Finally, something India and Pakistan can agree on: really bad hats.
Year: 2007
Dept of Pure Evil: Genentech says “no substitutions”
Genentech makes an eye drug called Lucentis. It’s expensive: $2000/month. They also make a cancer drug called Avastin. It’s inexpensive: $40/month.
The two drugs are chemically very similar. So similar, in fact, that compounding pharmacies are repackaging Avastin and doctors are prescribing it for the eye problem.
Genentech doesn’t like this. They want the money for Lucentis. So, they’re stopping shipment of Avastin to all the pharmacies and sending it only to hospital pharmacies or directly to doctors. Furthermore, they’re refusing participate in the NIH study to confirm or reject the similar usefulness of the two drugs, and not even providing drugs at cost to the study as is customary.
Result? $1-$3 billion more a year of taxpayer money into Medicare, because almost all the patients involved are over 65. I think it’s great how the drug companies selflessly do research and development to keep us all healt… yeah.
Wall St. Journal article below.
It’s going around, but if you haven’t seen it, it’s essential
The dreaded Star Wars “Talent” from the Beauty Pageant:
21st Century Insurance advertises on the traffic map
But maybe they shouldn’t place the ads right on the popup you see when you mouse over an incident. Hmm?
awesome Branson ownage
I know, I know, I’m just pictures and links lately. Lazy.
I can’t stand “adventurer” tycoons and I enjoy laughing at them. Yesterday’s news was a massive win, as Virgin egomaniac Richard Branson tries without success to be extreme.
Branson Attempts Wacky Bungee Stunt, Whacks Own Ass Many Times Instead
The Daily Mail has more fine pictures including Billionaire Split Pants.
JUICE BOX WINE
Allow me to present Bandit’s Wine in Small Boxes, which according to its manufacturer is “beyond delicious with any type of food.”
The guy getting it at the liquor store said it was great for camping.
Two stickers and it’s great for drinking at high school football games, too!
Headline of the Day: News from the Front
taggin’
Also I think I have a cold.
Los Angeles to Riverside by bicycle
In which my friend and coworker Mark does 75 62.8 miles of urban bicycling:
THE MOTHER OF ALL BUTTLES
The “health” “plan” from my last job has still not paid any of the claims from February to March of this year.
Today I got a bill from a collection agency for an $800+ charge, now with added interest.
A month ago I spoke to a “rapid resolution expert” at the health plan who was shocked, shocked at the lack of payment and pressed lots of buttons and told me it would be resolved in 30 days.
Nothing was done.
Today I spoke to another “rapid resolution expert” who was even more shocked and promised me a written response in 48 hours and resolution within ten business days. He gave me a magic string of digits which supposedly will make the collection agency back off.
Once again let me observe that I am at the very top of the privilege ladder here, and I’m getting reamed really hard.
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