouts out correct answers when his colleagues (other birds) fail to produce them. If Pepperberg inadvertently greets another bird first in the morning, Alex sulks all day and refuses to cooperate. He... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1945149 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:49:00 +0100 1945149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1871111&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F416651166%2F Sheri McCoy has no experience in pharmaceuticals, though, which should be interesting, given that the J&J unit is struggling. Trained as a chemical engineer, she was formerly head of J&J’s Ethicon unit and last January was named chair of the surgical group and a member of the executive committee. McCoy, 49, was promoted following the recent announcement that Christine Poon will soon retire (back story). The exec tapped to fill her existing job is Alex Gorsky, who returned to J&J earlier this year after a stint running the Novartis pharmaceuticals business in the US (back story). Here is the statement from J&J ceo Bill Weldon. Separately, J&J reorganized its corporate communications team, following the retirement of Nancy Walker, J&J’s former vp of ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1871111 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:03:57 +0100 1871111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1763834&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F09%2Fbelgian-doctors-forced-to-be-complicit.html Belgium's legalization of euthanasia doesn't get enough attention. But little escapes Alex Schadenberg, head of the Canadian-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. In this blog entry, based on a translation of Belgian policy, he notes that doctors in that country must either participate in, or if opposed ethically, personally obtain a death doctor for patients who want euthanasia. From the policy:Doctors must also tell patients that euthanasia is available as an overall discussion of "palliative care" and the policy seeks to prevent "Each physician has the right to deem euthanasia or another end-of-life decision as being in contravention of his or her personal beliefs. This physician is then obliged to inform his or her patient of this clearly and in good time and to organise a smooth refe... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1763834 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:25:00 +0100 1763834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739488&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F377367238%2F First, there was the Gardasil beach towel, an attractive terry velour model that advertised to beachgoers that you’re free of a sexually transmitted disease. A nifty way to tout the advantages of the HPV vaccine. Now, Merck is trying a new way to grab the attention of teenagers and younger adult women with a specially created line of Gardasil jewelry. As CNBC’s Mike Huckman notes, you can pay $32 for any of four “limited edition” bangles designed by Carolyn Rafaelian, a designer with Alex and Ani. The proceeds will go to the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The Charm4Life campaign is designed to raise awareness of cervical cancer. Gardasil, to be technical about all this, is supposed to thwart the most significant strains of HPV, or human papillomavirus, which can lead t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739488 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:47:12 +0100 1739488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664352&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F349895932%2F As advertisers and networks have been dropping Michael Savage’s show in the wake of his infamous comments (here’s a list of 20 audio clips), here’s an email he sent to The Hook (Virginia): The drug companies are very powerful and have worked very hard to silence any voice critical of the misdiagnosis of our children and the drugging of vulnerable minds. Sad the station manager is such an ignorant man. Seems Savage is trying to portray himself as the misunderstood defender of so many poor misdiagnosed, “vulnerable [minded]” children and so offers up this defiant attempt parting shot. Guess a simple apology’s too hard. Tags: abc, adam race, alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Diagnosis, disabilities blog, disability, Epidemic, Family, family b... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664352 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:21 +0100 1664352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652389&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F345384907%2F Talk Radio Network has announced that it will not be firing Michael Savage in the wake of his incendiary comments about autism. From the press release: Dr. Savage has clarified that his July 16th statements concerning autism were not directed at those who are in fact challenged by this horrible affliction, but were instead addressing efforts to broaden the concept of autism beyond those who truly are autistic to a broader “autistic spectrum” of behavioral symptoms which are also manifested by persons who do not suffer from autism, and his concern that many children are being misdiagnosed as autistic due to the subjective nature of autism diagnosis (due to the lack of known biomedical indicators, such as blood tests, to definitively confirm or deny the actual existence of autism). Dr. S... