ppp 08-08-05

Quote of the day:

The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy - I mean that if you are happy you will be good.

Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

This is not a new military jet, or small Ford pickup, or new Baskin Robbins flavor, or anything that exotic. The F11 of which I speak is right on your keyboard (unless you are using a Commodore 64). What do you think it does? You do want to try it and find out…. don't you? What the key does when you are in your Browser (Internet Explorer anyone?) is let you see the full screen while at a website. Trust me… try it! You can always press it a second time to make things go back the way they were.

The difference isn't very great but it leaves a big impression. Wouldn't it be great to have an F11 key for other things? Press F11 during and argument and see what the real problem is. Press F11 in traffic and see what your alternative route looks like. Press it while in Vegas and come home a winner.

So what is the F11 key for life? For some people it might be that too-long-postponed vacation. For me it is prayer. Stepping back a little gives me a better perspective. I don't see a lot more but I place it all into a bigger frame. The argument…does "it" really matter that much or am I just being stubborn? Traffic… more time to enjoy some music … or to pray. Gambling…. will winning a little bit of money make me happier? A lot of money wouldn't eliminate all of my problems…it might just change my set of problems (…. but I am willing to give it a try).

Found your own personal F11 key? Great. Just like the one on your keyboard… nothing will change unless you press it! So take a chance.. you ARE going to press it! (right?)

ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "I'm feelin' all 'Purpley'" (a devoted Vikings fan at the start of training)

pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience.

The term "jumping the gun" comes from track and field. It means starting before the starting gun is fired. Many time runners will "Get ready, Get set…. and the GO on the next sound no matter what it is." some will try to anticipate when the gun will fire to gain another 0.02 seconds at the start. Sometimes it works…sometime you foul…. twice and you are disqualified.

Marketing of Medicare Part D drug plans is not to start until October 15 2005 but some are trying to get a head start, and getting their hands slapped. With the small window of opportunity and the relatively few people who will sign up…. I would allow marketing to start now if I were Uncle Sam…. (Just my opinion…. I could be wrong!)

to save some expense within the Medicare Part D plan projected to cost billions…someone has finally figured out that mail order could save a lot. When you realizes that it take no more time for a pharmacist to check a 3 month supply of drug than a one month supply then each mail order prescription would save 2/3's of the effort. Add to that the efficiencies of being able to manage the time that the prescription is filled (instead of having the patient tapping on the counter) and those decreased costs. Many big facilities are also automated to a high degree, Mail facilities also buy in larger quantities and can negotiate lower prices, Expect patient to eventually catch on!

… or at least shooting "blanks". UK found as source of fake Lipitor. If you bought your Lipitor from a "Yankee" pharmacy…that employs real "yankee" pharmacists then there is little or no danger you were "kanookered" (my term combining Kanook -slang for Canadian- and Snookered)

The Fakirs of India (http://skepdic.com/fakir.html )fear the Dragon (China) will devour their fledgling drug industry. Look for Chinese manufactured drugs to dominate world's supplies within the next 10 years! (Just a guess… but "they" have taken over manufacturing most everything else!) This reminds me of the wailing and gnashing of Japanese teeth when the Koreans entered the consumer electronics market!

The Perrigo Infants' Oral Drops were the proper strength but the measuring device could lead to over-dosage.

Name change after triple the profits…they say it is to avoid confusion but after reading this I am more confused than usual.

Asked to work 40 hours per week! (How many of their US counterparts would kill for only a 40 hour weeks?) The reason for the change in hours…. the aging of the population and costs spiraling out of control…. (Does this sound anything like the first story?)

Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2005 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved.

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