yet another example that bush & dick aren't always the "right" combination
ill or sick? prescription drugs evil truth
1.30.2006
there are many of us today that rely on medication, for one reason or another, with the hope of "feeling a little better" or "living a little longer". after you read this, count on feeling worse...Let's hear it for Costco!! (This is just mind-boggling!) Make sure you read all the way past the list of the drugs. The woman that signed below is a Budget Analyst out of federal Washington, DC offices.
Did you ever wonder how much it costs a drug company for the active ingredient in prescription medications? Some people think it must cost a lot, since many drugs sell for more than $2.00 per tablet. We did a search of offshore chemical synthesizers that supply the active ingredients found in drugs approved by the FDA. As we have revealed in past issues of Life Extension, a significant percentage of drugs sold in the United States contain active ingredients made in other countries. In our independent investigation of how much profit drug companies really make,
we obtained the actual price of active ingredients used in some of the most popular drugs sold in America.
The data below speaks for itself.
Celebrex: 100 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $130.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.60
Percent markup: 21,712%
Claritin: 10 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215.17
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.71
Percent markup: 30,306%
Keflex: 250 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $157.39
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.88
Percent markup: 8,372%
Lipitor: 20 mg
Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272.37
Cost of general active ingredients: $5.80
Percent markup: 4,696%
Norvasc: 10 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $188.29
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.14
Percent markup: 134,493%
Paxil: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $220.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60
Percent markup: 2,898%
Prevacid: 30 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $44.77
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.01
Percent markup: 34,136%
Prilosec : 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $360.97
Cost of general active ingredients $0.52
Percent markup: 69,417%
Prozac: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $247.47
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.11
Percent markup: 224,973%
Tenormin: 50 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $104.47
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.13
Percent markup: 80,362%
Vasotec: 10 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $102.37
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.20
Percent markup: 51,185%
Xanax: 1 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) : $136.79
Cost of general active ingredients: $0.024
Percent markup: 569,958%
Zestril: 20 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets) $89.89
Cost of general active ingredients $3.20
Percent markup: 2,809
Zithromax: 600 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $1,482.19
Cost of general active ingredients: $18.78
Percent markup: 7,892%
Zocor: 40 mg
Consumer price (100 tablets): $350.27
Cost of general active ingredients: $8.63
Percent markup: 4,059%
Zoloft: 50 mg
Consumer price: $206.87
Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75
Percent markup: 11,821%
Since the cost of prescription drugs is so outrageous, I thought everyone should know about this. Please read the following and pass it on. It pays to shop around. This helps to solve the mystery as to why they can afford to put a Walgreen's on every corner. On Monday night, Steve Wilson, an investigative reporter for Channel 7 News in Detroit, did a story on generic drug price gouging by pharmacies. He found in his investigation, that some of these generic drugs were marked up as much as 3,000% or more. Yes, that's not a typo.....three thousand percent! So often, we blame the drug companies for the high cost of drugs, and usually rightfully so. But in this case, the fault clearly
lies with the pharmacies themselves. For example, if you had to buy a prescription drug, and bought the name brand, you might pay $100 for 100 pills. The pharmacist might tell you that if you get the generic equivalent, they would only cost $80, making you think you are "saving" $20. What the pharmacist is not telling you is that those 100 generic pills may have only cost him $10!
At the end of the report, one of the anchors asked Mr. Wilson whether or not there were any pharmacies that did not adhere to this practice, and he said that Costco consistently charged little over their cost for the generic drugs.
I went to the Costco site, where you can look up any drug, and get its online price. It says that the in-store prices are consistent with the online prices. I was appalled. Just to give you one example from my own experience, I had to use the drug, Compazine, which helps prevent nausea in chemo patients.
I used the generic equivalent, which cost $54.99 for
60 pills at CVS. I checked the price at Costco, and I could
have bought 100 pills for $19.89. For 145 of my pain pills, I paid $72.57. I could have got 150 at Costco for $28.08.
I would like to mention, that although Costco is a "membership" type store, you do NOT have to be a member to buy prescriptions there, as it is a federally regulated substance. You just tell them at the door that you wish to use the pharmacy, and they will let you in. (this is true)
I went there this past Thursday and asked them. I am asking each of you to please help me by copying this letter, and passing it into your own e-mail, and send it to everyone you know with an e-mail address.
