Month: August 2010

Advertising drugs on the air waves? Yes, but only in the United States and New Zealand.

August 21, 2010

I’ve never been to New Zealand but if I were to visit one thing would make me feel at home.  I’d be exposed to television ads promoting prescription drugs. Among the developed countries only the United States and New Zealand allow direct to consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs.  Could the massive amount of money … More Advertising drugs on the air waves? Yes, but only in the United States and New Zealand.

Big business marketing is effective – too effective.

August 16, 2010

Sometimes I wonder if people realize that they are simply fodder for the great marketing machines of big business.  I understand and accept that marketing is a natural by-product of capitalism.  If something is offered for sale it is only natural to promote that item.  However, there is a  bifurcated problem.  There are no natural … More Big business marketing is effective – too effective.

Paper filibusters, obstruction and the dysfunctional Senate

August 2, 2010

Whenever I hear the word “filibuster” I immediately think of Jimmy Stewart in “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” speaking to the point of exhaustion to prevent a vote on a bill.  Mr. Smith was paying a personal price and the Senate was paying a price by not being able to perform any other activity as … More Paper filibusters, obstruction and the dysfunctional Senate

Obama, Afghanistan and the second law of thermodynamics.

August 1, 2010

I was watching a recent broadcast that was reporting Obama’s approval rating was dropping because he hadn’t “fixed the economy” or ended the Afghanistan war.  It made me think of the second law of thermodynamics that states the entropy of a system will increase until equilibrium is reached. Of course the second law was not … More Obama, Afghanistan and the second law of thermodynamics.