All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience.

Does change in your life come only from the TV remote? Have you done anything adventuresome lately? Become a more interesting person. How about a trip to a new country, state, city, or just a new restaurant? Have you read any books lately? (I'll bet you have a library card ) How about signing up for a class? Whatever you select will afford you the opportunity to learn something new and stretch your horizons. 

I saw a sign in the produce department at the grocery store last week….

Are you beginning to "rot" or do you keep yourself "green" by challenging yourself? Keep a positive attitude and see what you can concoct this week! … let those creative juices flow.

1) Being green is good but being red is out

With the summer sun at its peak here are some words of wisdom about its rays…. avoid them. "Slip! Slop! Slap!"  is the best way to avoid skin cancer.  Slip on a shirt for physical barrier protection, slop on the sunscreen and slap on a hat. The hat is especially important if you are "aerodynamically enhanced" like me. (Rather that think of baldness as a disability, I choose to see it as a "special ability".) -ps I did stay out of the sun over the 4th and did not get burned.  http://health.yahoo.com/search/healthnews?lb=s&p=id%3A56150

2) A 75-year-old retired electrical engineer has his drugs impounded.

FDA crackdown and confiscation of illegally reimported drugs in effect. This seems like "too little…too late" but the manufacture restrictions on export to Canadian pharmacies seems to be having the desired effects… curbing an illegal activity.

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-usdrug0706,0,2871022,print.story?coll=ny-health-headlines

3) Just 'cause it's "legal" doesn't make it "right"!

(That can be said for a lot these days). China "invalidated" the patent on Viagra so that Chinese manufacturers can produce pills with impunity. They already have decimated US manufacturers and now going after one of the last areas in which the US dominates. This all started during the Anthrax scare when the US government threatened to invalidate the patent on Cipro if they couldn't but it from the manufacturer for a song. We now see African countries walking all over patents for AIDS drugs. Now this… SOMEBODY better put their foot down or you can kiss another industry goodbye and the US become a provider of raw materials ( a "Third World" position in the economic chain). Better start teaching your grand children Manderin.

http://www.herald-sun.com/business/21-498343.html

 or

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/08/business/worldbusiness/08pfizer.html?th=&pagewanted=print&position=

4) All a rural pharmacist needs is a scientific balance, counting tray, and a .357 Magnum.

Kentucky druggies still holding up pharmacies with "squirrel guns" but pharmacists arm to protect their OxyContin. (If you haven't already signed up for free access to the New York Times…this may be the one to push you to do it).

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/06/national/06pharmacies.html?th

5) As Maynard G. Krebs would say "Doom…doom…kerboom!)

Kaiser Family Foundation paints an apocalyptic view of managed care tools for cost control provided for within the new Medicare Part D drug benefit.  (Kaiser's take on the issues http://www.kff.org/medicare/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=40660  )- comes from a physician and a PhD affiliated with HARVARD medical school. "Me thinks that they do protest too loudly!". Behind every tool that can be used to promote rational, evidence-based therapeutics they see a managed care "Jason" complete with goalie mask and mayhem in his eye. Judy Cahill of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacist (www.amcp.org ) puts forth an eloquent rebuttal.

http://www.pharmacyonesource.com/members/work/daily_news/article.asp?category_id=19&record_id=111280

 6) The uninsured of all ages can get a discount card too!

Pfizer offers discounted drugs to people without insurance…. not just seniors.

Uninsured families can start signing up in August for discounts on Pfizer products. Big discounts for those families earning less than $45,000 ($31,000 for individuals). Modest discounts (better than they get now) for uninsured families making more than the threshold. Pfizer offers a wide range of products including the coveted Lipitor.

http://www.pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=151769&categoryid=9&newsletter=1 (Free sign up required- sorry!)

or

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040707/pfizer_drug_coverage_1.html

7) Looking for a way to get free drugs and care for lots of conditions?

Benefit from potentially breakthrough trials and help further science. This site will put you in touch with a clinical researcher in your area. Cancer is always a big one… new therapies which may someday replace older one. No guarantees but some additional hope….

www.ClinicalTrials.gov