Sharon L. Davis
Budget Analyst
U.S . Department of Commerce
Room 6839
Office Ph: 202-482-4458Office Fax: 202-482-5480
E-mail Address: sdavis@doc.gov
additional resources (thanks to my friend ken)
http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/generic.asp
http://tinyurl.com/4y97f
http://web.wxyz.com/extras/040205-drugchart.html
http://www1.wxyz.com/cr/cda/player/1,1272,WXYZ_34820_240_180,00.html real player req.
remarkable remake
1.28.2006
there are star ships and then there are battlestar's. there are leaders who sit in a chair and those who stand by their crew. commander adama's character returns once again to protect the fleet and leed them through space, in search of a new home we call earth. the galactica was the last remaining battlestar after the cylon invasion. she was designed to protect what remained of the colony's and the survivors of tragedy on planet coball. in the early series, which i watched faithfully, there were always day to day battles with the cylons. from time we got a few glimpses into the private lives of the characters. the show then presented itself as a space age sci-fi and always focused on the "futuristic" element first.the new series is very much like that also but the creators are very committed to keeping the show believable and emotional inviting. you can't help but feel anger, happiness and pain (it's that well written) as you find yourself becoming involved with the crew. things like cancer, networking, alcoholism and team work are an every episode thing. the show also offers a few alternative ideas like
man-toaster love or a female president. vote Hillary! many of the original characters have resurfaced in the new sci-fi original series along with a few new ones. sorry boys, this time around starbuck is a girl! and for lusty blokes, there is plenty of eye candy and poster boys. i've just finished watching both season 1 & 2 (20+ episodes) and i'm still hungry for more. season 1's cliff hanger was great but season 2's will blow you out of the water! the episode is truly shocking when you consider it's on tv. find the time to see this series; tv just got a big kick in the ass. expect more-the new galactica delivers. check out this site for more info
another e destination
if your looking for just about anything, chances are very good the "e highway" will take you there. on one of my recent afternoon journeys, i stumbled on an updated site called live plasma. the site is a database as well as a bloodhound if your searching for movies or music. the site also generates several suggested titles or groups that may also be of personal interest. i spent a little over an hour popping in some of my favorites just to see what "other" things might come back. many of the "generated" suggestions were right on; it was almost as if they snuck into my flat and took a-look around! i also found a few un-know's that i plan on researching. oh and the visual "while you wait" stuff is pretty cool.
on the road again
1.27.2006
safe to say most highway drivers despise tractor trailers. yes, some drive recklessly and cause a lot of unnecessary stress for the average auto driver. keep in mind that they aren't all bad. consider that they are on a very time sensitive delivery schedule, travel many miles without the proper rest, spend most of there days inside a cab instead of there home, are away from there friends and family's for long periods of time and without the driver and the rig many of the products we use every day would not be available to us. thanks to a recent email from "pops" here are a few rigs well worth a second look...yes, that's art!
Work and Multiple Sclerosis
as many of you already know, i have multiple sclerosis. since my diagnosis back in april 2003, i to have had to learn to deal with this unpreditable diasease. i have always felt talking about it openly was best. this disease, for the most part, effects you in many ways that the average person cannot see. the body aches, the fatigue, the pain, the partial memorey loss, the pins and needles, the jekyl & hyde bladder, monkey brain and the over-all "crappy feeling" arent always "visable". i often discribe it to others that it's like having the flu without the fever. i have also learned the importance of sharing your feelings and experiences with others; it is so important. here is an article that i read that i thought was very positive...
| Experts describe strategies that help multiple sclerosis patients cope with symptoms of the disease. | |
| | |
How to handle workplace issues when you have multiple sclerosis. | |
Soon after being diagnosed in January 2002, her physical status plummeted quickly. The former fitness buff who regularly skied and jogged describes the overwhelming MS-induced fatigue that plagued her almost daily. "Sometimes my eyes hurt too much to watch TV," Levy tells WebMD.
During that period, she traded her running shoes for a cane, broke off a relationship with someone she had once considered marrying, and relinquished a long-sought full-time position as director of a new charter school, taking up part-time work instead. Then, just as quickly as the symptoms struck, they abated. "I had tried all the drugs on the market for MS. As a last resort, I even did chemotherapy." She found relief through an experimental drug (not yet approved by the FDA for MS).
Now, for the second time in three years, she's had to evaluate her future. "I still dream about going for a jog. But now I can walk home from a movie 20 blocks, instead of taking a cab," Levy says. She is back to work full time, sometimes pulling 12-hour days. And she's re-established a relationship with her old boyfriend. Through the ups and downs of the disease, people with MS must go on with their lives. Very often, that means making long-range decisions about how to live, from employment to recreation -- and being open to re-evaluating them as needed. In addition to these "big picture" decisions, practicing seemingly small lifestyle strategies can make the disease more manageable.