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652389 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:38:04 +0100 1652389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642717&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F342251922%2F So I finally got around to reading Michael Savage on the Autism Controversy after grading papers, going swimming with Charlie and explaining to the water aerobics teacher why the boombox was contributing to him looking mighty distressed and since the class was over maybe it could be turned off?, making Charlie’s lunch, overseeing him practice cello, searching for the Leapster (not necessarily in that order). Yes, I know you’ve all read it, blogged it, rolled your eyes over it, read too many websites inveighing over the mean-spiritedness of remarks. Here’s Savage being called the most hated man in America (what better way to get, if not sympathy, attention?). Here’s AFLAC Just Saying No to advertising on Savage’s show. Here’s Salon on protesting parents a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642717 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:59:13 +0100 1642717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634974&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F338807823%2F It seems no wonder that right wing talker Michael Savage’s last name is, well, “Savage” after reading what he said about autism on his radio show. I’ll list the words he uses to refer to autism: moron, putz, idiot, fool, dummy, a girl, losers, beaten men More of Savage’s savagery is quoted on Left Brain/Right Brain. If Savage’s intent was to shock, using such words about autistic children is a no-brainer way to do it and perhaps ratings will spike as rightfully indignant autistic self-advocates and parents of autistic children respond. What troubles me in particular is Savage’s contention that autistic children are just brats behaving badly, and brats parented by laissez-faire “let it be” types of parents, especially in the wake of more... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634974 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:22:44 +0100 1634974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546746&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F320362727%2F Being different; being disruptive; looking different; smelling funny (according to those who think they don’t); yowling……… What do these apply to? Are these perhaps a few reasons why a 2 year old and his mother were kicked off an American Eagle plane, or a 13-year-old’s parents had a restraining order filed against them, or a 5 year old was voted out of his class? Well yes, but actually, nope. The different-looking-and-being, disruptive-behaving, smelling-funny, yowly individual I am referring to is……………..Po aka Kung Fu Panda. Charlie and I saw the movie Kung Fu Panda Tuesday evening. We haven’t seen a movie in a while and we had some free time on Tuesday and Charlie said “yes, movie!” when I asked him. I knew th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546746 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:41:41 +0100 1546746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1547074&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F25%2Fthe-situation-of-illusion%2F In a paper that Ronald Chen and I wrote a few years ago (part of our “Illusion of Law” series), we summarized a few of the ways that “magic” happens and the key role played by “the way people think.” Here’s an excerpt from that paper (note: we are quoting Nathaniel Schiffman’s book, Abracadabra! Secret Methods Magicians & Others Use To Deceive Their Audience (1997)). * * * Explanations that are outside of our schemas – what we believe or what we want to believe about the things we see – will rarely be activated. It is often the case that we simply cannot fathom that the magician might be doing what he is doing: . . . when Blackstone did his famous birdcage vanish (a cage with a live bird vanished from his bare hands) he would hold his arms outrigh... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1547074 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:26:47 +0100 1547074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508548&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Falex-bartons-lesson.html All parents are teachers but many of us are mere amateurs. I have long been an admirer of the teaching profession, their vocation and dedication, all of them. We entrust our children into their care, in loco parentis, secure in the knowledge that they will do their part in guiding them along the treacherous path to adulthood. I was therefore a little alarmed to read that a young Kindergartener, "Alex Barton," had been voted out of his class, a bit like one of those popular reality shows on the telly. This wasn’t a case like "Lord of the Flies," where the children had run amuck without adult supervision, but rather, his ousting was instigated by his teacher. It made "me" wonder. It made lots of "people" wonder. It made his mum take "action."I wondered why a teacher might do such a thing? ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508548 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:48:00 +0100 1508548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488067&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F06%2Fmany-thanks-to-guest-seconhand-smokers.html Secondhand Smokette and I have returned from our vacation cruise with the Secondhand Smoke's In Laws. A good time was had by all, with an incredible visit to St. Petersburg, once known as Leningrad. Amazing.But before I move on, I want to express my most grateful thanks to Alex Schadenberg, Bobby Schindler, and Jennifer Lahl for their guest posting. Much happened in the two weeks of my sojourn and their individual and collective commentary kept us all up to date. They are the best.If you would like to tune into them on a regular basis:- Alex's blog can be found at here (alexschadenberg.blogspot.com).