"Cholesterol. It Can Come from Bowtie Pasta, But Also From Your Grandfather Bo"

May 08, 2008 2:05 PM

The tv screen shows a plate of yummy pasta then splits to show the pasta and a picture of an elderly man with a bow tie.  The announcer says, "cholesterol.  It can come from bowtie pasta, but also from Grandfather Bo.  Then you see a creamy banana pie on the screen and soon that splits to show a woman next to it.  The announcer goes on, "from that pie, creamy banana, and your mom Juliana."  Then the cute images fade and you see full screen the word, VYTORIN.  The ad goes on to claim that VYTORIN treats BOTH sources of Cholesterol.

That "DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER" ad campaign, which is no longer airing, was called "FOOD AND FAMILY" and according to a congressional memo it was very successful.  "VYTORIN RACKED UP $5 BILLION A YEAR IN SALES PRIOR TO 2008."  The ad campaign was also not completely truthful. Congressional staffers say a SIGNIFICANT STUDY showing VYTORIN's LACK of EFFECTIVENESS was delayed for two years, and the FDA determined that the ads violated policy by NOT including a disclaimer related to the drug's effectiveness.

And there is another problem with these ads.  Ruth S. Day from Duke University, who researches how people understand, remember, and use information, has done  a study that shows 80% of those who saw the drug ads remembered the BENEFITS, while only 20% could identify the SIDE EFFECTS.  This morning she will tell a house subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Stupak, that the drug risk information is frequently provided in "unfavorable locations, using a FASTER speech rate, during visual and auditory distractions."

The Drug companies spend a lot more money pitching their drugs than they do researching new ones and according to hill staffers the return on their dollar is significant.  Every $1 spent on DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER advertising results in $6 IN INCREASED SALES

May 8, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

The NCAA Hands Out Report Cards Today

May 06, 2008 7:24 AM

Eric Prisbell of the WASHINGTON POST reports that NCAA officials will reveal today the latest ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATE (APR) SCORES for DIVISION 1 COLLEGE SPORTS PROGRAMS and could announce SANCTIONS for schools that FAIL TO MEET ACADEMIC STANDARDS.  According to the article, teams that score below 925 points and have a player fail academically and leave school could LOSE UP TO 10% OF THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS.  If the low scores continue, schools could lose practice time and might even face a bowl ban.   

But is it little more than a sham?

The Post article says schools can avoid penalties "IF THEY SUBMIT AN ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT IS APPROVED BY THE NCAA."  The paper says the OHIO STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM is expected to escape punishment even though it will most likely have an APR below 925 AND have a PLAYER (GREG ODEN)  who left school midway through the spring semester to "prepare for the NBA DRAFT in which he was the NO 1 pick."  John Bruno, Ohio State's faculty athletic rep. told the WP that the NCAA has already approved its plan to increase the number of tutors and assign an academic support person to travel with the men's basketball team."

May 6, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

'A Slap at Schoolchildren'

May 06, 2008 7:24 AM

"How can the world's HUNGRIEST SCHOOLCHILDREN BE DENIED MEALS while the FARM BILL being debated in a house-senate conference PROVIDES MILLIONS IN SUBSIDIES FOR WEALTHY FARMERS?"  That's what Democrat George McGovern and Republican Bob Dole ask in a stinging editorial in this morning's WASHINGTON POST.

What the two former senators are talking about is a plan hatched among a few senators and house members of both parties that GUTS funding for a program, that bears their name, from $840 MILLION over 5 YEARS to just $60 MILLION THIS YEAR with NO GUARANTEE OF FURTHER FUNDING.  McGovern and Dole point out that $840 MILLION is LESS THAN 1% of the total cost of the Farm bill.  They remind readers that for "JUST A FEW CENTS A DAY PER CHILD" a critical difference can be made in the lives of starving children.  "By providing meals to children who attend school in the POOREST COUNTRIES, the program increases attendance rates and student productivity and gives hope to a new generation..."

But apparently Congress hasn't seen enough pictures of children with extended bellies and emaciated faces covered with flies.

May 6, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Killer Showers in Iraq

May 05, 2008 7:50 AM

According to NEW YORK TIMES reporter James Risen, the Army issued an urgent bulletin back in 2004 with the headline "THE UNEXPECTED KILLER."  The warning was not about roadside bombs or sniper fire.  It was about deadly water, water electrified in showers and swimming pools by poorly grounded wires that were short-circuiting.

