By Carol MacPherson
Let’s take a healthy, skeptical look at the headlines:
“Drugmakers use patents, suits to thwart generic competition”: Of course they do. It’s depressing, yet strangely reassuring, to receive confirmation that making money hand over fist is the main motivation of companies known as Big Pharma.
“Health insurers use process intended to curb rate increases to justify them”: Of course they are. (Up is down, black is white.) It’s depressing, yet strangely reassuring, to receive confirmation that making money hand over fist, by twisting the intent of the Affordable Care Act, is the main motivation of health insurance companies.
“The cost of this drug is high enough to question its value”: Sense a pattern?
“EpiPen corporation drastically jacks up the price of life-saving product by 400%, sending patients scrambling”: That’s the medicine children and adults with life-threatening allergies use to counteract a deadly reaction. The medication cost around $100 in 2008 and has risen to $500 and more today for just two EpiPens. Sheesh. Can someone come up with an anecdote for our collective greed-induced cynicism?
“These new stem cell treatments are expensive — and unproven”: Definitely sensing a pattern… Even just a few years ago, you had to leave the U.S. to receive an unproven stem cell treatment. But now they can be found everywhere, especially in “hot spots” of “stem cell tourism” such as Beverly Hills, Phoenix and New York, the Los Angeles Times reported. While reputable scientists are studying uses of stem cell therapy, these new clinics are the modern equivalent of snake oil salesmen, peddling hype and unproven medical claims.
“Vanderbilt to delete ‘Confederate’ from dorm’s name: Why now?” Because … better late than never?
“American cities adding the most jobs”: As opposed to that time in history when rural areas were adding the most jobs?
“Huawei’s gorgeous Honor 8 arrives in the U.S. for $350 if you preorder”: If a phone is now “gorgeous” we’re definitely going to need to dust-off some lesser used adjectives to describe scenery, art and beautiful people. (“You’re almost as pretty and sleek as my iPad,” he whispered.)
“McDonald’s pulls fitness trackers from Happy Meals amid reports of rashes”: The fast food chain was attempting to offer a health-promoting Happy Meal toy, the “Step It! Activity Band,” which is worn like a watch. It has been renamed the “Stop It! Rash Band” and calculates how quickly parents remove it after noticing the skin irritation.
“Science says your dog wants affection more than it wants your snacks”: And the same goes for your kids, and romantic partner. (Growing teens and aloof cats are exceptions.)
“Animal shelter fees going up Oct. 1”: Speaking of the fine animal shelter, whatever happened to the off-leash dog park that Everett was going to build next to it?
“Some companies force workers to stop working, use time off”: And some don’t. Many, even.
Be sure to measure your fitness band rash this week.
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