Working With MS
Like many others with MS, Levy was forced to make decisions about her professional life. Among the questions she faced: Do I tell my employer and, if so, when? Can I continue working? What accommodations will I need? New laws, ever-increasing resources, and improved attitudes are making these decisions easier. Currently, 43% of adults who have had MS for 12 years retain employment, according to an ongoing nationwide study sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). But some experts believe that percentage could be higher. "Employers may have preconceived ideas about what a person with disabilities can do. It takes time to change attitudinal barriers. There's still work to be done," says Steve Nissen, director of employment programs at the NMSS.
That's why, for now, it's generally up to the employee with MS to initiate any discussions involving disclosure or accommodation requests in the workplace. Nissen considers disclosure -- the whens, whos, and hows of it -- one of the most difficult aspects of working with MS, or any disability. Before disclosing, Nissen suggests the following: "Ask yourself: 'What's going on to make you think it's time to disclose? Are you having new or different symptoms that's posing a challenge at work? Are you having trouble meeting deadlines, or missing time?'"
How to Tell Your Boss
Often, disclosure accompanies a request for special workplace accommodations. The approach can sway the outcome, Nissen notes. "It's more than saying 'This is what I need from you.' It's 'Here's how I can be more productive, effective, and reliable,'" Nissen tells WebMD.In the best-case scenario, such discussions with an employer begin as open, two-way dialogues. "It really needs to be an interactive process. You can't just go in there, make your demands, and walk out," Nissen says.
"When it comes to accommodations, there are so many different possibilities based on symptoms and job duties," Nissen tells WebMD. An accommodation may mean an altered work schedule with shortened hours or telecommuting on an as-needed basis when fatigue becomes overwhelming. It may mean adaptive equipment that allows an employee to talk into a computer rather than tap on a keyboard. It might mean keeping one room at a lower temperature than the rest of the office, if heat sensitivity is an issue. "These types of accommodations seem basic but they can really make a difference," Nissen says. Some cost more than others. To find out what's available, Nissen recommends that employees start researching locally, beginning with an area NMSS chapter and incorporating other resources such as one's state office of vocational rehabilitation.
Alternatives to Work
Choosing not to work full time anymore doesn't have to mean an end to productivity. "There are still ways to contribute as an active member of society," Nissen notes. Levy serves as a prime example. Having cut back to part-time work while battling daily pain and fatigue, she continued to find meaning through volunteer work. "I stayed positive," says Levy who, almost immediately after being diagnosed, got involved in fundraising for the disease. "That's where I found my support group -- among other fundraisers," Levy tells WebMD.
Attitude Matters
Clearly, how people with MS cope makes a difference in their day-to-day existence. "Those who have the hardest time are those who see it as a war to win. That's a setup for feelings of failure, guilt, and inadequacy when and if they can't beat it," says clinical psychologist Rosalind Kalb, PhD, director of the NMMS Professional Resource Center. "Those most successful are those who say 'I can't win the war, but let's look at which aspects I can conquer,'" Kalb tells WebMD. To this end, Kalb urges patients to break the disease down into individual challenges, whether fatigue or spasticity. "This way, they feel like they're managing the disease rather than vice versa," she says. Lifestyle choices can also make an impact on one's ability to manage MS.
Impact of Exercise
Exercise is one such choice. "Many years ago they used to say 'Don't exercise, it will make you too tired.' Now, we're encouraging patients to stay as active as possible," says Sheila Schaffer, a physical therapist at Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Baltimore. New research results promote physical activity. One study found that exercise improved fitness and function in people with mild MS and helped maintain function for those with moderate or severe MS. Investigators found aerobic exercise that incorporated balance training to be the most effective type. In yet another study, an eight-week progressive resistance-training program improved walking and overall functional ability in people with moderate MS.
Diet
Researchers have begun to evaluate the role of diet and certain antioxidants in relation to MS. "There's a need for a well-balanced diet. I also recommend that patients take a multivitamin," says Walter Royal III, MD, associate professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Other experts stress the importance of a fiber-rich diet. Royal and other researchers are exploring the potential role of vitamins D and A in the clinical course of the disease. For now, he does not recommend specific supplementation. "It can be quite hazardous to take excessive amounts of either vitamin," Royal tells WebMD.
Alleviating Stress
For anyone with MS who needs a good reason to relax, here's one. Studies have linked stress to worsening MS symptoms. In one study, investigators recorded subjects' stressful life events unrelated to MS, like financial problems or death of a loved one. Stress caused by these events doubled the risk of an MS exacerbation. Relaxation techniques have worked for Levy. Besides taking her medicine regularly, Levy claims that meditation has made the biggest difference in her life. "My meditation helps the most. It keeps me focused on the present and allows me to stay centered," Levy tells WebMD.
"That said, you can't stop thinking about the future altogether," she adds.
Published Jan. 23, 2006.