That warning back in 2004 did not protect Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth when he stepped into a shower this PAST JANUARY and was electrocuted.  His mother told the paper that the Army first BLAMED HER SON, saying he had TAKEN AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE INTO THE SHOWER WITH HIM.  Then according to the article the Army said they had found two electrical wires hanging down by the shower.  Maseth's mother kept on questioning the Army until they admitted it was a poorly grounded water pump that had short-circuited turning his shower into an 'unexpected killer."      

Risen says American electricians working for KBR, which was in charge of maintaining bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, "REPEATEDLY WARNED COMPANY MANAGERS and MILITARY OFFICIALS about UNSAFE ELECTRICAL WORK which was often performed by poorly trained Iraqis and Afghans paid just a few dollars a day."  According to the article KBR mostly ignored the warnings.  KBR did tell the NYT that "its commitment to employee safety and the safety of those the company serves is unwavering."

Congress is now investigating and so is the DOD I.G.  Too little, too late for Green Beret Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth.

May 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

What Does Cheney Have Against the North Atlantic Right Whale?

April 30, 2008 11:17 AM

There are only about 300 of them alive today.  They are being killed off by collisions with ships and "fishing gear interactions."  The National Marine Fisheries Service says, "no mortality or serious injury for this whale can be considered insignificant" and adds the death of even a single whale, particularly of a breeding female, "MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXTINCTION OF THE SPECIES."

FOUR YEARS ago the NMFS started a rulemaking process to protect the North Atlantic right whale from collisions with ships.  They came up with a plan to place SPEED LIMITS on all commercial shipping near American ports.  They submitted their plan to an office in OMB at the end of FEBRUARY 2007 for a review that was supposed to take 90 DAYS.  Now over a year later the review has not been completed and documents point to white house officials and the office of the Vice President as being a major reason why.  Cheney's office is questioning everything including whether reducing the speed of large ships will help save the whales.

Since NMFS started its rulemaking processing 7 more North Atlantic right whales have been KILLED by "vessel strikes" and 5 have been injured.

Rep. Henry Waxman has put all of this and much more in a letter.

April 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Over Budget, Behind Schedule and Delivering Less Than Promised

April 29, 2008 11:22 AM

That's the conclusion of a GAO report that took a look at some of the most important and costly defense department acquisition projects.  Staffers working for Rep. Henry Waxman's Oversight and Government Reform Committee looked at just one project, the MARINE CORPS EFV amphibious tank.  They reviewed 55,000 pages of documents.  This what they found.

The Marine Corps EFV amphibious tank is supposed to carry up to "18 COMBAT-READY MARINES at high speeds on both land and sea, have advanced communications capabilities, provide increased armored protection against rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices, and deliver lethal firepower up to 2,000 meters."

But during crucial tests in November of 2006, the EFV could operate only 4.5 hours BETWEEN BREAKDOWNS, completed only TWO of ELEVEN amphibious tests, only ONE of TEN gunnery tests and because it was SO HEAVY, armor had to be removed from it and marines had to leave some of their equipment behind in order to make the vehicle work at high speeds in water.   The Waxman report says that during the 2006 tests, the EFV's weapons system failed "with the AMMUNITION FEED JAMMING and crews "UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ARMORED VEHICLE TARGETS."

Following the tests, the Defense Department gave EFV contractor GENERAL DYNAMICS another $143 MILLION for a redesign and told the committee just this month that taxpayers would have to spend another $700 MILLION to $800 MILLION to do another "system development and demonstration" test.

In 2000, DOD estimated that it would be able to buy 1,025 EFVs at a total cost of $8.4 BILLION.  Now the pentagon says it will buy only 593 vehicles at a cost of $13.2 BILLION.

April 29, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"2 to 6 CENTS TICK OFF" BEFORE THE GAS PUMPS

April 28, 2008 7:15 AM

According to the ASSOCIATED PRESS, Bob Wolfram, a 54 year old engineer, paid for two more gallons of gasoline than his tank holds.  A test done later on that pump in Davenport Iowa showed it wasn't quite that bad, but Wolfram was the victim of an apparently common occurrence, a worn out gasoline pump "CHECK VALVE."  According to the article the "check valve" is supposed to "make sure the GAS FLOWS AT THE SAME TIME THE PRICE METER STARTS."  But worn out valves, or ones that work sporadically, are hard to catch because there aren't enough inspectors able to spend enough time at each station to make sure the pumps are working correctly.   