- Jennifer's The Human Future can be found here: (thehumanfuture.blogspot.com).- Bobby hangs out at the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation (http://www.terrisfight.org/).Thanks to all three and ... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488067 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:14:00 +0100 1488067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1484947&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F302491988%2F Now that it is the first of June, my son is down to his last two weeks of being at the school he’s been at for the past two years. He starts Extended School Year in the middle of June; it’ll be at the middle school and with the teacher who’ll be Charlie’s teacher in the fall. Moving up and on. Here’s what got talked about here last week: Neurodiversity in New York Magazine New York Magazine has a long article by writer Andrew Solomon about, indeed, neurodiversity, the view that autism is not an illness, but a difference and a different way of being. An Invasion of MMR/Vaccine Misinformation To read an article about the MMR vaccine and autism in the May 26th Telegraph, you’d think there was plenty of reason for the “debate” to be “rei... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1484947 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:49:51 +0100 1484947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481843&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35098&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclub166.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fgreat-place-to-visit-but.html photo credit-metrohicKScreative commons licenseFlorida is a great place to visit. There's all sorts of things to amuse and satisfy both kids and adults. There's NASA,photo credit-http2007creative commons licenseFlorida oranges,photo credit-Viewoftheworldcreative commons licensesandy beaches,photo credit-heather0714creative commons licenseand a park where a somewhat famous mouse lives.But while one could certainly have a great time visiting Florida with one's kids, it increasingly seems that Florida is not a place one would choose to live with their kids anytime soon. It would seem that Florida may soon have to change their motto from "The Sunshine State" to the "We Hate Kids" state.Christschool the other day had a great post about the Alex Barton/Portillo case that brought up issues such a... Club 166 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481843 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:03:00 +0100 1481843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480744&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F301585757%2F While the rest of his classmates went on a field trip, an autistic student at Stephen Decatur School in Philadelphia sat in class with a bus aide, CBS3 news reports: While his classmates went on the trip, Jimmy was supposed to enjoy a day of learning, but that was not the case. Dawn said her son was left in a classroom with only his bus assistant who is not trained to teach autistic children. “I cried, I cried first and I just had it,” Dawn said. “I thought you had a choice, you could just sit there and take it or you do something about it.” In addition to a bus assistant, Jimmy is supposed to have a special education teacher and a therapeutic support worker. In the wake of what happened to Alex Barton, I’m wondering if more stories about autistic and special ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480744 Sat, 31 May 2008 02:11:30 +0100 1480744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480748&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F301017971%2F For the past two weeks, one post after another has been about the exclusion of autistic individuals: 13-year-old Adam Race from church—and by a restraining order. 5-year-old Alex Barton from his kindergarten class—and by a “voting out” process that has had more than a few echoes of the “Survivor” reality TV show. But these cases weren’t the stuff of network drama (like this TV show—remember the “mercuritol”?). They were real things that happened to real autistic people and—based on what’s been said ‘round the web and here on this blog—this kind of exclusion is not at all uncommon. And it’s not unusual especially when attempts are made to include autistic individuals—in “mainstream” e... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480748 Fri, 30 May 2008 05:17:53 +0100 1480748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472544&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F299377156%2F See this comment for news about Nate Tseglin going home. Autism rights have been much under discussion of late: A restraining order was filed against the parents of Adam Race by a priest in Bertha, Minnesota, regarding Adam attending church. The “voting out” of Alex Barton, from his kindergarten class; the teacher, Wendy Portillo, has been removed from the classroom. An article about the “autism rights movement” and neurodiversity in the latest New York magazine. And there is also the case of 17-year-old Nate Tseglin, who was removed from his parents’ home and institutionalized; some more details here and at the website, Get Nate Home. Recently, at the request of the Tseglin Family, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network sent the following letter yesterday for u... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472544 Wed, 28 May 2008 04:42:55 +0100 1472544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538749&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fabuse-of-5-year-old-autistic-in-a-school%2F Five Year old Alex Barton (photograph left) was bullied in a Saint Lucie County Florida Elementry School by his teacher - who also encouraged his peers to do it as well.  Alex is currently undergoing evaluation for Aspergers Syndrome, a form of Autism. After some behaviors which can be easily attributed to Aspergers Syndrome the teacher allowed [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538749 Tue, 27 May 2008 17:22:29 +0100 1538749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1467022&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35119&url=http%3A%2F%2Frettdevil.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fyes-alex-you-are-special-good-kind.html In Port Saint Lucie, Florida, a five year old boy was voted out of his Kindergarten class by his classmates and a truly deploarable excuse for a teacher.This teacher had the students tell Alex Barton, age FIVE, exactly what they dislike about him. Alex is being evaluated for Asperger Syndrome and has since this spring. Diagnosis, though, isn't what matters here.What matters is that this so called teacher acted in a thoroughly detestable manner towards a child. This is hateful, builds stigma, and builds hate. Not acceptable. If you can't handle kindergarteners you shouldn't teach kindergarten. It is really that simple. Spreading the idea that it's ok to treat others like garbage just makes it all the worse. She has no business working with kids if she cannot control herself. Adults who bull... The Rettdevil's Rants blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1467022 Sun, 25 May 2008 04:19:00 +0100 1467022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1467025&cid=t_115475_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Falex-barton.html "was fortunate. My father was in the Navy which meant that we never had to endure any one school for very long, as there was always another posting hanging in the wings to bring relief. The crunch came with boarding school where my education was stabilized from 11 until I was 18. Like many marginalized children, not in the ‘in crowd,’ I made it to adulthood relatively unscathed. That was all back in the bad old days when people were more narrow minded, ancient history. These days people are more enlightened, open minded and accepting of differences great and small. We enjoy an 'inclusive' mentality and marginalize the judgmental tendencies.Other people are far less fortunate than me. Their experiences defy comprehension.Today I learned of a young man who was ostracized publicly, his n... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1467025 Sat, 24 May 2008 15:41:00 +0100 1467025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1449572&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F291861054%2F Jim Gottstein, an attorney who was one of three people named as conspirators in the infamous Zyprexa document scandal last year, has renewed his fight against an injunction leveled against him by a federal judge in New York. For those who don’t recall, Gottstein, who runs The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights, a non-profit against forced drugging; David Egilman, who was an expert witness for plaintiffs’ lawyers suing Lilly, and Alex Berenson, a reporter for The New York Times, were accused by US District Court Judge Jack Weinstein of violating a court order by scheming to publish sealed Zyprexa documents. The judge called the reporter ‘reprehensible,‘ but he wasn’t punished. Egilman settled for $100,000, but argued he didn’t admit to anything illegal. Here’s the judge&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1449572 Fri, 16 May 2008 20:05:18 +0100 1449572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1370661&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fpeople_who_do_things_to_eac.html The title of this post is taken from a collection of essays by Judith Hubback who was a very thoughtful British Jungian analyst. I read the book more than 15 years ago but it is the title which sticks with me most as an apt descriptor of the therapeutic process. Several people commented about or emailed me about the intense attack Alex, of In Treatment makes against Paul asking me more about my view. This builds on the notion of acting out that I wrote about last. For those who do not remember or did not see, Alex came into a session and reveals that he has investigated Paul, allegedly because it is important for him to know who he is talking with, and he then unleashes a barrage of very personal things he has learned about Paul's wife and daughter. Paul becomes very angry and leaps up an... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1370661 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:56:01 +0100 1370661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363859&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F267758655%2F Ludwig Hantson is succeeding Alex Gorsky, who resigned two months ago to rejoin Johnson & Johnson, as ceo of the drugmaker’s North American pharma operations, according to a statement sent us by Novartis. Hantson, 45, who joined Novartis in 2001 from J&J’s Janssen division, most recently headed the drugmaker’s specialty meds unit and before that he was senior vp for commercial development and specialty business. He also ran operations in Europe and Canada. Separately, Gary Rosenthal, who has been cfo for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the US, was named ceo and president of the US corporate holding entity. He succeeds Paulo Costa, who once ran the US pharma biz and is now retiring. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363859 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:56:48 +0100 1363859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1316794&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F254945263%2F This time, Jim Shannon, the head of global drug development, is going. His last day is April 1 (no jokes, please). And he’ll be succeeded by Trevor Mundel, a Novartis spokeswoman confirms. He follows Alex Gorsky, who last month left his job as the No. 2 exec in the drugmaker’s US business to run Ethicon, the Johnson & Johnson unit. Gorsky had worked at J&J previously. Shannon’s departure comes amid a reorganization at Novartis, which is cutting thousands of jobs in hopes of saving $1.6 billion. Last October, the drugmaker tapped Joe Jimenez replaced Tom Ebeling as pharma ceo. Ebeling held the spot for six years after arriving from Pepsi, but now runs the consumer health biz. Jimenez joined Novartis in April from Blackstone, the private equity firm, and was previ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1316794 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:36:59 +0100 1316794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1295997&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fin_treatment--_alex_week_7.html It is entirely expectable that Alex returns this week -- and that he is in uniform, given the ways he has acted on his impulses in prior weeks. And show up he does. When he opens the door Paul jokes that he feels he should salute. Alex comes in and says this is his last time at least for now, he wants to settle up. He offers to pay for next week as well and makes a crack about the gravy train ending.  Paul asks what happened and Alex tells him that he was asked to come and train new pilots. Alex tells him about how he can intimidate the younger pilots but also that he doesn't feel the project can succeed because there is too little time. Paul says it must feel great to awe the others and he shrugs and goes on to tell another way he betters them with his skill. Much bravado. Alex says he n... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1295997 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:32:40 +0100 1295997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1282178&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fin_treatment_--_sophie_week_3.html Pizza delivery arrives and Paul asks who ordered it. Paul says okay he'll take it but the delivery guy makes him say what kind of pizza.  Sophie is eating pizza. She says she realized she was hungry when she was on the way so she sent a text message and ordered it delivered to his office. She says she needs to gain weight. She asks how he is, how his mood is. She says he was grumpy the week before. She seems cheerful. Sophie asks if he was having a bad week and he says yes, and maybe some of it spilled over into this room. Sophie says she likes that side, the no bullshit side of him. Paul asks why she said she needs to gain weight. Sophie says she has lost a little and she should be gaining because she is working with weights. Sy won't let her lift weights until she gains back what she l... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1282178 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:34:46 +0100 1282178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1279379&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fin_treatment_--_alex_week_6.html We open today with Paul carrying in the mail. Kate remarks that he never gets the mail and she asks if he is expecting a love letter. She tells him she saw Laura. Kate says she thought Laura quit therapy. Paul says she did but that she had called and asked to see him because her father was in the hospital. Kate angrily tells him he should have told her she was back. Paul says all she had to do was ask. She asks if he thinks he deserves her because of what she, Kate did to him. Then the time for the next patient arrives and she says he is saved by the bell again. Alex arrives. Paul tells him he is glad he came back. Alex says it went against all of his instincts. Paul ask what were his instincts. First was to come back and beat up Paul and then he said he fell back on something he learned i... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1279379 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:32:58 +0100 1279379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1259891&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fin_treatment_--_alex_week_5.html Alex arrives a little early again. It's still raining. Alex begins by telling Paul that he broke up with Laura. Tells him he took Viagra or one of those drugs and drank and then he and Laura had sex all night. Then he says he realized Laura was using him and it was over. Paul asks him why he makes the connection between him, Laura and himself. Alex says "Tell me that something didn't happen between you and Laura." And he says that Laura talks about Paul, asks questions about him. Paul says again he will not discuss anything about his other patients with him. Alex is convinced that Paul has had sex with Laura. Alex makes hostile jabs at Paul. Paul collects himself and Alex backs off of asking about Laura. They start to talk about Alex and his father. Paul asks how he feels and abo... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1259891 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:07:14 +0100 1259891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1243407&cid=t_115475_109_f&fid=35451&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jung-at-heart.com%2Fjung_at_heart%2Fin_treatment_--_alex_week_4.html Alex arrives early, running into another patient as he does. He brings a check from Laura. He offer to pay for the additional time, and puts the cash, in bills and change on the table. Paul asks if he feels better now that he has paid, because he sees it as a way of expressing contempt. Alex pushes that aside and asks how many patients Paul has, because he wants to know how much money he makes. Paul asks if he wants to buy him out, become the only patient. Paul confronts Alex's effort to control, to keep him in his place. Alex asks if he wants to know why he is early and tells him he went to the base today but forgot his ID. The guard tells him he is not on the approved list. Alex's effort to get the guard to tell them he is there fails and he does not get in. So Alex's sense of importanc... Jung At Heart blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1243407 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:24:13 +0100 1243407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1230420&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F234675460%2F Alex Gorsky, who joined the drugmaker as its No. 2 exec in the US four years ago before rising to the top slot, resigned today, a Novartis spokeswoman confirms. A replacement for the 47-year-old executive, who had previously worked at Johnson & Johnson, is being sought. Gorsky will “pursue opportunities outside of the company,” the spokeswoman wrote us this evening. “We thank him for his strong leadership of the North American pharma business and wish him every success in his new role. His successor will be announced at a later date.” His departure comes four months after an executive shuffle in which Joe Jimenez became worldwide pharma ceo, a spot that was previously held by Thomas Ebeling. Jimenez joined Novartis in April from Blackstone, the private equity f... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1230420 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:23:51 +0100 1230420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1212313&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F230505202%2F Yesterday, we wrote how an unnamed Pepper Hamilton lawyer accidentally sent an e-mail containing confidential info to a reporter at The New York Times. The document supposedly had details of a settlement the drugmaker is negotiating with federal and state prosecutors over improper marketing of Zyprexa. The alleged leak, as originally reported by Portfolio, occurred because the reporter, Alex Berenson, has the same last name as another lawyer who was to have received the e-mail, Brad Berenson of Sidley Austin. However, it appears that Portfolio got it wrong. The Drug and Device Law blog, which first noticed the item yesterday, wrote us to say they ran a correction after speaking with Berenson - the reporter, not the lawyer. So we rang Berenson and he says: “Yes, I did receive a misdir... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1212313 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:22:42 +0100 1212313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1208093&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F229862997%2F Talk about comical. The news last week that the drugmaker is negotiating with federal and state prosecutors over improper marketing of Zyprexa was the result of an accident, according to Portfolio. But it was a big accident. As it turns out, a lawyer at Pepper Hamilton, one of two high-priced law firms negotiating the deal with the government, mistakenly sent an e-mail containing a comprehensive and confidential document to a reporter at The New York Times. How could that have happened? The reporter, Alex Berenson, has the same last name as another lawyer who was supposed to have received the e-mail, Bradford Berenson, who works at Sidley Austin. Of course, this is embarassing for the law firm, which is being paid who-knows-how-much to get Lilly the best deal possible, and keep quiet about... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1208093 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:51:06 +0100 1208093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1088786&cid=t_115475_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F199173079%2F Alex Trebek was hospitalized on Tuesday after a minor heart attack. The long time Jeopardy host is resting comfortably and undergoing tests for the next 2 days.  Apparently it was a rather small heart attack… According to the official Jeopardy website, Mr. Trebek will be back in the studios taping in January! Do you think celebrities get preferential treatment in the hospitals? I bet they do, but I guess that is how the cookie crumbles. Share This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1088786 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:05:17 +0100 1088786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1019099&cid=t_115475_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F11%2F11%2Falex-we-love-you-too.