A Sam's Club in Salisbury, Maryland had a great idea to bolster its pharmacy business. Why not hand out real prescritption vials stuffed with Tootsie Rolls and Dots? Well, I could give you about fifty reasons why not to do it, but some jarhead in the front office apparently has never heard that there is an epidemic of drug abuse among young people, nor has he ever dealt with a distraught parent whose kid OD'd on his grandmothers medicine, thinking it was candy.
Check out the full story in the parentdish website:
Yes, that's what the headlines of this CNN news story shouted. It seems that in China there is little tolerance for people who jeopardize the health of its people.
As though this seems like a harsh penalty, in July, 2007, the Head of China's "FDA" was executed for corruption. The government proclaimed that "Zheng's dereliction of duty has undermined the efficiency of China's drug monitoring and supervision, endangered public life and health and has had a very negative social impact."
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- A warning to those who may want to release balloons outdoors: not only is it against the law, but it can harm wildlife. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding residents that a little-known law prohibits releasing more than nine lighter-than-air balloons in a day. Wildlife, especially sea turtles, mistake balloons for food. Plus, strings attached to balloons can entangle birds and other animals. It's a $250 fine for a violation. There are some exceptions, including scientific or meteorological balloons released by a governmental agency or under a governmental contract.
I often host visiting pharmacy students from other countries. I quickly learned how idiomatic the English language can be. For example, after making the same point several times, I said "I feel like I am beating a dead horse." Imagine the looks I got when the group took me literally.
Well, here is a story where the horse wasn't a horse, but instead a human. And it was not just a silly slang expression.
It seems that in Uganda, people have died from drinking illegally manufacturered gin. As though the loss of life wasn't indigentenough, the government suggests that the bodies be beaten with a stick. Why? To find out, read the full Associated Press story here:
Note the unusual ending paragraph: "In Uganda, the bodies of those who commit suicide are also caned as a form of dishonor and to warn against such behavior for the living."
I thought they were going to assert that the caning is a deterrent for the deceased to think twice before they kill themselves in the next life."
You Heard It Right: Your own Professor Doering was called to appear live on a MSNBC show about health matters hosted by Dr. Nancy Snyderman. With little to no time to prepare, I probably had that same "Deer in the Headlights" look so familiar to the PTX students.
Incidently, I was sitting in a very small studio hidden in the bowels of the West stands of The Swamp. I appeared by satellite link.
If I were grading myelf I would count points off for unpressional dress!! When I got up yesterday morning who would have known that I would be asked to appear. At least I was clean shaven!!
Ah, the wisdom of Homer Simpson. We are often the listeners who must accept published literature to be done correctly and reported honestly. I am not going to editorialize, but rather refer you to the original article. If these allegations are true, the medical literature has been dealt a massive blow.
Advertisements for alcohol products invariably manage to sneak in the disclaimer, "Drink Responsibly." Recently, I lectured to a group of high schoolers and we began to analyze exactly what that means. Bless their pointed little heads, one of them said, "It means that if you get drunk and hurt someone, you are responsible."
Irresponsible drinking is nothing new. I suppose Bacchus himself found a way to do wine keg stands or shotgun a cheap Chianti. The electronic age, however, has taken this to a new level. All you have to do is search YouTube and you will find all kinds of irresponsible ways to use alcohol, including vodka enemas, snorting vodka, drinking flaming shots, etc.
This video I found very interesting. It is well made and particularly clear with its step-by-step approach to shotgunning beer. It is interesting that they give their own disclaimers:
1. Drinking beer quickly can get you intoxicated faster. Drink Responsibly
2. Drinking beer this way can be extremely dangerous. The beer will be forced into the throat under pressure. If the beer isn't swallowed fast enough it will be aspirated into the lungs resulting in extreme choking or possibly death due to what is known as a dry drowning.
3. Be careful when putting your mouth on the opening you cut in the can. It can be very sharp and cut you if you're not careful.
Kinda makes me want to run right out and buy a six-pack of diet coke and give it a try!
Remeber, don't try this at home, kids. You could get hurt!