And even when the inspectors do there jobs, the AP says "TESTS BY LOCAL REGULATORS ALLOW A PUMP TO CHARGE AS MUCH AS 6 CENTS MORE THAN THE GAS DELIVERED IN A FIVE-GALLON TEST..."   

C. Todd Godlewski, the director of a New York county bureau of weights and measures told the AP, "EVEN ONE PENNY on the amount of petroleum pumped annually or weekly at a station would be SEVERAL THOUSAND GALLONS OF FUEL and add that up.  If you have a meter that is costing a customer, IT ADDS UP QUITE A BIT."  He goes on to say that he's found "PUMPS OFF BY AS MUCH AS 3 TIMES THE 6 CENT THRESHOLD."  His county will be tracking pump problems this year in an effort to learn just how bad they are.

April 28, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

'Today It Costs Approximately $1,200 to Refuel a Truck'

April 24, 2008 10:09 AM

Talk about filling up your car! How would you like to have a big rig to fill up every morning? According to Dave Berry, the Vice President of Swift Transportation, the average national price of DIESEL FUEL is now $4.14 PER GALLON, nearly double what it was in 2004. Berry says, based on current Department of Energy predictions, "the trucking industry will be forced to spend an INCREDIBLE $141.5 BILLION on fuel this year which is $29 BILLION more than in 2007, and MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT SPENT 4 YEARS AGO. TODAY IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1,200 TO REFUEL A TRUCK."

Berry, who will testify before Rep. Markey's select energy committee this morning, says the American Trucking Association has asked the federal government to temporarily STOP FILLING the strategic petroleum reserve and consider releasing some of the oil it holds to help address the current fuel crisis. He says the reserve has just over 700 MILLION barrels of crude oil, which is "EQUIVALENT TO A 58 DAY SUPPLY OF IMPORTED OIL FOR OUR NATION, or a 9 DAY SUPPLY OF OIL CONSUMED GLOBALLY." Berry adds releasing some reserves would temporarily increase crude supplies and also "HOPEFULLY HELP RESTORE RATIONAL BEHAVIOR TO THE PETROLEUM MARKETS."

April 24, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

To Get Hillary and Barack Back, the Senate Will Not Start Its Day Till 5pm

April 23, 2008 10:15 AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.  He has scheduled a cloture vote so the senate can move to a bill that democrats badly want.  It corrects what they call blatant pay discrimination against women.  To move to the bill, Reid needs 60 votes.  To have any chance of getting 60 votes, Reid also needs Hillary and Barack.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell doesn't like the bill.  He says it will saddle small and big businesses with tons of law suits.  According to CQ TODAY Senate rules say the procedural vote to go to the pay discrimination bill has to take place AN HOUR AFTER the senate convenes.  Reid tried to get the Republicans to waive that rule so the senate could come in this morning and continue working on a veterans' bill.  The republicans objected.

So to get Hillary and Barack back by 6pm, the senate will come in at 5pm and do no business on the floor before then.   

April 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Shot Five Times By Her Husband Then Denied Social Security Benefits

April 22, 2008 8:51 AM

She lived in Key West, Florida.  One day her husband shot her 5 times in the liver and abdomen and then killed himself.  In AUGUST 2004 she applied for social security disability benefits.  Her disabilities were caused by the 5 wounds and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  After a delay, her claim was denied.  In APRIL 2006, she requested a hearing.  It took nearly two years, but in EARLY MARCH of 2008, she got her hearing.  In LATE MARCH of 2008 SHE DIED.  AFTER her death social security ruled in her favor.

He lived in Charlotte, North Carolina and worked for 15 years as a pipe insulator.  He usually also worked a second job.  At age 52 he was suffering from congestive heart failure, chronic atrial fibrillation, pneumonia, obesity and peripheral artery disease.  He applied for social security disability benefits in MARCH of 2006.  He was denied.  In NOVEMBER of 2006 he requested a hearing.  He DIED on AUGUST 21, 2007.  FOUR MONTHS LATER, on DECEMBER 27, 2007, social security RULED IN HIS FAVOR WITHOUT A HEARING.

Tomorrow, a group called the consortium for citizens with disabilities will testify before a house ways and means committee.  They have a lot of stories to tell.

According to committee staffers, currently more than 1.3 MILLION Americans are waiting for a decision on their application for disability benefits.  For those who APPEAL the wait for a decision can be as long as TWO to FOUR YEARS.

Severely under funded and understaffed, the Social Security Disability program has not been a priority for the President or most members of Congress. 

April 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)