I have taken a lot of pills lately, and recently, I was reminded of an Andy Rooney commentary on CBS News 60 Minutes. Rooney was the quintessential curmudgeon, and had the uncanny ability to find irony and humor in the most trivial details of life. In the past, when you opened a new over the… Continue reading
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Unapologetically Average
I aspire to be average, normal, regular, unexceptional. Odd, right? Considering that being characterized as average is usually seen as an insult. In our society, parents are admonished to do all they can to enhance the self-esteem of their offspring. Kids are told that they are the best, extraordinary, winners, special, heroes possessing some extraordinary… Continue reading
Big Pharma and the Evening News
What do chronic idiopathic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, painful menstruation, deep vein thrombosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neuropathic pain, partial seizures, erectile dysfunction, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and dyspareunia (painful intercourse) have in common? All of these conditions can be cured if you buy into the claims of the medications advertised during… Continue reading
Barbie, Sports Illustrated, & Slutty Capitalism
The Barbie doll is one of the most popular toys ever created. Today Barbie is sold in 150 countries at the rate of 3 dolls every second, and the manufacturer, Mattel, claims that over a billion have been sold worldwide. Barbie is a money-maker for Mattel, in no small part due to the plethora… Continue reading
Armageddon, Advertising & TV Weather Forecasters
Atlanta is closed today. After the debacle two weeks ago during our three-inch snowfall, officials from the Georgia Governor to the Mayor of Atlanta were skewered by national media. The criticism was certainly justified, since a coordinated emergency plan was not in place in the lead-up to the storm and even in the early hours… Continue reading