SOURCES: Steve Nissen, director of employment programs, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Rosalind Kalb, PhD, clinical psychologist; director, Professional Resource Center, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Sheila Schaffer, physical therapist, Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital, Baltimore. Walter Royal III, MD, associate professor of neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine. Brown T.R. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, May 2005; vol 16: pp 513-55. Gutierrez, G.M. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, September 2005; vol 86: pp 1824-1829. Buljevac, D. British Medical Journal, Sept. 20, 2003; vol 327: pp 646-649.
original article from http://www.webmd.com
nominees for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
1.06.2006
Screen Actors Guild will honor its own at the 12th Annual SAG Awards™ ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center, simulcast live nationally on Turner Network Television (TNT) and TBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. MT.THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Russell Crowe / CINDERELLA MAN – Jim Braddock (Universal Pictures)
Philip Seymour Hoffman / CAPOTE – Truman Capote (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Heath Ledger / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Ennis Del Mar (Focus Features)
Joaquin Phoenix / WALK THE LINE – John R. Cash (20th Century Fox)
David Strathairn / GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. – Edward R. Murrow (Warner Independent Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Judi Dench / MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS – Mrs. Laura Henderson (The Weinstein Company)
Felicity Huffman / TRANSAMERICA – Bree (The Weinstein Company)
Charlize Theron / NORTH COUNTRY – Josey Aimes (Warner Bros.)
Reese Witherspoon / WALK THE LINE – June Carter (20th Century Fox)
Ziyi Zhang / MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA – Sayuri (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Don Cheadle / CRASH – Graham (Lions Gate Films)
George Clooney / SYRIANA – Bob Barnes (Warner Bros.)
Matt Dillon / CRASH – Officer Ryan (Lions Gate Films)
Paul Giamatti / CINDERELLA MAN – Joe Gould (Universal Pictures)
Jake Gyllenhaal / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Jack Twist (Focus Features)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams / JUNEBUG – Ashley (Sony Pictures Classics)
Catherine Keener/ CAPOTE – Nelle Harper Lee (UA/Sony Pictures Classics)
Frances McDormand / NORTH COUNTRY – Glory (Warner Bros.)
Rachel Weisz / THE CONSTANT GARDENER – Tessa Quayle (Focus Features)
Michelle Williams / BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN – Alma (Focus Features)
i think the choices are the best of the best!
more here...
our dear friend john...
1.05.2006
JFK assassination 'was Cuba plot' A new documentary exploring the death of John F Kennedy claims his assassin was directed and paid by Cuba.
Rendezvous with Death, based on new evidence from Cuban, Russian and US sources, took three years to research. One source, ex-Cuban agent Oscar Marino, said Havana had exploited Lee Harvey Oswald, who was arrested but shot dead before he could be tried.
Conspiracy theories on the killing have variously accused Cuba, Russia and the US of acting alone or jointly. According to Oscar Marino, the Cubans wanted Kennedy dead because he opposed the revolution and allegedly sought to have its leader Fidel Castro killed. Mr Marino told film director Wilfried Huismann that he knew for certain the assassination was an operation run by the Cuban secret service G2, but he declined to say whether it had been ordered by Mr Castro.
| | I realised that I was used, I felt ashamed - we missed a moment in history. Laurence Keenan Former FBI agent |
Cuban intelligence made contact with Oswald after being alerted by the Russian KGB in 1962 when he returned to the US after living in the Soviet Union for three years, Cuban and Russian sources say.
"He [Oswald] was so full of hate, he had the idea. We used him," Mr Marino said. A possible Cuban connection was investigated by the US immediately after Kennedy's death. But an FBI officer sent to follow the Oswald's trail during a visit to Mexico was recalled after only three days and the investigation called off.
Laurence Keenan, now 81, said it was "perhaps the worst investigation the FBI was ever involved in".
"I realised that I was used. I felt ashamed. We missed a moment in history," Mr Keenan said. Veteran US official Alexander Haig told the filmmaker that Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B Johnson, believed Cuba was to blame and feared a pronounced swing to the right if the truth were known that would keep the Democrats out of power for a long time. Mr Haig - a US military adviser at the time and later a secretary of state - told the filmmakers Johnson said: "We must simply not allow the American people to believe Fidel Castro could have killed our president." "He [Johnson] was convinced Castro killed Kennedy and he took it to his grave."
Communist sharpshooter
John F Kennedy, the 35th US president, was assassinated as his motorcade drove through Dallas in November 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald, an ex-marine sharpshooter who worked in a book warehouse overlooking the assassination, was arrested but killed shortly afterwards. He had a Russian wife, called himself a Communist and agitated on behalf of Castro's Cuba.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
