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 'greece'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:11:10 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182381&cid=t_134263_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FzSGAwa6Gwsw%2F It’s all over the news. You can’t avoid it. No matter how much we try to deny it… The world is coming to an end. (Play eerie music here) Just this year alone we have had a prediction about the end of the world or rapture. The U.S. Government has been downgraded by S&P. Greece and Spain are in utter disarray. People are being laid off, losing their homes and are quickly watching the balances of their retirement savings diminish. I mean with times like this what is the purpose of going on? We might as well give up now. It looks like all is lost, right? Wrong! The troubles and the issues we face rather personally or as a nation are here for a purpose. Challenges do not arise to kill us, they come into existence so that they can be overcome. I am not afraid of a debt ceil... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182381 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 05:20:08 +0100 5182381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036220&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FVKuTAMhLV_c%2F By Daniel J. MitchellIn my speeches, especially when talking about the fiscal crisis in Europe (or the future fiscal crisis in America), I often warn that the welfare state reaches a point of no return when the people riding in the welfare wagon begins to outnumber the people pulling the wagon. To be more specific, if more than 50 percent of the population is dependent on government (employed in the bureaucracy, living off welfare, receiving public pensions, etc.), it becomes difficult for taxpayers to form a majority coalition to fix the mess. This may explain why Greek politicians have resisted significant reforms, even though the nation faces a fiscal death spiral. But you don’t need me to explain this relationship. One of our Cato interns, Silvia Morandotti, used her artistic sk... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036220 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:02:43 +0100 5036220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992654&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2f2OvaNvszk%2F By David BoazOur friend Alberto Mingardi of the Bruno Leoni Institute in Italy writes about the Greek crisis: In a way, the most surprising element of the Greek disaster is that taxpayers in other European countries aren’t outraged at being called to rescue an economy that has been marching towards disaster for so long. The legitimate fear of contagion affecting other European countries is now being used to persuade the electorates outside Greece that: first, Greece has not manufactured its own fate, but is rather the victim of “locust-like” speculators and, second, a Greek bailout would be an indictment of the European social model, that is, the welfare state. Where European public opinion is collapsing under its contradictions is in the attempt to reconcile the idea of the EU as th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992654 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:53:28 +0100 4992654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975830&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5wSlBN3174w%2F By Daniel J. MitchellIt appears that American taxpayers are about to subsidize another Greek bailout (via the Keystone Cops at the IMF). This is way beyond economically foolish. It is also morally offensive. To turn Winston Churchill’s famous quote upside down, “Never have so many paid so much to subsidize such an undeserving few.” Let’s start with a few facts: Greece’s GDP is roughly equal to the GDP of Maryland. Greece’s population is roughly equal to the population of Ohio. Despite that small size, in both terms of population and economic output, Greece already has received a bailout of about $150 billion (actual amount fluctuates with the exchange rate). Don’t forget the indirect bailout resulting from purchases of Greek government bonds by the European Central Bank. No... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975830 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:11:00 +0100 4975830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975841&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fm_tMpvIn4JY%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThis new video, based in large part on the good work of Michael Cannon, explains why Medicaid should be shifted to the states. As I note in the title of this post, it’s good federalism policy and good fiscal policy. But the video also explains that Medicaid reform is good health policy since it creates an opportunity to deal with the third-party payer problem. One of the key observations of the video is that Medicaid block grants would replicate the success of welfare reform. Getting rid of the federal welfare entitlement in the 1990s and shifting the program to the states was a very successful policy, saving billions of dollars for taxpayers and significantly reducing poverty. There is every reason to think ending the Medicaid entitlement will have similar positive... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975841 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:55:48 +0100 4975841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4929934&cid=t_134263_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2011%2F06%2F15%2Fevros-greece%2F June 2011 A migrant kept in a border police station in the Evros region. Every year tens of thousands of asylum seekers and migrants arrive in Greece, one of the main entry points to Europe. Many of them have left unstable or war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq or are escaping persecution, human rights violations or extreme poverty. Once they arrive in Greece, irregular migrants and asylum seekers are systematically detained, often in overcrowded facilities. Sanitary conditions are usually very poor and health care is inadequate. Psychosocial support is lacking. Vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors and pregnant women, are also detained in degrading conditions. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4929934 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:50:18 +0100 4929934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893395&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FViJgaSkD9x8%2F By George Scoville “PBS used to ask, ‘If not PBS, then who?’ The answer now is: HBO, Bravo, Discovery, History, History International, Science, Planet Green, Sundance, Military, C-SPAN 1/2/3 and many more.” “The fiscal problem that is destroying U.S. economic confidence is not the fiscal balance, however. It is the level of government expenditures relative to GDP.” “The Pentagon’s first cyber security strategy… builds on national hysteria about threats to cybersecurity, the latest bogeyman to justify our bloated national security state.” “How ‘secure’ do our homes remain if police, armed with no warrant, can pound on doors at will and, on hearing sounds indicative of things moving, forcibly enter and search for evide... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893395 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:07:34 +0100 4893395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883555&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKW1EQMnEyew%2F By Daniel J. MitchellWay back in February of 2010, I wrote that a Greek bailout would be a failure. Not surprisingly, the bureaucrats at the International Monetary Fund and the political elite from other European nations ignored my advice and gave tens of billions of dollars to Greece’s corrupt politicians. The bailout happened in part because politicians and international bureaucrats (when they’re not getting arrested for molesting hotel maids) have a compulsion to squander other people’s money. But it also should be noted that the Greek bailout was a way of indirectly bailing out the big European banks that recklessly lent money to a profligate government (as explained here). At the risk of sounding smug, let’s look at my four predictions from February 2010 and se... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883555 Tue, 31 May 2011 20:19:10 +0100 4883555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862509&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F3XLKKkQF-xs%2F By George Scoville DON’T FORGET: Today at 2:00 p.m. Eastern at Cato, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty will detail specific spending cuts Congress can make as it tries to rein in the size and scope of the federal government in “Limiting Government: What Washington Can Learn from Minnesota.” Tune in at our live events hub, or watch on Facebook. It’s not low taxes that caused the Greek crisis, but high spending. A new Internal Revenue Service account reporting rule would drive out foreign capital. A defense budget that does not force trade-offs assumes the United States can take on any mission, and that all are necessary. If the Affordable Care Act is so great, why are so many people seeking waivers? Wednesday Links is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862509 Wed, 25 May 2011 16:00:32 +0100 4862509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853221&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fpok9CMr79cQ%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome to the working week. Another overcast day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we will be hosting a webinar on the injectable delivery drug market, so please join us. Meanwhile, the time has come to grab a cup of stimulation and peruse the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… FDA Approves Vertex Pharma Hepatitis C Drug (Reuters) Lilly Helps Create Biotech To Develop And Sell Xigris (Associated Press) How PR Tactics Skew Medical Research Presentation (The Guardian) J&J Woes Mitigated By New Drug Bets? (Bloomberg News) Lilly Chops 70 Jobs In Ireland (InPharm) Two Men Convicted Of Selling HIV Meds (NewJerseyNewsroom) Google Warned About Rogue Drug Ads (Wall Street Journal) Provenge, Medicare And Costs (CNBC... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853221 Mon, 23 May 2011 11:59:53 +0100 4853221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828864&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FC_T35AjTnB8%2F By David BoazThe Washington Post splashes a story about “anarchists” in Greece across the front page today. The print headline is “Into the arms of anarchy,” and a photo-essay online is titled “In Greece, austerity kindles the flames of anarchy.” And what do these anarchists demand? Well, reporter Anthony Faiola doesn’t find out much about what they’re for, but they seem to be against, you know, what the establishment is doing, man: The protests are an emblem of social discontent spreading across Europe in response to a new age of austerity. At a time when the United States is just beginning to consider deep spending cuts, countries such as Greece are coping with a fallout that has extended well beyond ordinary civil disobedience. Perhaps mos... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828864 Sat, 14 May 2011 20:52:40 +0100 4828864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693503&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F4qYFmFlSQzk%2F The healthcare giant was charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing public doctors in several European countries - and paying kickbacks to Iraq - to illegally obtain business. The FCPA forbids US companies from bribing foreign government officials (read here). Specifically, various Johnson & Johnson units paid bribes to public doctors in Greece who chose J&J surgical implants; public doctors and hospital administrators in Poland who awarded contracts to J&J, and public doctors in Romania to prescribe J&J meds. The subsidiaries - including DePuy and Janssen Pharmaceutica - also paid kickbacks to Iraq to obtain 19 contracts under the United Nations Oil for Food Program, according to the SEC complaint. T... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693503 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:03:33 +0100 4693503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532196&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7OFg_GMW4ik%2F By Daniel J. MitchellSooner or later, there will be a giant battle in Washington over the value-added tax. The people who want bigger government (and the people who are willing to surrender to big government) understand that a new source of tax revenue is needed to turn the United States into a European-style social welfare state. But that's exactly why the VAT is a terrible idea. I explain why in a column for Reuters. The entire thing is worth reading, but here's an excerpt of some key points. Many Washington insiders are claiming that America needs a value-added tax (VAT) to get rid of red ink. ...And President Obama says that a VAT is “something that has worked for other countries.” Every single one of these assertions is demonstrably false. ...One of the many problems with a VAT is... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532196 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:49:20 +0100 4532196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337919&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FkHbk2m319fQ%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThanks to decades of reckless spending by European welfare states, the newspapers are filled with headlines about debt, default, contagion, and bankruptcy. We know that Greece and Ireland already have received direct bailouts, and other European welfare states are getting indirect bailouts from the European Central Bank, which is vying with the Federal Reserve in a contest to see which central bank can win the “Most Likely to Appease the Political Class” Award. But which nation will be the next domino to fall? Who will get the next direct bailout? Some people think total government debt is the key variable, and there’s been a lot of talk that debt levels of 90 percent of GDP represent some sort of fiscal Maginot Line. Once nations get above that level... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337919 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:53:45 +0100 4337919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322695&cid=t_134263_151_f&fid=35797&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewrecovery.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fwalk-away-from-temptation.html The singer Paul Simon's composition, "There Must be Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover," also holds true for leaving your addictive substances. If you ask a group of people who've gotten free of the monkey on their back what they do when they feel a craving coming on, you'll wish you knew shorthand to write down all the different solutions that work for somebody. "Take a deep breath!" "Count to 100." "Call a sober friend." "Go to a meeting." "Drink a glass of cold water." "Touch your sober talisman." "Do a meditation." And so on. Now comes a roundup of studies in the New York Times -- thanks, Dr. Joe Mott for pointing me to it -- highlighting evidence in favor of one of the simplest ways to leave your demon: walk away. A series of studies completed in the past five years demonstrates the empow... New Recovery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322695 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:10:00 +0100 4322695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275593&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fqgj83FqbBu0%2F Rise and shine. Another day is on the way. Here on the chilly Pharmalot corporate campus, we are doing our best to scurry the short people off to their school houses. As always, this ritual calls for a cup or two of stimulation. Please join us - or grab a bottle of water, whatever you fancy - as we indulge and scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well… Novartis Moves Infectious Disease Unit From Massachusetts (SF Business Times) Pfizer Recalls More Bottles Of 40 mg Lipitor (Associated Press) Novartis Pill For Advanced MS May Be A $5B Blockbuster (Bloomberg News) Greece Sets Generic Pricing (Pharma Times) Pfizer Settles Two Prempro Cases (Reno Gazette-Journal) AstraZeneca Takes $445M Charge On Failure Of RSV Drug (Bloomberg News) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275593 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:09:42 +0100 4275593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225222&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fi2k8vsZwsD0%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThe fiscal disintegration of Europe is bad news, though I confess to a bit of malicious glee every time I read about welfare states such as Greece and Portugal getting to the point where they no longer have the ability to borrow enough money to finance their bloated public sectors (I have mixed feelings about Ireland since that nation at least has been a good example of low tax corporate tax rates, but I still think they should get punished for over-spending and bailouts). This I-told-you-so attitude is not very mature on my part, but one hopes that American politicians will learn the right lessons and something good will come from this mess. I have not written much about the topic in recent months, in part because I don’t have much to add to my original post a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225222 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:51:28 +0100 4225222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987236&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcB0AB5jloI4%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope you had a pleasant weekend and feel refreshed. Now, of course, the routine resumes as meetings and deadlines approach. To steel ourselves, we are preparing the mandatory cup of simulation. So please join us as we indulge and scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Bristol-Myers And Astra Tout Diabetes Study Results (Dow Jones) Roche’s Avastin Fails In Late-State Colon Cancer Study (Bloomberg News) India May Separate Approvals From Patent Status (LiveMint) Drugmakers Protest New Prices In Greece (PharmaTimes) Some African Nations Side With India Over Generics Debate (Economic Times) Genentech Exec Looks Ahead To Rockefeller University (Nature) Novartis Pulls European Application For Blood Pressure Pill (PharmaTime... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987236 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:35:40 +0100 3987236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721959&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F3SCWQiuzi24%2F Angered by the moves European nations are taking to cut drug prices, one big drugmaker commissioned a study that finds - guess what? - price cuts will severely reduce the number of new meds making it to market. The study was undertaken by the European School of Management and Technology’s Competition Analysis and funded by Novartis. The Berlin-based group claims to have modeled and quantified a “direct link between strict regulation and low innovation.” And the new meds that are likely to be “hit hardest under tough pricing regulation” include drugs for treating heart disease, multiple sclerosis and chronic meningitis, as well as antibiotics. “Our study shows the consequences that pricing and reimbursement regulation can have on pharmaceutical innovation... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721959 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:43:21 +0100 3721959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691113&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFGe2tOwZKdQ%2F When it comes to patients, Novo Nordisk appears to have something of a tin ear. Last month, the Danish drugmaker yanked a diabetes product from Greece after the government instituted substantial price cuts, which Novo Nordisk claimed would cause it to lose money. Since then, a resolution was found - Greece agreed to rollback some of its price cut - but not before Novo Nordisk was lambasted by a patient group for insensitivity (see here and here). Now, the Danish drugmaker is angering some 90,000 diabetics in the UK. How so? Novo Nordisk recently announced that its Mixtard 30 insulin treatment will be withdrawn by the end of the year. Douglas Smallwood, who heads Diabetes UK, says there is no need to panic, but is not pleased. “We are very disappointed about this withdrawal as it is n... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691113 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:01:54 +0100 3691113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683868&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxCj1vD_8dNw%2F Late last month, Novo Nordisk caused a commotion by pulling its diabetes product from Greece after the government instituted substantial price cuts of up to 25 percent on hundreds of medicines, which the Danish drugmaker claims would force it to lose money (see background). Novo relented last week, however, after the Greek government agreed to rollback its price cut (look at this). Nonetheless, the move prompted criticism about the wisdom of such actions, even though Novo did continue to sell certain insulin products (see more here). And now GlaxoSmithKline ceo Andrew Witty has criticized Novo’s decision. In remarks to to Reuters at the annual meeting of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations: “That kind of action isn’t necessarily helpful ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683868 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:09:33 +0100 3683868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662928&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEmyIwD3LfHo%2F What a difference a few Euros can make. After causing a ruckus by withholding a diabetes drug from Greece because the government cut prices by roughly 25 percent, Novo Nordisk has now agreed to resume supplies after an official increase in pricing. The move means drug prices are still below about 10 percent from what they before the controversy erupted last month (background). The newest pricing remains lower than the average of the three lowest prices elsewhere in Europe. By Sept. 1, Greece expects to set prices based on the average found in three countries out of 22 European nations that have the lowest prices, according to a report. In other words, Greece will raise prices to that level. The turnabout defuses a heated debate in which some accused Novo Nordisk and ceo Lars Sorensen of i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662928 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:28:47 +0100 3662928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3645055&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FM2hsIqH-T7E%2F File this one under irony? In a bid to improve ethics, Novo Nordisk has teamed with the University of Copenhagen and a consulting firm to create a pair of tools they are calling Ethics Decision-Making and Ethics Dilemma, which are aimed at businesspeople, academics and students. The Ethics Decision-Making tool uses questions and games to help the viewer improve their understanding of ethics and how to respond to situations that fall into a gray area. One question about a hypothetical decision: ‘Would it be okay to see it on the front page of a newspaper?’ How about on a blog? Either way, that’s a good test. Ethics Dilemma uses a questionnaire to show how differing views of ethics can influence decisions and lead to different outcomes (look here). “Sometimes you find you... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3645055 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:12:09 +0100 3645055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629618&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5Ij5q5GF5Jg%2F By Mark A. CalabriaOn the surface the failures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would appear to have little connection to the fiscal crisis in Greece, outside of both occurring in or around the time of a global financial crisis.  Of course in the case of Fannie and Freddie, primary blame lies with their management and with Congress.  Primary blame for Greece’s problems clearly lies with the Greek government.  Neither Greece or Fannie would have been able to get into as much trouble, however, if financial institutions around the world had not loaded up on their debt.  One reason, if not the primary reason, for bailing out both Greece and the US’s government sponsored enterprises is the adverse impact their failures would have on the banking system. Yet bankers around the world ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629618 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 20:16:19 +0100 3629618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621657&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5Tjx8UPjycw%2F By Michael F. CannonThe economic tragedy unfolding in Greece is the welfare state taken to its logical conclusion.  When groups of people use the state to live at the expense of others, the feedback loop about the costs of those transfers is attenuated — often by design.  The welfare state therefore makes commitments that it cannot honor.  