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 'frank'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:57:55 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062226&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFGsoGrS2IEA%2F I’ve argued that the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill does not end “too-big-to-fail”, that is the belief that certain companies are implicitly backed by the government because policy-makers are unlikely to let said institutions actually fail. By naming some companies as ”systemically important” — as required by Dodd-Frank — the government is actually sending a signal as to who is likely to be bailed out. As evidenced by regulators’ behavior during the financial crisis, the prime beneficiaries would be the creditors of these companies, as even when shareholders and management suffered, creditors generally did not. This should allow such firms to borrow at a cost lower than firms not deemed systemically important. Given this funding... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062226 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:53:37 +0100 5062226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992665&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtFB6CH_fkyo%2F By Tad DeHavenAlmost 600 pages into the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is a provision directing the Government Accountability Office to assess the feasibility of the federal government certifying organizations that provide financial literacy. The GAO released its report this week and concluded that “While a federal process for certifying financial literacy providers appears to be feasible, doing so would pose challenges.” The challenges cited by the GAO are generally of the bureaucratic variety: What agency or agencies would be in charge? What criteria would be used? How would oversight be conducted? And most importantly, how much would it cost [taxpayers] to implement and operate a federal process for certifying financial literacy providers? Fortunately... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992665 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:17:43 +0100 4992665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862919&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFTY9Q97A1IU%2F After months of intense debate, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has finally announced rules to implement the whistleblower provisions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. And the final version is a rebuff to many companies - including several drugmakers, such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline - which lobbied for constraints. Here’s why: under the rules, employees will not be required to first report concerns internally to their employers before going to the government. Many large companies fought for the requirement, but advocates objected over concerns that legitimate problems may not be properly investigated and that employees might face retaliation (back stories here and here). “Not requiring internal reporting before providing information... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862919 Wed, 25 May 2011 19:59:09 +0100 4862919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862628&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fpoliticians-and-sex-the-type-t-personality%2F Colleague and psychologist Dr. Frank Farley has an interesting op-ed over at the LA Times the other day about some of the underlying psychological motivations that may explain why politicians stray from their marriages. In the article, Dr. Farley refers to the “Type T Personality” — the T stands for Thrill. He makes the argument that we elect the politicians we do because we’re drawn to their bold ideas, their intensity, their charisma. But those same qualities that may make them a good politician (we don’t really know, because there hasn’t been a lot of research done in this area yet), also may put them at greater risk for engaging in unethical relationship behavior, such as cheating on their spouse. Politicians, like Hollywood celebrities, are also con... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862628 Wed, 25 May 2011 15:45:32 +0100 4862628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771211&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F30%2Fthe-freudian-problem%2F Excluding pop psychologists, (such as Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew or Wayne Dyer) Sigmund Freud is probably the most well known name associated with psychology (at least to the lay public).  In Frank Sulloway’s book, Freud: Biologist of the Mind, the author notes, “Few individuals, if any, have exerted more influence upon the twentieth century than Sigmund Freud.” (Shermer, 2001, p.203). A 1981 survey of chairpersons of graduate psychology found that the respondents considered Freud the most influential figure in the history of psychology (Davis, Thomas, & Weaver, 1982).  But times have changed. “[I]f all the members of the American Psychological Association [APA] who  were concerned with Freudian psychoanalysis were collected, they would make up  less than 10 percent of the membersh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771211 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:00:59 +0100 4771211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753887&cid=t_226218_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FzZo23Y8nGPU%2F Arianna Huffington isn’t known for her mental health advice, but last week at an Urban Zen event, “The Politics of Sustainable Wellness,” put on by Donna Karan, the media mogul sounded off about what makes her happy and ultimately, keeps her in good mental and physical health. So what makes one of Forbes’ Most Influential Women in Media feel good? Sleep, mostly. And a few things she likes to call her “joy triggers,” too. The event was third in a series of talks hosted by Dr. Frank Lipman, M.D., called “Conversations in Sustainable Health.” (We’ve posted about the first two here and here.) While past talks have focused on research and medicine, Huffington talked more about the practicalities — both political and personal — of getting... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753887 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:29:16 +0100 4753887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676870&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F04%2Ftips-to-start-journaling%2F Journaling — the act of writing things down somewhere (where doesn’t really matter) — has many benefits. Here’s an important one: “It’s not in the rereading that one finds solace but in the writing itself. It’s like crying—you don’t know why, but you feel so much better afterward. Everything pours, streams, flows, out of you aimlessly,” writes Samara O’Shea in her beautifully written book Note to Self: On Keeping A Journal And Other Dangerous Pursuits. Here’s another: Journaling is a profound — and simple — way to get to know yourself better. To figure out what makes you tick. What makes you happy. What makes you defensive. What makes you giggle or grateful or grieve. What makes you who you are. Quite simply, it’s a grea... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676870 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:39:01 +0100 4676870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622189&cid=t_226218_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fdr-frank-farmer-named-florida-surgeon-general%2F Dr. Frank Farmer, the head of the Florida Medical Association, has been named the new Surgeon General for the state of Florida. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622189 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:22:59 +0100 4622189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455249&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4L9gwS9jciU%2F By Daniel IkensonPresident Obama’s visit with the Chamber of Commerce this week has infuriated the anti-business Left.  But short of expropriation and nationalization, what doesn’t?  Robert Reich and NPR and the scribes at the Huffington Post just don’t get it.  Their man may be in the White House, but business holds the keys to the kingdom.  Whether the president’s priority is job creation or reelection, nothing matters more than sustained economic growth. And without business having confidence that policy in the United States will become more hospitable and predictable, investment and job creation will remain tepid. The president doesn’t have nearly the leverage assumed in the delusions of groups like Public Citizen, which wrote: "What America needs is not olive branches to... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455249 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:49:56 +0100 4455249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377612&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F20%2Fskeptic-insights%2F The skeptic movement is alive and well.  In my home state of Kentucky, skeptic groups are becoming ever more prevalent.  What is a skeptic group?  Why do they exist?  Those are just a couple of questions I asked one of the founding members, Frank Lovell, of Kentucky’s first (and still active) skeptic group, Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics. What is the mission statement of the KASES? The mission of the Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics is the same as the mission of the national organization of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (which publishes the Bimonthly magazine Skeptical Inquirer), and that is to promote scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason and objective evidence in examining controversial and extraordinar... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377612 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:59:16 +0100 4377612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285349&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZJcqK68-rK4%2F Last week, some 260 companies warned the US Securities and Exchange Commission that its proposed whistleblower program, which is mandated as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, would transform financial fraud into a veritable “gold mine” for employees. The warning (see here) was contained in a letter from the Association of Corporate Counsel and signed by lawyers from Allergan, Arcadia Biosciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Onyx Pharmaceuticals among many others. The law requires the SEC to pay rewards of 10 percent to 30 percent of fines and settlements extracted from enforcement actions triggered by whistleblower claims. But the ACC argues employees will be encouraged to ignore early signs of fraud and to maximize penalties and payouts. &#... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285349 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:27:20 +0100 4285349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277958&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxWGxZrIn9t4%2F As promised, a handful of House Democrats have introduced legislation that would increase funding and authority for the FDA to monitor drug production - both domestically and overseas - in hopes of improving safety in the wake of the Heparin scandal and other recent episodes that questioned foreign production of meds sold in the US. The bill would crreate an up-to-date registry of all domestic and foreign facilities serving the US; generate funding for increased Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspections for brand and generic drugs; require parity between foreign and domestic inspections; prohibit entry of drugs coming from domestic and foreign facilities that limit, delay or deny FDA inspections; prohibit drugs from entering the US if safety documentation is lacking; requires manufact... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277958 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:38:54 +0100 4277958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277794&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F12%2Fhuman-farming-the-limits-of-medical-research.html By FRANK PASQUALE A Museum of Modern Art exhibit by Michael Burton once proposed that human beings themselves would be the soil for a “future farm:” Future Farm predicts that the emerging pharmaceutical research in harvesting adult stem cells from... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277794 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4277794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266260&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fc2OE8BeeFA4%2F After being away several months for an unexplained medical leave, Cephalon ceo Frank Baldino passed away yesterday. He was 57 and was one of the founders of the drugmaker, which got its start in 1987. J. Kevin Buchi, the coo, who has been filling in for Baldino, will continue to do so, although no succession plan has been discussed (see the statement). Until last week, Baldino had been expected to return by year’s end. Baldino, who received a PhD in pharmacology from Temple University in Phildelphia, began his career as a research biologist at EI DuPont de Nemours, where he worked from 1981 to 1987 and identified research strategies for identifying novel molecules. He then left to start Cephalon (you can read the complete bio here). Since its founding, Cephalon has grown into a $2.2 ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266260 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:06:23 +0100 4266260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266263&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F6XIlWnTjkZk%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that GCI Health, a healthcare public relations agency, hired Robert Eakins to head its Canadian operations. Most recently, he was senior vp and healthcare practice leader at MS&L Canada, where he managed such clients as Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi P... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266263 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:13:25 +0100 4266263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4232855&cid=t_226218_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Ftwiv%2FTWiV110.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit On episode #110 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, Rich, and Dickson discuss bacteria that can utilize arsenic in place of phosphorus, the passing of Frank Fenner, polio outbreak in The Congo, solving criminal cases of HIV transmission, and classifying viruses by capsid structure. Download TWiV #110 (68 MB .mp3, 93 minutes). To download, right-click or control-click on the link, then select save as. Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: Bacteria that utilize arsenic (Ed Yong’s view) Frank Fenner passes away Polio outbreak in The Congo (virus isolation) Solving c... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4232855 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:18:40 +0100 4232855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230315&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgkT0F97oxsE%2F Within days of agreeing to pay a whopping $2.3 billion to settle civil and criminal charges of off-label marketing several drugs, including the Bextra painkiller, Pfizer was hit with a derivative shareholder lawsuit. Now, the drugmaker has agreed to settle the litigation by creating a $75 million fund that will be overseen by a new compliance committee comprised of board members who will monitor corporate governance. The move may have far-reaching implications. That’s because the preliminary deal, which was reached late last week, makes a requirement that was not specified in the corporate integrity agreement Pfizer signed last year with the federal government. The CIA, which you can read here, requires a compliance committee, but this consists of a chief compliance officer and and m... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230315 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:42:14 +0100 4230315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4200541&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F11%2Fonline-health-data-in-employers-and-insurers-predictive-analytics.html By FRANK PASQUALE Did you know that buying generics instead of brands could hurt your credit? Or that a subscription to Hang Gliding Monthly could scare off life insurers? Or that certain employers’ access to electronic health records could lead... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4200541 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4200541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4189800&cid=t_226218_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F1kicQ-SDACg%2F Australian virologist Frank Fenner, MD was born in Ballarat, Victoria in 1914. He earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1942 at the University of Adelaide, and from 1940 – 1946 he worked on the malaria parasite in Egypt and Papua New Guinea as an officer in the Australian Army Medical Corps. He subsequently began studying the pathogenesis of mousepox virus at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. Later he was appointed Professor of Microbiology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, where he continued his work on viruses, including myxoma virus. His interest in the balance between virus virulence and host resistance was put to practical use in an effort to control Australia’s rabbit plague through the intr... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4189800 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:27:56 +0100 4189800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190132&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8iLCUwDSaaQ%2F By Caleb O. BrownU.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) believes that cutting the military means rethinking the purpose of our military. He argues that the far-flung adventures that have killed thousands of American soldiers and consumed trillions of dollars simply haven’t been justified by U.S. defense needs. He also takes issue with President Obama exempting military spending from his so-called “spending freeze” proposed earlier this year. He spoke at the Cato Institute November 19, 2010. Barney Frank: Cut Military Spending by Following Cato Plan is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190132 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:10:09 +0100 4190132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151874&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F10%2F10-tips-to-enhance-your-love-bonds%2F I detest love lyrics. I think one of the causes of bad mental health in the United States is that people have been raised on love lyrics. - Frank Zappa Since more marriages in the United States fail rather than succeed, it is clear that most people have unrealistic expectations and lack the skills necessary to maintain a good relationship. What goes into being in love? Is it love at first sight, or something else? In the January/February 2010 issue of Scientific American Mind, Robert Epstein outlines a series of exercises which emphasize vulnerability and which research has shown to enhance feelings of love. Here’s what we know about mutual gazing, bungee jumping, and arranged marriages. Gazing at someone increases positive feelings toward them. The key word here is mutual. Mammal... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151874 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:53:04 +0100 4151874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134255&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrFuvnfgIfB4%2F After months of reviews and meetings, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a whistleblower program that was mandated by Congress as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. And the agency describes its approach as “a simple, straightforward procedure for would-be whistleblowers” to provide information. To be considered for an award, the SEC says that a whistleblower must “voluntarily provide the agency with original info about a violation of federal securities laws that leads to the successful enforcement by the SEC of a federal court or administrative action in which the SEC obtains monetary sanctions totaling more than $1 million.” The issue is of concern to the pharmaceutical industry, given that many drugmakers hav... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134255 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:41:59 +0100 4134255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134256&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUWpDiVmJwqs%2F The ongoing cost-cutting program at Pfizer is getting close to home for the c-suite. The drugmaker is peddling a jet that only the chosen few ever get to use - a 2003 Gulfstream G550 - for nearly $37 million. At a time when thousands of jobs are being cut, plants closed and research programs shelved, this is a nifty sum that could pay for costs associated with eliminating those employeees and facilities. Of course, the proceeds could also fund the next round of executive bonuses. For the curious, the aircraft has logged 3,433 flying hours and made 1,830 landings. How do we know? Look here. The jet has apparently ventured to some interesting places, too, such as the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and on Dec. 26, 2008 - the day after Christmas - it was spotted in Naples, Florida. Hmm&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134256 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:14:20 +0100 4134256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133608&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2010%2F10%2Fprivacy-paradigms-from-consent-to-reciprocal-transparency-1.html By FRANK PASQUALE Computational innovation may improve health care by creating stores of data vastly superior to those used by traditional medical research. But before patients and providers “buy in,” they need to know that medical privacy will be respected.... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133608 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4133608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119717&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FMG3RQRES24g%2F Will Congress ever pass a bill that limits pay-to-delay deals? The Federal Trade Commission has been trying to convince Congress for months to do so, but opposition is mounting. Five Democratic Senators are objecting to a bill recently passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee because it contains a provision that would restrict these patent settlements (see this). In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the endangered Nevada Democrat, and Appropriations Committee chairman Daniel Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii, the Democrats say they have “substantive concerns with the content” of the provision and that the decision to include it in the appropriations bill “contradicts both the spirit and the letter of the Senate rules” (see the letter). Why bother to ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119717 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:34:10 +0100 4119717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907583&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHHS4AV0nPuY%2F By David Boaz“Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said Tuesday that he will hold a hearing this fall to examine whether regulators are being tough enough in curbing pay practices at Wall Street firms that can lead to excessively risky practices,” writes Zachary Goldfarb in the Washington Post. Hmmm. “Pay practices that can lead to excessively risky practices.” Since Barney Frank entered Congress, federal spending has risen from $590 billion in 1980 to $3.7 trillion this year. (U.S. Budget, Historical Tables, Table 1.1) The annual deficit has risen from $74 billion to $1.5 trillion.  Gross federal debt rose from $909 billion to $13.8 trillion — and to over $15 trillion next year. (Table 7.1) And all this without a major war o... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907583 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:11:01 +0100 3907583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907785&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FnOh-g8JZPUg%2F A sunny day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where the mascots are happily frollicking among the weeds. As for us, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation. What about you? Heading off toward your own campus? Prepping for those meetings and deadlines? Whatever you encounter, we hope your day goes well. One housekeeping note: we will break early today to shuffle one of the short people off to an institution of higher learning. See you soon… Advanced Melanoma Treatment Shrinks Tumors: Study (Reuters) Cephalon CEO Takes A Medical Leave Of Absence (Bloomberg News) Drugmakers Experiment With Design (The Financial Times) Celgene Has Been Plotting Revlimid Challenge (The Wall Street Journal) CVS/Caremark Closes Mail-Order Facility And Cuts 400 Jobs (The Birmingham... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907785 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:32:58 +0100 3907785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890474&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-frank-ryans-death-what-we-can-learn-from-it%2F2010.08.21 I’ll be honest — I’d never heard of Dr. Frank Ryan, a Hollywood plastic surgeon, until his tragic motor vehicle accident recently. Clients included actress Heidi Montag and boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Although the California Highway Patrol investigation isn’t complete, rumors have suggested that Dr. Ryan may have been text messaging when driving. If this is true and an intelligent, well-trained doctor can fall prey to the allure of technology, then what does it mean for the rest of us? First, realize that we can’t multitask. You have one brain. You can focus at one task at a time. Though laws allow hands-free cellphone calls, the issue isn’t trying to dial the phone but rather that the mind is engaged in the conversation and not on the road. Yes, we ar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890474 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3890474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876705&cid=t_226218_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2FDNXRNVsXJSA%2F Heidi Montag’s plastic... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876705 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:19:54 +0100 3876705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876574&cid=t_226218_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fcelebrity-plastic-surgeon-dr-frank-ryan-dies-car-crash%2F Dr. Frank Ryan, best known for doing plastic surgery on Heidi Montag, died in a one vehicle crash in Malibu yesterday. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876574 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:38:56 +0100 3876574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854521&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fschizophrenia-caused-by-the-cat%2F2010.08.10 From the front page of [the August 1st] Baltimore Sun: Researchers Explore Link Between Schizophrenia, Cat Parasite. Frank D. Roylance writes: Johns Hopkins University scientists trying to determine why people develop serious mental illness are focusing on an unlikely factor: a common parasite spread by cats. The researchers say the microbes, called Toxoplasma gondii, invade the human brain and appear to upset its chemistry — creating, in some people, the psychotic behaviors recognized as schizophrenia. If tackling the parasite can help solve the mystery of schizophrenia, “it’s a pretty good opportunity … to relieve a pretty large burden of disease,” said Dr. Robert H. Yolken, director of developmental neurobiology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. (more... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854521 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:00:00 +0100 3854521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845256&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F08%2F08%2Fdodd-frank-wall-street-reform-building-a-better-trap%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform: Building a Better Trap. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: comics, dodd-frank, finance, glass-steagall, political cartoon, reform, wall street (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845256 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:11:50 +0100 3845256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3798525&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fthe-oracle-speaks-global-warming-will-kill-all-humans-in-100-years%2F Frank Fenner, looking appropriately smug in a photo from The Daily Mail. Frank Fenner, a scientist who helped eliminate smallpox, has predicted that human race will become extinct at some point soon, possibly within 100 years. Why? Because of climate change. A hundred years seems like a pretty short sentence to hand an entire species (maybe he’s been reading too much Cormac McCarthy?), but his doom predictions are as good a reminder as any of the seriousness of climate change. It seems like some people just don’t get it, and maybe this will convince them that we really need to do all we can to save the planet. And ourselves, apparently. via The Daily Mail Post from: BlissTree The Oracle Speaks: Global Warming Will Kill All Humans In 100 Years (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3798525 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:37:30 +0100 3798525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790886&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Fyale-identifies-kras-gene-variant-in-ovarian-cancer-patients-with-non-brca-family-history-of-breastovarian-cancer%2F A team of Yale researchers have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the risk of developing ovarian cancer, a hard to detect and often deadly form of cancer. A team of Yale researchers have identified a genetic marker that can help predict the risk of developing ovarian cancer, a hard to detect and [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790886 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:00:00 +0100 3790886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772184&cid=t_226218_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Ftop-faa-physician-dr-frank-austen-jr-died-age-86%2F Former Navy flight surgeon and controversial FAA official Dr. Frank H. Austen, Jr., has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772184 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:32:59 +0100 3772184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662608&cid=t_226218_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Frep-frank-pallone-announces-june-16-hearing-bp-oil-spill-health-effects%2F New Jersey congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. has announced that the House Energy and Commerce Health subcomittee will hold hearings on June 16 to investigate the health concerns surrounding the massive BP oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon site. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662608 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:36:22 +0100 3662608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662655&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrSSK8xUwy-Y%2F By Christopher PrebleSeveral months ago, I co-authored an op-ed in Politico with Heather Hurlburt of the National Security Network calling on the White House and Congress to include the Pentagon’s budget in any deficit reduction package. because our national security rests on our economic health as well as on the strength of our military, a liberal and a libertarian can agree that the Pentagon should no longer get a pass. That op-ed caught the attention of Congressman Barney Frank. He formed the Sustainable Defense Task Force, an ad hoc advisory panel to assemble a list of possible reductions in military spending that would not undermine essential U.S. security. Last Friday, the task force presented its findings at a press conference at the Capitol. You can read the full report ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662655 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:19:04 +0100 3662655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648472&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYrCpVrDzsKE%2F By Mark A. CalabriaToday begins the televised political theatre that Barney Frank has been waiting months for:  the first public meeting of the House and Senate conferees on the two financial regulation bills.  While there are a handful of important differences between the House and Senate bills, these differences are overshadowed by what the bills have in common.  The most important, and tragic, commonality is that both bills ignore the real causes of the financial crisis and focus on convenient political targets. As our financial system was brought to its knees by an exploding housing bubble, fueled by government mandates and distortions, one would think, just maybe, that Congress would roll back these distortions.  Despite their role in contributing to the crisis and the size of ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648472 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:35:23 +0100 3648472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581873&cid=t_226218_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F19%2Fnew-chefs-council-cook-up-healthy-and-delicious-foods%2F We know eating healthy is of the utmost importance, but have you ever wondered just how important? Statistically, two thirds of American adults are ‘obese or overweight and a third of American children are currently overweight. According to the United States department of Health and Human Services, unhealthy eating and inactivity contributes to 310,000 to 508,000 deaths per year.’ Esteemed chefs have joined California Walnut Board’s Chefs Council to provide diners with healthy and ‘delicious menu options while illustrating the benefits from eating healthy’.  The group has the admirable goal of ‘helping to change the American menu’s nutritional profile’ by showing how walnuts, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, can help in a diet. By getting Americans excited and passio... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581873 Wed, 19 May 2010 21:47:09 +0100 3581873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499050&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-80GP0dPdEo%2F By Sallie JamesYet another show of that rare commodity, bipartisan efforts to reduce the size of government today. Four members of the House—two Republican and two Democrat—have sent a letter to President Obama, calling on him to reverse the insane policy of bribing Brazilian farmers with subsidies in an attempt to correct, in accordance with the perverse two-wrongs-make-a-right school of logic, for  illegal U.S. subsidies. (There were other questionable parts of the deal with Brazil). Barney Frank (D, MA), Ron Kind (D, WI), Paul Ryan (R, WI) and Jeff Flake (R, AZ) make compelling arguments for finding a better and more permanent  solution to the dispute than the current (dodgy) deal with Brazil, including arguments about fiscal responsibility, the adverse effects of di... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499050 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:42:09 +0100 3499050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479866&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F04%2F16%2Ftea-party-racist-homophobic-show-me-the-video%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily. Tea Party Racist? Homophobic? Show Me the Video. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: barney frank, chaos theory, emanuel cleaver, political cartoon, southern poverty law center, tea party, tea party protest (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479866 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:43:10 +0100 3479866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403865&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQDepYd-vmKQ%2F By Tad DeHavenAt Tuesday’s congressional hearing on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said that “It’s a mistake for the government heavily to subsidize homeownership.” Coming from one of the biggest cheerleaders for federal homeownership subsidies, and an architect of the housing meltdown, a conversion from Frank would be welcome. Unfortunately, Frank followed the comment with a call for more rental housing subsidies: We are much better off trying to subsidize rental housing, because when you put people into decent rental housing, you do not confront the problems we have seen putting people inappropriately into homeownership. Frank is correct that tying oneself to a mortgage is much riskier than renting. The federal bias toward homeownership has... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403865 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:48:11 +0100 3403865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350256&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4X94fxr3RvI%2F By Tad DeHavenLast week, after Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said that holders of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt shouldn’t be expected to be treated the same as holders of U.S. government debt, the U.S. Treasury took the “unusual” step of reiterating its commitment to back Fannie and Freddie’s debt. If ever there was case against allowing a few hundred men and women to micromanage the economy, this is it. Fannie and Freddie, which are under government control, are being used to help prop up the ailing housing market. If investors think there’s a chance Uncle Sam won’t back the mortgage giants’ debt, mortgage interest rates could rise and demand for housing dampen. Therefore, Frank’s comments caused a bit of a stir. However, with the government bailing out anything that walk... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350256 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:28:59 +0100 3350256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327294&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGv0wI7j76mQ%2F Now that the Wyeth acquisition is complete and layoffs are under way, the raises can be given out. And so the Pfizer board has decided to give Jeff Kindler a 12.5 percent salary hike, to $1.8 million, as part of a $14.9 million pay package, which includes $5.5 million in stock awards, $2.6 million in options, a $3.5 million cash bonus, a pension boost and other perks, such as air travel, usage of a car and home security (at $1,217, this would appear to be for an alarm, so why can’t he pay that himself? He’d still get credit on homeowner’s insurance). In all, his compensation is actually down 4 percent, to $14.9 million, but that’s due to a drop in stock awards, Dow Jones notes. Among the reasons cited for Kindler’s raise: achieving financial goals; promoting a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327294 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:20:31 +0100 3327294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200631&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F22%2Fvox-populi-how-do-your-define-tragedy%2F How do you define tragedy? … The loss of Archibald “Moonlight” Graham and Sue-Louise Newmann is certainly tragic, however, their lives exemplify hope and inspiration. Alabama Crimson Tide 37 — Texas Longhorns 21.  That was the final score of the Citi BCS National Championship football game, which was played in the Rose Bowl on January 7, [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200631 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:58:05 +0100 3200631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092933&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCsQ9xaTVnN4%2F The vote on the amendment was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule, the Associated Press reports. President Obama supported the measure as a senator, but his administration echoed safety concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry, which is supporting the Democrats’ health care bill. And now that bill may have a better chance of passage. An angry Byron Dorgan, the North Dakota Democrat who introduced the measure, denounced a competing amendment that would permit imports if the FDA certifies it can be done without risks. “Do not vote for this amendment and say you’ve done something about the price of prescription drugs because constituents will know better,” Dorgan admonished his colleagues, according to the AP. The alternative ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092933 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:35:02 +0100 3092933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089258&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqtmC5-2_hEE%2F By Tad DeHavenIt’s not uncommon to hear the claim made that the “stimulus” would have had a greater economic impact had the money been focused on infrastructure. But proponents of public “investment” in infrastructure seem to forget that the government allocates capital on the basis of politics rather than economics. Government is naturally inefficient because it is immune to the market signals that guide private actors who stand to lose their own money should an investment not pan out. A perfect example is federal spending on airport infrastructure. The USA Today’s Thomas Frank has been doing good work looking at how the Federal Aviation Administration distributes funds to the nation’s airports. In his latest piece, Frank analyzed FAA records obtained under the Freedom of In... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089258 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:56:37 +0100 3089258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056734&cid=t_226218_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F12%2F03%2Fsearch-for-new-cchit-chair%2F Now that Mark Leavitt announced that he was leaving CCHIT, it’s going to be interesting to see who will replace him as the Chair of CCHIT. Healthcare Informatics has an interview with CCHIT search committee chair and CCHIT trustee, Frank Trembulak (Geisinger Health System EVP and COO) that’s worth reading to understand more about CCHIT plans to search for Mark’s replacement. This is going to be an interesting change to CCHIT. Or will it be a change at all? What do you guys think, should I apply? Related posts:Mark Leavitt Leaves CCHIT Today the big news was that Mark Leavitt is leaving...CCHIT Town Halls and CCHIT Comments on New Jersey Bill For those that participated in the CCHIT town hall meetings...Health Search Engine – Competition with Google Health? An EMR ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056734 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:25:02 +0100 3056734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2995805&cid=t_226218_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2009%2F11%2F13%2Fmark-leavitt-leaves-cchit%2F Today the big news was that Mark Leavitt is leaving his role as chairman of CCHIT. Healthcare IT news reported on the announcement: “The board accepts Mark’s decision with reluctance but appreciates his commitment to overseeing a seamless transition,” said H. Stephen Lieber, chairman of the board of trustees and president and CEO of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). … Lieber said CCHIT trustee Frank Trembulak, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Geisinger Health System, will chair the search committee for Leavitt’s replacement, and that a firm has been retained to conduct the search. … “Having the privilege to launch and lead this volunteer-based, nonprofit organization has been one of the most r... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2995805 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:32:07 +0100 2995805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977273&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8Zy8En-qHt4%2F On its front page today, the Washington Times reports that expanded powers for the Federal Reserve are being opposed by “odd allies.”  The Fed’s imperial over-reach for additional regulatory powers is being opposed by Democrats and Republicans, and liberals and conservatives alike.  As well it should be.  As Senator Shelby observed, “Anointing the Fed as the systemic-risk regulator will make what has proven to be a bad bank regulator even worse.” The regulation of financial services failed conspicuously to prevent the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.  The Fed failed most conspicuously as it was charged with oversight of all the major banks, including notably Citigroup and Bank of America. Bank regulation now functions to insulate banks f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977273 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:28:21 +0100 2977273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2944093&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FP33Pl7KRx0c%2F The big drugmaker has decided shareholders should have input on compensation for execs starting with the next shareholder meeting in April. So they’ll get a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation every two years. This means they can ratify or vote against the compensation package for the company’s CEO, chief financial officer and other top executives. “The board’s action continues Pfizer’s long tradition of seeking and responding to shareholder input on compensation and other corporate governance topics,” Matt Lepore, Pfizer’s vice president and chief counsel for corporate governance, says in a statement. And Tim Smith, senior vp of the environment, social and governance Group for Walden Asset Management, and Stephen Viederman of The Christopher Reyno... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2944093 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:32:55 +0100 2944093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2939556&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FlV2k_7LETrE%2F For their work on acquiring and planning to integrate Wyeth, Pfizer cfo and senior vp Frank D’Amelio (pictured left) and Ian Read, senior vp and group president of the biopharma biz (pictured below), were awarded big prizes. The board gave D’Amelio $1.2 milllion and Read gets $1 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The awards have three components - half of the value was paid in cash on Oct. 26, 2009 and is subject to repayment if their employment is terminated for cause or either quits before Oct. 30, 2010. And 25 percent will be paid in the form of restricted stock units, or RSUs, to be granted on Oct. 30, 2009 based upon fair market value of Pfizer common stock on that date (further details are in the filing). We don’t doubt that ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2939556 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:27 +0100 2939556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782348&cid=t_226218_180_f&fid=38617&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftonyrobbinstraining.com%2F355%2Finterview-with-frank-kern-and-john-reese-2%2F el = document.getElementById('header'); el.style.background = 'url(http://www.tonyrobbins.com/WpIncludes/header.jpg)'; AC_FL_RunContent = 0; AC_FL_RunContent = 0; if (AC_FL_RunContent == 0) { alert("This page requires AC_RunActiveContent.js."); } else { AC_FL_RunContent( 'codebase', 'http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0', 'FlashVars','flvPath=http://s3.amazonaws.com/trvideos/video1d_small.flv&flvTitle=Hope&autoPlay=false&autoBuffer=true', 'width', '640', 'height', '390', 'src', 'http://www.tonyrobbins.com/WpIncludes/videoplayer', 'quality', 'high', 'pluginspage', 'http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer', 'align', 'middle', 'play', 'true', 'loop', 'true', 'scale', 'showall', 'w... Anthony Robbins Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782348 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:18:49 +0100 2782348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2768630&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCoZW0TL-2QM%2F As could be expected, the effects of the financial crisis — and people’s reaction thereto — are starting to make their way to the least political branch of government, the judiciary.  The Supreme Court this term will be hearing several cases that could have serious repercussions on our economic recovery, one of which led us to file an amicus brief.  Here’s the situation: The Investment Company Act of 1940 places on investment advisers a fiduciary duty with respect to the compensation they receive for the services they provide their clients. In the case of Jones v. Harris Associates, shareholders in various mutual funds contend that their adviser fees were excessive and violated the ICA. The Seventh Circuit, the federal appellate court based in Chicago, affirmed the ju... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2768630 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:19:32 +0100 2768630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653666&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fv4MERyzbrMU%2F The recent focus in Washington on mortgage modifications once again illustrates one of the most fundamental flaws in current political debate:  the notion of using government to threaten or force the “voluntary” transfer of wealth from one group of citizens to another. Just this week Rep. Barney Frank warned the banking industry if they don’t “voluntarily” do more to reduce foreclosures, Congress will step in and make them do so, by allowing bankruptcy judges to re-write mortgage contracts.  This proposal is really nothing more an ex poste transfer of wealth from investors in mortgage backed assets to borrowers. Of course, Rep. Frank and others respond that they are only trying to “bring lenders to the table” in order to keep negotiations going... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653666 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:42:48 +0100 2653666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630341&cid=t_226218_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FnyVo6amudB0%2Fneural-stem-cells-offer-potential.html While this research and the results are at an early stage, I believe this is exciting science. Granted it has a long way to go.The science excites me because I am a believer in stem cell research and stem cell regeneration. Back in the 1990s I worked on the startup financing for Osiris Therapeutics.Osiris was founded in 1992 to develop Dr. Arnold Caplan and his colleagues' innovative technology for isolating and expanding mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from donated bone marrow for therapeutic drug products.I have no idea, at this time, how neural stem cells are derived. I am hoping to find this out. I am also interested in learning how this science will be viewed by the FDA.I have an email into Dr. LaFerla. I expect to have contact with him soon. More on this as the story develops, a... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630341 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:49:50 +0100 2630341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2611009&cid=t_226218_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FjluMRj4Wor8%2F Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, is battling meningitis in a New York hospice, say news reports. The 78-year old has been battling melanoma , a frequently fatal skin cancer, for quite a while now. He had been doing quite well until the meningitis struck. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the covering of the brain and spine. You can develop bacterial meningitis, which is the most common form, or viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is also the most serious and can cause severe disability and even death if it’s not treated quickly. You can read about meningitis, its symptoms and treatments at the Meningitis Foundation of Canada . It’s not unusual for people with melanoma to develop meningitis and according to the news releases, it appears that Mr. McC... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2611009 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:24:23 +0100 2611009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571119&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F07%2F04%2Famerican-gothic-sings%2F Happy Independence Day! Posted in Performing Arts Tagged: american gothic, frank loesser, independence day, july 4th (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571119 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:49:10 +0100 2571119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2527763&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVaZZKOwevJ8%2F Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook recounts the horrific police attack on Frank Jude in a ruling this month from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  By way of background, Jude tagged along with some young ladies to a house party late one evening.  The party was mostly off-duty cops who immediately made Jude feel unwelcome.  Jude left after just 5 minutes, but several men followed him out to the street and accused him of stealing someone’s police badge.  Then the beating began: Men punched Jude’s face and torso; when he fell to the ground, they kicked his head and thighs. The partygoers behaved as a mob. Not a single person in the house tried to stop the attack or even to call for aid. Jon Clausing, who had slashed Harris’s face, explained his conduct as “just kind of going al... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2527763 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:38:41 +0100 2527763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510278&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-BJR1SisED8%2F A media drumbeat is steadily building to keep those on the government’s terrorist watch list from buying firearms. A month ago, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) introduced a bill to bar them from purchasing a gun even if they had no legally disqualifying criminal conviction. Now Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has introduced his own legislation to achieve the same goal. This is arbitrary government at its best. The “no-fly” list used to prevent suspected terrorists from boarding aircraft has tagged Nelson Mandela, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a retired general, a Marine reservist returning from Iraq, the President of Bolivia and dead 9/11 hijackers, a former federal prosecutor, and over twenty men named John... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510278 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:55:39 +0100 2510278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441163&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAjEqW0zgX5g%2F In a hagiographic profile of Obama budget director Peter Orszag, Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker writes of the “pressure” he might get from congressional deficit hawks: The respective heads of the House and Senate Budget Committees, John Spratt, Jr., of South Carolina, and Kent Conrad, of North Dakota, have spent years trying to control the deficit… Kent Conrad, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, has made eradicating the federal budget deficit his life’s work. Now, you’d think that if the ranking Democrats on the congressional budget committees had made deficit reduction their life’s work, the budget wouldn’t have, you know, skyrocketed over the past decade and more. So let’s go to the tape. The National Taxpayers Union has given Spratt a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441163 Fri, 29 May 2009 18:48:39 +0100 2441163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416798&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Flr1na_sp0jA%2F Someone forwarded me an email update from our friends at the Center for American Progress Action Fund (motto: “Disagree with us? Then you hate progress.”). In one blurb, CAPAF’s crack team of spin-disclosers chides Republicans for discussing health care reform using the language recommended by pollster Frank Luntz, who “advised Republicans to fearmonger” Obama’s proposals to death!  Or something. The same email had another blurb titled, “INSURANCE COMPANIES AT THE TABLE?” There, CAPAF’s crack team of spin-disclosers describe how “health insurance companies and lobbying groups” stood beside President Obama last week to announce their support for reducing spending growth.  The blurb continues: However, days later, the insura... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416798 Mon, 18 May 2009 17:38:58 +0100 2416798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389660&cid=t_226218_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZtP_7C0-_28%2F Following on from the mildly good news of a few weeks ago, Barney Frank (D, MA) has announced that he will introduce a bill tomorrow to roll back current restrictions on gambling online (the restrictions are made operative by bans on U.S. banks from processing transactions to and from gambling websites).  Although the details of the bill are yet to be released, this here article contains some good analysis. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389660 Tue, 05 May 2009 21:27:58 +0100 2389660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2188418&cid=t_226218_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1119 Jump to follow-up This classic was published in issue 1692 of New Scientist magazine, 25 November 1989.  Frank Watt was head of the Scanning Proton Microprobe Unit in the Department of Physics at Oxford University. He wrote for the New Scientist an article on Microscopes with proton power. In the light of yesterday’s fuss about [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2188418 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:47:42 +0100 2188418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895592&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F427742712%2F Last week, Kevin Huang, the editor of the Harvard Health Policy Review, a student-run journal with a tiny circulation, received an e-mail from Richard Frank, a Harvard Medical School health economics professor, to say that a recently published article about medical journals and ethical standards was unfair to Frank and two of his colleagues. As a result, he would no longer serve as an advisor to the publication. In response, Huang pulled the site down for further review. Why the fuss? The objectionable article was written by Donald Light and Rebecca Warburton, who chronicled an episode that took place four years ago concerning an earlier article they wrote for the Journal of Health Economics. In that piece, they chastised a widely cited study published in 2003 in the same journal that clai... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895592 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:42:49 +0100 1895592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895594&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F427656862%2F Earnings are out and, naturally, this means the ceo is chatting up analysts, fund managers and other investors in need of reassurance about the future. For a change of pace, however, Pfizer ceo Jeff Kindler stopped for a few minutes to chat with Pharmalot about some key issues confronting the drugmaker. By his side was cfo Frank D’Amelio. Here is an excerpt… Pharmalot: How do you get sufficient top line growth without making acquisitions? Kindler: First of all, we’ve set out a number of strategies that will produce very profitable growth over the next few years. And we’re on target to achieve those goals. Now, look at emerging markets. That’s a huge growth opportunity. If you exclude Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and look at Asia, that’s expected to ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895594 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:05:22 +0100 1895594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851078&cid=t_226218_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F10%2F03%2Fthe-irishman-vs-barney%2F For D…..The Irishman takes on The Toe Tapping Bathroom Stall Dwelling Barney Frank            (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851078 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:30:25 +0100 1851078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1728304&cid=t_226218_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2008%2F08%2F07%2Fdateline-our-town-1938%2F Jerry Orbach (left) in The Fantasticks (1960) New York City, 1960. That’s where I would go if I had a time machine. At the off-Broadway Sullivan Street Playhouse I would buy a ticket to see a young, charistmatic Jerry Orbach play El Gallo and, of course, sing “Try to Remember.” I’d go back again in 1943. The world is at war, but at the St. James Theatre, men are performing a ballet in cowboy boots. The play is Oklahoma! and it would make theater history, running a record 2,212 performances. Imagine seeing Agnes de Mille’s brilliant choreography in the context of 1943, before Oklahoma! had become canned corn. No matter who does the directing and acting, Oklahoma! can’t resonate today. It’s a joke. A beloved joke, but still a joke. In my time mac... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1728304 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:16:11 +0100 1728304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671778&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F351607267%2F In an effort to dilute the impact of sales reps, several Senators and Congressmen today are introducing a bill that would create funding for a program to send trained pharmacists, nurses, and other health care professionals into a doctor’s office with independent data about benefits, risks, costs, and comparative effectiveness of prescription drugs, including generics. The Independent Drug Education and Outreach Act of 2008 would make it possible to fund grants or contracts through the HHS Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to develop educational materials and to send trained medical professionals to a doc’s office to discuss “unbiased information on appropriate prescribing,” according to a summary of the bill. (Here is the Senate version.) Applicants may n... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671778 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:48:52 +0100 1671778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1638026&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F18%2Fask-and-ye-are-more-likely-to-receive-than-you-expect%2F From Business Wire and Knowledgebase (the free monthly information source for thoughts, ideas and research at the Stanford Graduate School of Business): For many of us, the thought of asking someone for help or a favor–be it a colleague, friend, or stranger–is fraught with discomfort. We figure we’re imposing or tend to assume the person will say no, which could leave us embarrassed or humiliated. But as reported in this month’s Stanford Knowledgebase, new research from Stanford Graduate School of Business verifies the old adage, “Ask and you shall receive.” A series of studies reveals that people tend to grossly underestimate how likely others are to agree to requests for assistance. “Our research should encourage people to ask for help and not ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1638026 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:59:05 +0100 1638026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546981&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F320711109%2F As promised, two Democratic Congressmen have introduced the Medical Device Safety Act of 2008, which they claim will protect patients from dangerous and defective devices by explicitingly stating that FDA regulation does not trump the ability of consumers to seek damages under state law. You may recall that, last February, the US Supreme Court ruled in Riegel v. Medtronic that patients injured by defective devices can’t sue for damages in state courts if the FDA approved the marketing of the product. The court decided the 1976 Medical Devices Amendment preempted the right of patients to sue for damages in state courts over devices that receive premarket FDA approval. “This decision ignores both congressional intent and 30 years of experience in which FDA regulation and tort liabili... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546981 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:24:06 +0100 1546981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1502745&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F307965048%2F Every now and then, we like to reinvent ourselves. This time around, our redesign not only goes for a new look, but a speedier model. Questions? Problems? Please visit this link at 9 am EST for a live chat in which we will immediately respond to your thoughts. We have already made some changes based on your feedback, so please continue to share. Meanwhile, here are a few items from the weekend… The fallout continues from the Heather Bresch scandal. West Virginia University prez Mike Garrison will now resign in September over the improper awarding of a master’s degree to the governor’s daughter, who is also a Mylan Labs exec, the Associated Press reports. It was on his watch last fall that WVU administrators added courses and grades to Bresch’s incomplete transcript, awarding he... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1502745 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:46:06 +0100 1502745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492329&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F303706650%2F This is a question that won’t go away and it keeps Frank D’Amelio, the drugmaker’s cfo, very busy. For the past few months, a growing number of analysts have openly questioned whether the payout can continue and this morning, The Wall Street Journal takes another whack at the issue. The $8 billion in dividend payments Pfizer made to shareholders last year is, as the paper writes, widely considered to be among the few reasons many investors still hold the stock. Put another way - the stock isn’t attractive for its pipeline or patent expirations. At 6.67 percent, the yield is far superior to the pharma average of 3.37 percent and 2.18 percent for the S&P 500, the paper points out. Pfizer’s board is keeping a close eye on the ability to maintain the dividend... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492329 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:59:14 +0100 1492329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454775&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F294222743%2F The bill, which will be called the Access, Compassion, Care and Ethics for Seriously Ill Patients Act, would provide terminally ill patients with access to treatments prior to FDA approval. The legislation is being co-sponsored by Sam Brownback, a Republican Senator from Kansas, and Dianne Watson, a California Democrat in the House, who plan a Wednesday morning press conference in Washington DC. The effort comes after the US Supreme Court this past January refused to review a ruling that terminally ill patients have no constitutional right to be treated with experimental drugs even if that means the patient will likely die before the medicine is approved. Last August, a federal appeals court sided with the FDA and decided the government may deny access to drugs that have not gone through ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454775 Tue, 20 May 2008 11:43:40 +0100 1454775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1437184&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F12%2Fthe-situation-of-the-mortgage-crisis%2F Economist Robert Frank recently wrote an editorial for the Washington Post, titled “Don’t Blame All Borrowers,” in which he questions Senator McCain’s recent statement regarding possible that “it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.” Frank takes a more situational perspective. We excerpt portions of his argument below. * * * [W]hile Congress clearly should not rescue borrowers who lied about their incomes or tried to get rich by flipping condos, such borrowers were at most a minor factor in this crisis. Primary responsibility rests squarely on regulators who permitted the liberal credit terms that created the housing bubble. Hints of how things began to go awry a... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1437184 Mon, 12 May 2008 04:01:49 +0100 1437184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1361151&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F267079997%2F His name is Frank Torti, he has brand-name credentials - Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford - and he is currently director of the comprehensive care center at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. What will he do at the FDA? In a statement, FDA commish Andy von Eschenbach notes the new position stems from the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007. So Torti will help launch an FDA Fellowship program, which Andy hopes will attract up to 2,000 professionals for a two-year training program. Torti will also spend his time minding the agency’s “intramural research programs,” with an emphasis on clinical trials. As usual, Andy wasn’t terribly specific. You can read more about Torti here. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1361151 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:25:19 +0100 1361151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1325481&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F257629496%2F Maybe the Cephalon board should take its own Provigil, which is supposed to treat excessive sleepiness. The drugmaker gave Frank Baldino Jr. a salary of $1.2 million, a bonus of $2.2 million and other compensation of nearly $77,000, which included $33,240 for a car allowance and $14,500 in financial planning expenses. Then there were stock and option awards valued at $12.4 million on the date they were granted, the Associated Press writes. And this is interesting - from 2004 to 2006, Baldino’s average annual pay was 140 percent above the median CEO pay of Cephalon’s peer group, according to Proxy Governance, the AP reports. His recent tenure is distinguished for other reasons - Cephalon is fighting a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission, which accused the drugmaker of ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1325481 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:25:48 +0100 1325481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1134000&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F212875235%2F The flamboyant Texas lawyer apparently couldn’t help himself. After all, Ted Frank, the American Enterprise Institute Fellow and vociferous critic of lawyers who sue pharma, wrote on his Overlawyered blog that the $4.85 billion Vioxx deal is an “extortionate settlement,” and chided Lanier for having his trial victories thrown out on appeal because he failed to follows the rules of evidence. Frank also contended that Lanier agreed to the deal because many of his cases may actually be worthless and there really is no smoking gun among the evidence. So Lanier replied by posting this comment: “Some clients will get over a million dollars for their heart attacks…Do you call that meaningless money? That is a fair settlement for not having to go to trial where the ex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1134000 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:27:11 +0100 1134000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1082925&cid=t_226218_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F197960815%2F “What would he like for Christmas?” “What can we can get him?” The relatives ask me these questions every year; every year I say, “I’ll get back to you.” “I’ll send an email.” But I already have a pretty clear idea of what Charlie will say when I ask him “what do you want?”