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DOn the night of Sept. 6 one of the most famous birds in Biology passed away. He was a one year old Grey African parrot when he was bought in 1997 at a pet store by a theoretical chemist turned linguist, and since then until his untimely death 30 years later never ceased to amaze the linguistic, neurobiological and psychological worlds. Irene Pepperberg did what other scientists tried to do before her: probe the intelligence of animals and their capacity to communicate.Others attempted and failedThe most famous case of early “intelligent animals” was “Clever Hans”. This was a horse who could count. Except that it was shown later that he was reacting to unconscious cues from his trainer. Another clever animal was Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1019099 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:31:41 +0100 1019099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=850660&cid=t_115475_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F153531481%2F You read it here first. David Egilman, the expert witness who last winter caused a huge controversy by providing The New York Times with sealed documents indicating Lilly downplayed or hid harmful Zyprexa side effects and improperly promoted the antipsychotic to doctors, has struck a deal with the drugmaker. An order filed this morning in US District Court in Brooklyn, NY, shows that Egilman, a 54-year-old associate professor at Brown University, acknowledged violating a protective order that required court documents to remain sealed. And he’s agreed to pay $100,000, which Lilly will donate to the International Center for Clubhouse Development. By agreeing to the deal, Egilman avoided facing civil and criminal contempt penalties. “Dr. Egilman has now confirmed in writing what L... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=850660 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:30:19 +0100 850660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=806940&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F18%2Ftwo-year-olds-cell-phone-skills-save-dad%2F Filed under: Type 1, Daily News, PersonalitiesIsn't it amazing that even toddlers can operate computers and cell phones these days? Alex Merriam lives in Pleasanton, Texas. Alex is only two-years-old, but he helped save his dad's life recently. His father, William Merriam, has had type 1 diabetes since he was only four. Last Friday, William's blood sugar got dangerously low and and he fell unconscious in a chair. Alex was the only one in the house with him at the time.Alex's mom, D'anna, was worried when she kept trying to call her husband. No one answered. In the end, aware that a hypoglycemic episode could have hit William, she had her father try calling too. Eventually, Alex - all of two-years-old, mind you - got the ringing cell phone out of his dad's bag and answered it. He told his g... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=806940 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 806940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=773342&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F01%2Fu-s-doctor-compensation-only-serves-doctors%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult OnsetThe cost of health care is like a kick in the gut. A good friend of mine and her husband pay over $600 a month for their portion of a policy (her small business employer pays the rest), and her family deductible is $2,000. Over $9,000 a year for family health insurance, not including the 20 percent co-pays on each post-deductible bill. If you have a particularly unhealthy year or a chronic disease like diabetes, this can run thousands more until you reach a cap. I thought we had it bad, their costs are double what my family pays. I'm not going to even get into the costs of private health insurance or the plight of the uninsured. Alex Berenson's July 29 column in The New York Times made me ponder about the rising costs of health care. Beren... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=773342 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 773342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=735515&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F15%2Findiana-law-protects-diabetic-kids-in-schools%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Lifestyle, Drugs, Daily News, CareA teenager helped effect a law change in Indiana aimed at improving care in schools for kids with diabetes. This news comes courtesy of a report in The Indianapolis Star this week, which describes how high school student Alex Sandberg testified in favor of the law at the Indiana Statehouse. Alex, who is fourteen years old, told lawmakers it's essential that insulin-dependent kids like herself be able to do blood sugar checks and adjustments while in the classroom. Previously, kids were required to troop off to the nurse's office (if the school even has one) multiple times a day to do blood checks. Also, the students were made to stay with the nurse until their blood sugars had normalized. Over time, this meant a lot of missed c... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=735515 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 735515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=573705&cid=t_115475_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F27%2Falexs-lemonade-stand-foundation-gets-help-from-tastykakes%2F Filed under: Childhood Cancers, Cancer events, ProductsAlex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is all about the fight against childhood cancer. Tasty Baking Company is joining forces with Alex's Foundation by creating a new product called Alex's Lemon Krimpets. The Krimpets can be purchased anywhere Tastykakes are sold. The baking company will donate $.50 from every box sold to the foundation. Alex Scott was four years old when she opened up her first lemonade stand to help raise money for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Sadly, Alex passed away in 2004 at the age of eight. But her legacy still lives on. For more information about Alex's foundation you can go to www.alexslemonade.org. You can also visit http://www.tastykake.com to purchase some yummy Alex Lemon Krimpets and help the fight aga... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=573705 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 573705