By the time creditors or taxpayers say, “Enough,” the welfare state has created a clash between expectations and means that leads to unrest and hardship — a clash that never had to occur. Reuters reports that this tragedy is playing itself out in Canada, where the Medicare system is straining the budgets of taxpayers and provincial governments — even as Canada remains infamous for providing inadequate access to care.  Ac... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621657 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:09:17 +0100 3621657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618072&cid=t_134263_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F31%2Fphysicians-per-1000-people-by-country%2F Rank Country Amount 1 San Marino 47.35 per 1,000 people 2 Cuba 5.91 per 1,000 people 3 Monaco 5.81 per 1,000 people 4 Saint Lucia 5.17 per 1,000 people 5 Belarus 4.55 per 1,000 people 6 Greece 4.4 per 1,000 people 7 Russia 4.25 per 1,000 people 8 Italy 4.2 per 1,000 people 9 Turkmenista 4.18 per 1,000 people 9 Georgia 4.09 per 1,000 people Misc. related information :: Rank Country Number 41 Ireland 2.8 per 1,000 peopl 52 United States 2.5 per 1,000 people For additional data from NationMaster.com (Source: Nicola Ziady) Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618072 Mon, 31 May 2010 21:21:13 +0100 3618072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3612059&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FS5t3q0lIN2A%2F More fallout from the European debt crisis. Novo Nordisk has yanked its diabetes product from Greece after the government instituted substantial price cuts of up to 25 percent on hundreds of medicines (see background), which the Danish drugmaker claims would force it to lose money on top of the $36 million it is already owned by the Greek government. More than 50,000 Greek diabetics use Novo Nordisk’s insulin product, which is injected with a fountain pen-like device and, not surprisingly, a patient association called the move a “brutal capitalist blackmail” and a “violation of corporate responsbility,” according to the BBC. UPDATE: The Leo Pharma is also suspending sales of a blood thinner and a psoriasis med, and says the price cuts will cause job losses ac... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3612059 Sun, 30 May 2010 13:38:29 +0100 3612059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564200&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbYkQzsG0o9s%2F Seeking to avoid a financial crisis (see this), Spain is cutting the prices of numerous drugs, including many that have already been patented for up to 10 years, in hopes of reducing what the public health system spends on prescription drugs by as much as 23 percent, Europa Press reports. The savings should amount to roughly 1.3 billion Euros, or about $1.6 billion, although . The effort, which does not extend to drug in the reference pricing system, takes effect on Aug. 1. Not surprisingly, FarmaIndustria, the industry trade group, criticized the move and warned it will cause thousands of job losses and less spending on research and development (see this and this). Meanwhile, the price paid by the government for generics has also been reduced by 25 percent. These “are difficult and ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564200 Fri, 14 May 2010 12:31:15 +0100 3564200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552225&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtM60BMEHS_c%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI’m semi-impressed with the Europeans for choosing the hog-wild approach to bailouts. Not because it is good policy, but rather because it will be a useful demonstration of the old rule that bad policy begets more bad policy (which begets God knows what, but it won’t be pretty). The background is that many European nations have been over-spending, over-taxing, and over-regulating. This has created a poisonous combination of weak economies, pervasive dependency, and political corruption, with Greece being the nation farthest down the path to Krugman-topia. Europe’s political elite at first thought they could paper over the problems with a $140 billion Greek bailout. The ostensible motives were to stop contagion and to demonstrate “solidarity,&#82... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552225 Mon, 10 May 2010 18:52:30 +0100 3552225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545432&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FCz41pOMcmuo%2F By Ian VasquezIn a telling editorial today, the Wall Street Journal extensively cites the World Bank’s Doing Business annual survey to explain an underlying cause of the Greek crisis. Burdensome regulations, high taxes, and a costly legal system make it extremely difficult to start and run a business in Greece. The country ranks last in terms of the ease of doing business among the 27 members of the European Union, and it ranks 109 out of 183 countries. The need for fundamental structural reform, including of public pension systems, there and in much of Europe will be the message of Simeon Djankov, Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and minister of finance, as he speaks at a Cato policy forum next Tuesday. Cato senior fellow Steve Hanke, “father” of Bulgaria’s successful currency ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545432 Fri, 07 May 2010 17:30:35 +0100 3545432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545433&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpeLgfLwB250%2F By Roger PilonToday Politico Arena asks: What are the implications for us of the crisis in Greece? My response: The questions posed to Arena contributors this morning, prompted by the unfolding Greek tragedy and its implications, are several, but they go well beyond economics. “Unwise lending and excessive borrowing” led to the tragedy, Steven Pearlstein notes in the Washington Post, but he adds that “there is little doubt that Greece’s debt crisis is of its own making, the result of corruption and tax avoidance and that seductive Mediterranean coupling of high living and low productivity.” More immediately, in the Wall Street Journal today we find that when it comes to “overall ease of doing business,” the World Bank ranks Greece 109 out of 18... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545433 Fri, 07 May 2010 16:27:03 +0100 3545433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538386&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FllPx_XfK0Cw%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. A busy day lies ahead and so, as you have come to expect, we are brewing the required cup of stimulation to jumpstart the process. Perhaps you wish to do the same. Meanwhile, we are scouring about for interesting items. Please let us know about anything fascinating you come across. Meanwhile, have a nice day… Cipla And Pfizer In Strategic Talks? (The Economic Times) Bayer Gets Rights To Female Sexual Dysfunction Drug (PharmaTimes) Nestle & Alcon Shareholders Reach Deal In Merger Suit (Read the Order) Wisconsin Town Sues Drugmaker Over Loan (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) Hepatitis C Resists Vertex Drug (Bloomberg News) FDA Sends Warning Letters To Roche & Shire (Reuters) Merck Adds Lab To NC Vaccine Facility (The News-Observer) Greek Pri... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538386 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:49:15 +0100 3538386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3534100&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FhD1IAuXq7Nc%2F The Greek government is cutting the prices on 1,551 medicines by up to 27 percent and the move may cause prices elsewhere in Europe to fall as parallel trading picks up. Meanwhile, the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies, which reps local and international drugmakers, says the cuts may cause shortages and is considering legal action. The cuts will “cause a dangerous domino effect on prices of medicines in several European countries, where Greece is a country of reference for the pricing of medicines,” the trade group says in a statement. Many European countries set maximum drug prices in relation to prices in other EU states, including Greece. After growing 64 percent in recent years, growth in the Greek pharma market is expected to drop to 1.5 percent this year an... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3534100 Wed, 05 May 2010 12:43:53 +0100 3534100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526729&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGl-Vi6sm0QU%2F This study also emphasizes that where people perceive the tax rate as too high, an increase in the (marginal) tax rate will lead to a decrease in tax revenue. It is worth noting the Schneider’s research also shows why Obama’s tax policy is very misguided. The President wants to boost the top tax rate by nearly five percentage points, and that’s on top of the big increase in the tax rate on saving and investment included in Obamacare. Based on Schneider’s research, we can expect America’s underground economy to expand. Shifting back to Greece, Schneider does not claim that tax rates are the only factor determining compliance. But his research indicates that more onerous enforcement regimes are unlikely to put much of a dent in tax evasion unless accompanied by ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526729 Mon, 03 May 2010 12:41:10 +0100 3526729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519446&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FWObKslpHUMs%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThere’s an old joke that if you owe a bank $10,000, you have a problem, but if you owe a bank $10,000,000, the bank has a problem. The Greek government certainly seems to have that attitude. Short-sighted and corrupt politicians in Athens have spent their nation into a fiscal ditch and they now want to mooch from both the IMF and other European nations (especially Germany). The German Prime Minister (if only for political reasons) is talking tough, saying that Greece should do more to reduce subsidies and handouts. Why should Germans work until age 67, after all, so Greeks can enjoy overpaid government jobs and retire at age 61? So what is the response from the Greeks? Amazingly, one of the politicians had the gall to say his nation “cannot accept” fu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519446 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:39:57 +0100 3519446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515334&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNStlES3-I08%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI arrived in Madrid yesterday for a speech to the annual Convention of Independent Financial Advisors, and it is somehow fitting that Spain was downgraded by Standard and Poor’s as I entered the country. I’m not a fan of the bond-rating agencies, and the fact that it has taken so long for Spain to be downgraded simply reinforces my skepticism about their value. So let’s focus instead on identifying the sources of Spain’s fiscal crisis. If you look at the OECD’s fiscal database, you will see that Spain’s short-run problem is solely the result of a growth in the burden of government spending. Over the past seven years, the budget in Spain has skyrocketed from 38.4 percent of GDP to 47.2 percent of GDP. And since tax revenues have staye... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515334 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:52:43 +0100 3515334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3456672&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fh7Fbh07HuKg%2F By Gerald P. O'DriscollOver at Think Markets, NYU’s Mario Rizzo asks how Obamacare might be repealed. He focuses on the fiscal brawl that will occur when the Medicare cuts must be implemented. Let’s take a look at another fiscal scenario. The Greek debt crisis is just the leading edge of a global debt crisis in developed countries. It is not Greece that matters to the rest of the European Union, but the precarious position of other highly indebted EU members: Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Spain. Fiscally sound Germany could bail out Greece, but not all the others. A Greek default (likely if not inevitable) will fracture the EU and the contagion surely would spread to the United States. The result will be what I call a Leninist moment. Lenin famously observed that a situation mu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3456672 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:03:52 +0100 3456672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416004&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fblisstree-photo-of-the-day-3%2F