. Not an Xbox. Not a Gameboy. Not a new iPod. Not a shiney skateboard, or something the cool kid in the class has. If I ask Charlie what he would like, his first response will mostly be for some item of food: Charlie first learned to answer the question “what do you want,” he learned to ask mostly for food, for his favorite crackers and chips (though he rarely eats potato chips these days—I think he ate a few too many in t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1082925 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:59:00 +0100 1082925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1072378&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fdoccheck-physician-social-network-comes.html Back in December, 2005, I was invited by Dr. Frank Antwerpes (photo on left), CEO of DocCheck, a German Internet portal for physicians, to his European Medical Portal Meeting in Berlin, Germany.I had a great time there and stayed at the upscale, but hard to find, Hotel Q!, winner of the Travel & Leisure's Design Award 2005 (Best Design Hotel) and located a few steps from Kurfürstendamm, Berlin’s famous shopping mile packed with boutiques, restaurants, bars and galleries.You can read all about my experience and learn a thing or two about DocCheck from the Pharma Marketing News article I wrote (see "DocCheck: Das Portal," free, limited-time access to pdf reprint here).A lot has changed in 2 years -- specifically Web 2.0 and social networking. DocCheck -- I am happy to see -- has kept ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1072378 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:22:00 +0100 1072378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1048564&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F189908637%2Fone_idea_from_the_brain_to_the.html Do you remember how Frank Perdue transformed his company into a millionaire enterprise … simply by differentiating his chicken from the rest of the flock? He left behind three decades of successfully breeding and reselling chickens – to follow one tranformational idea. Others claimed it was impossible. Have you seen it happen too? Here’s another current cutting edge idea … that could increase revenue streams for your enterprise. The idea is based on an amazing brain discovery that reveals why …Lectures and Talks Work Against the Human Brain.If you've ever endured boring meetings or faced dull talks ... you're a perfect candidate to roll out this idea and ratchet up your bottom line.  In much the same way as Pe... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1048564 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:42:47 +0100 1048564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1001115&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F178788695%2Fwhat_would_it_take_to_create_o.html If creativity interests you, check out Dr. Robyn McMaster’s 10 Tactics to Jumpstart Creativity in Your Work. A recent Gallop Poll showed 59% of workers say that their current job brings out creative ideas. Robyn's list intrigues me for these reasons:1. Darren Rowse advises to stimulate your mind differently.2. Drew McLellan collects creativity triggers to "twist “common” into “fresh” 3. Seth Godin looks beyond a creative idea to roll it into action. 4. Frank Roche suggests a child's approach as exemplar5. I ask, "How do people who problem solve creatively … differ? 6. Joanna Young tosses in just the right music to help flow7. Daniel Sitter calls for unleashing selling creativity... 8. Bill Parks increase creativity by setting... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1001115 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:27:48 +0100 1001115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=933228&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F166723492%2F The Garden State may be the nation’s medicine chest, with 11 big drugmakers located there, but some the elected reps in Washington, DC, don’t always toe the line. At least that’s the complaint from the head of a local industry trade group, who carps that NJ’s congressional delegation and its two senators - most of whom are Democrats - essentially bite the hand that feeds many of their constituents. “Historically, there has been a sense among opinion leaders that the New Jersey delegation in Congress has failed to rally around this industry, which is centered in our state,” Bob Franks, a former congressman and now president of the Health Care Institute of New Jersey, tells The Star-Ledger of New Jersey (which owns Pharmalot). “Is that accurate? I be... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=933228 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:37:58 +0100 933228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=894334&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F160572419%2F If Jeff Kindler can do it, Dave Brennan can do it. The AstraZeneca ceo is reportedly poised to hire an outsider as cfo in hopes of finding someone with “fresh management ideas,” The Financial Times writes. Pfizer, you may recall, recently hired a veteran cfo of the shrinking telecom wars, Frank D’Amelio, as cfo in a clear nod to the need for a sharpened pencil who can simultaneously cut fat with one hand while rubbing Wall Street’s back with the other. And AstraZeneca finds itself in a similar position - recently lab failures, a quick need for new meds and big cutbacks. So Brennan et al have been working with SpencerStuart, the brand-name headhunting firm, to find candidates beyond the wide world of pharma. AstraZeneca executives have conducted several interviews wi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=894334 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:25:30 +0100 894334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848530&cid=t_226218_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F153411914%2F Lawmakers are unlikely to add generic biologics legislation to an FDA bill that’s expected to receive congressional approval this month, two key U.S. congressmen said on Thursday, reports Reuters. Generic drugmakers have been pushing legislation that would chart a specific path for the FDA to approve cheaper copycat versions of biotech meds. The chances of adding the generic biologics measure to a broad FDA bill now moving through Congress are “extremely slim,” Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, told a Generic Pharmaceutical Association conference. Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, also said it was unlikely that House and Senate negotiators could agree on an approach for generic biologics in time to include it in the FDA bill. The FDA legislation, which i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848530 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:44:42 +0100 848530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=825380&cid=t_226218_85_f&fid=34692&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpolitedissent.com%2Farchives%2F1737 This dark and moody anti-dope PSA comes from the late-1951 and early-1952 editions of some Lev Gleason comics. It sports art by a young Frank Frazetta. Click on the image to the right for the full ad. You’ll notice that they’re not too clear on what dope is, just that it’s really bad — as are dope peddlers and dope fiends (who are apparently contagious). Thankfully the comic book industry took steps like this to protect America’s youth! Tags: comics psa dope frank frazetta (Source: Polite Dissent) Polite Dissent blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=825380 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:46:33 +0100 825380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828105&cid=t_226218_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fphillip-atkinson-of-family-security.html Digby, : Annotated Cliff Schector apparently broke this into the blogsphere after hearing about it on Thom Hartmann's show. I heard about this on, where else, the Thom Hartmann show. He discussed Democratic Underground's look at Family Security Matters. This bunch of sickos (apologies to Michael Moore) advocates that Bush should be our permanent president and that there should be no more democracy. Democracy is bad. Kings are good. Who's on their advisory board? Reagan era remnants abound. Here are some names that Hartmann tossed out: Barbara Comstock, Laura Ingraham, Frank Gaffney, James Woolsey, and...drum roll...Dick Cheney. Oh, and by the way, it's the same Gaffney who goes on CNN with talk of aggression against Iran. That Frank Gaffney. - post by graphictruth This is part of the ... Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828105 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=528266&cid=t_226218_109_f&fid=34875&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballoonballoon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fupdates-final-kathy-sierra.html [UPDATE: April 6, 2007: Here are the final results of the one and only Kathy Sierra poll, conducted here at Surreal and Paranoid Life from March 28 to April 6. Here is the poll question, along with the percentages of the answers:What's the bottom line with this Kathy Sierra fiasco?1. Kathy is working hard with the authorities and will prosecute. = 30.3% (40)2. Kathy is watching the publicity she is getting and loving it. = 25.8% (34)3. Something other. If so, write what it is in the "Hang in there" comments = 22.7% (30)4. Kathy is really offended and will blog no more. = 13.6% (18)5. Kathy is actually one of the "meankids", and they're all having a good laugh. = 7.6% (10)6. Kathy will be killed or harmed by the perpetrators of this mess. = 0% (0)total votes: 132 individuals[UPDATE: April 5... American Center for Surreal and Paranoid Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=528266 Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:19:00 +0100 528266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=493329&cid=t_226218_135_f&fid=35263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fronhudson.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Ftribute-to-women-in-early-days-of-aids.html Special thanks to Becka of the Frank Sinatra School in New York City, NY, USA, for the artwork entitled "Lovers" contributed for the International Carnival of Pozitivities.In the earliest days of HIV/AIDS, the victims of this disease represented the greatest fear of a generation of gay men and a few select others: death from an unknown source. The victims of the disease were seen as pariahs and misunderstanding about HIV/AIDS was the norm. We did not know how the disease was spread, and as such, the victims were seen as potential sources of infection by society. People were afraid to hold, hug, shake hands with, feed, change diapers for, sit near, or even talk with the emaciated, purplish-splotched men who were gasping for air as they lay dying of AIDS. Only the closest of friends and futu... 2sides2ron blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=493329 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:16:00 +0100 493329