OK, today we’re cheating a little, but at least it’s for a good cause. All of the following photos from last Saturday’s Earth Hour were so cool, we couldn’t pick just one to feature. So here are eight for your viewing pleasure. Las Vegas, Before & After Earth Hour 2010 (Photo: WWF) Parthenon Temple at Acropolis in Greece, Before & After Earth Hour 2010 (Photo: boston.com) Mohammed Ali mosque at Cairo's Salahadeen Citadel, Before & After Earth Hour 2010 (Photo: boston.com) Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Before & After Earth Hour 2010 (Photo: WWF) Post from: BlissTree Blisstree Photo of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416004 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:34:56 +0100 3416004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408356&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTE1FZr8ft2I%2F By Daniel J. MitchellGreece is in trouble for a combination of reasons. Government spending is far too excessive, diverting resources from more efficient uses. The bureaucracy is too large and paid too much, resulting in a misallocation of labor. And tax rates are too high, further hindering the productive sector of the economy. Europe’s political class wants to bail out Greece’s profligate government. The official reason for a bailout, to protect the euro currency, makes no sense. After all, if Illinois or California default, that would not affect the strength (or lack thereof) of the dollar. To understand what is really happening in Europe, it is always wise to look at what politicians are doing and ignore what they are saying. Political union is the religion of Europe’... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408356 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:06:32 +0100 3408356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395091&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fplanning-trips-better-than-actually-traveling%2F Sometimes, when we feel like life sucks, we look at travel sites. Most of the time we just search for the best deals and compare prices between the far-flung places we want to visit. Then we log off, make ourselves a martini, and cry ourselves to sleep. For most of us, a trip to Hawaii or Greece or Rio isn’t on tap every other week, but we do have some vacation time saved up. And, according to a recent article on True/Slant, Dutch researchers have found that actually planning a getaway gives us the boost of happiness we need to return to our cubicles the next morning and start the daily drudgery all over again. Here’s to armchair travel! photo: Thinkstock Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395091 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:46:19 +0100 3395091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354297&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsCH1nt1xT6c%2F By Chris Moody Greece, here we come…. Congressional Budget Office estimates budget deficits will average nearly $1 trillion per year for the next decade. Matt Drudge re-titles a Cato op-ed: “Mob Tactics Used to Push Healthcare Through.” Daniel Griswold: “On trade, as on so much else, the populists have it wrong again. Free trade and globalization are great blessings to families across America.“ Could Dennis Kucinich bring both sides of the aisle  together to end the war in Afghanistan? Podcast: “Seventies Redux?” featuring John Samples, author of the forthcoming book The Struggle to Limit Government. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354297 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:44:14 +0100 3354297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331276&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPF4QysQiVgg%2F By Daniel J. MitchellFiscal crises have a predictable pattern. Step 1 occurs when the economy is prospering and tax revenues are growing faster than forecast. Step 2 is when politicians use the additional money to increase government spending. Step 3 is that politicians do not treat the extra tax revenue like a temporary windfall and budget accordingly.Instead, they adopt policies – more entitlements, more bureaucrats – that permanently expand the burden of the public sector. Step 4 occurs when the economy stumbles (in part because more resources are being diverted from the productive sector to the government) and tax revenues stagnate. If the resulting fiscal gap is large enough, as it is in places such as Greece and California, a crisis atmosphere is created. Step 5 takes pla... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331276 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:53:29 +0100 3331276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280160&cid=t_134263_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F02%2F17%2Fgoldman-sachs-at-your-service%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on AOL’s Politics Daily. Goldman Sachs At Your Service. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: bank, chaos theory, euro, goldman sachs, greece, political cartoon, wall street (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280160 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:10:10 +0100 3280160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275778&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Foq1-jL2HBfo%2F By David BoazIn the New York Times today, Paul Krugman discusses the Euro and the problem of Greece. He hastens to note that the problem is not debts, deficits, and government profligacy, which it sure might seem like to the untrained eye. But he fingers a different and deeper problem: No, the real story behind the euromess lies not in the profligacy of politicians but in the arrogance of elites — specifically, the policy elites who pushed Europe into adopting a single currency well before the continent was ready for such an experiment…. It’s an ugly picture. But it’s important to understand the nature of Europe’s fatal flaw. Yes, some governments were irresponsible; but the fundamental problem was hubris, the arrogant belief that Europe could make a single currency work desp... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275778 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:27:54 +0100 3275778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262593&cid=t_134263_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fv5LsjOzPuDs%2F By Daniel J. MitchellThe fiscal crisis in Greece is fascinating political theater, in part because the Balkan nation is a leading indicator for what will probably happen in many other countries. The most puzzling feature of the crisis is the assumption in other European capitals, discussed in the BBC article below, that a Greek default is the worst possible result. It certainly would not be good news, especially for investors who thought it was safe to lend money to the government, but there are several reasons why the long-term pain resulting from a bailout would be even worse. Bailing out Greece will reward over-spending politicians and make future fiscal crises more likely. In a four-year period between 2005 and 2009, Greek politicians expanded the burden of government spending from an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262593 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:19:28 +0100 3262593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3055293&cid=t_134263_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F12%2F03%2Fgreece%2F Photo: Yannis Kolesidis Lesvos, greece – October 2009 Undocumented migrants are living in an abandoned building in the island of Lesvos. In the last few years, an increasing number of undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees arrive in Greece. They often flee from unstable regions, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Palestine and when they arrive in Greece are faced with extremely precarious conditions. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3055293 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:33:52 +0100 3055293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160941&cid=t_134263_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F531109481%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area. Brain games, brain teaser puzzles, France, frontal lobes, Greece, improve memory, logic puzzle, logical skills, memory, mind teasers, proverbs, South Africa, temporal lobes, usa (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160941 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:08:18 +0100 2160941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790349&cid=t_134263_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FSogY8kT65-k%2F On Saturday night, we took Charlie to see a student variety show at the college where I teach. I’ve taken Charlie to these shows before. We sit in the back—the auditorium’s not very large so every seat is good—and it’s a very relaxed and homey atmosphere. A lot of my students were in the production and they had given me an idea of some of the program: A couple of songs from Disney movies and Broadway musicals, and some improv acts. The show was almost an hour and a half, with an intermission, and Charlie sat through it all. We got there just as it was starting. A couple of students were clustered at the back and then the opening lines of “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King rang out. The students (or rather, animals) trooped in, with us behind, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790349 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:06:44 +0100 1790349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1340918&cid=t_134263_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F261965340%2F Glaxo violated European Union antitrust laws when it refused to fill orders placed by Greek wholesalers for several meds, according to an adviser to the EU’s highest court. Greek drugmakers had sued Glaxo as part of an eight-year long dispute over its refusal to supply them with three drugs in Greece and limit the stock they could export to higher-priced countries, Bloomberg News reports. Drugmakers have been fighting parallel importation in which wholesalers buy meds at state-regulated prices in countries such as Greece then sell them in more expensive markets, such as the UK, and pocket the difference. The case is expected to clarify the rights of drugmakers, which claim the practice costs them more than $6 billion in lost sales each year, to control supply to parallel traders, ac... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1340918 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:40:15 +0100 1340918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=874955&cid=t_134263_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F157096069%2F Mindful of what I’ll call the side effects of transitions on Charlie, I was careful that Saturday was well-stocked with familiar activities with definite endings, and in which Charlie was an active player. We went grocery shopping and Charlie carried his share of bags (including the one with the watermelon). He eyed the racks of Entenman’s and Tastycakes and pulled out the bag with gluten-free brownie mix soon as we got home; he stirred the batter and licked both bowl and spoon. There was an old blue chair—a small Ikea armchair—that I had put in my office and have now determined that we need in our new place, so we drove into Jersey City. Charlie really wanted just to stay in the car but I didn’t think that the best idea and, while smileless, he held the door... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=874955 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:56:35 +0100 874955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=755674&cid=t_134263_107_f&fid=35762&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgrrlscientist%2F%7E3%2F136946345%2Fmastodon_found_in_greece.php tags: mastodon fossils, Greece AMNH 9951, skeleton of the American mastodont, Mammut americanum, Newburgh, NY. Image: AMNH (American Museum of Natural History, NYC, NY) [larger] In an astonishing discovery, a three million year old "fossilized zoo" was discovered by Greek geologists yesterday in the northern Milia region near the town of Grevena. This "zoo" contains the fossilized remains of prehistoric rhinos, mastodons, gazelles and carnivorous mammals. The discovery included a pair of tusks from a mastodon (pictured left. Image: Evangelia Tsoukala), an ancient species of elephant that lived three million years ago, before modern elephants appeared. The tusks, which weigh one ton each and are mostly intact, are 5 meters (16.5 feet) and 4 meters (14 feet) long, and are thoug... Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=755674 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:18:44 +0100 755674