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Tuesday, May 16, 2006


Changing the Face of Pro Sports

In light of our continually changing world I’ve decided to re-name some US/Canadian sports teams for fun. I think team names should evolve to fit the current times. Here are some name changes for the 4 major sports leagues-hockey, baseball, basketball and lastly football. And go Buffalo!




NHL
Tampa Bay Lightning- Tampa Bay Energy Crisis
Washington Capitals- Washington Hypocrites
Edmonton Oilers- Edmonton Clean Ethanol
Carolina Hurricanes- Carolina FEMA Disaster Relief
Nashville Predators- Nashville NSA Wiretappers
Colorado Avalanche- Colorado Melting Polar Ice Caps
Buffalo Sabres- Buffalo Plastic Airplane Knives
St. Louis Blues- St. Louis Middle Class America Depression
Montreal Canadiens- Montreal Quebecois Seperatists

MLB
Washington Nationals- Washington War on Terror
Los Angeles Dodgers- Los Angeles Immigration Dodgers
Texas Rangers- Texas Immigration Patrol
Atlanta Braves- Atlanta Bible Belters
Houston Astros- Houston Downsized Space Program
Detroit Tigers- Detroit Urban Decay

NBA
Washington Wizards- Washington Wizards of Corruption
Detroit Pistons- Detroit Gas Guzzlers
Utah Jazz- Utah Jazzy Polygamists
Orlando Magic- Orlando Magical Tourist Façade
Miami Heat- Miami Global Warming
Los Angeles Clippers- LA Clippers of Medicare

NFL
Buffalo Bills- Buffalo Devaluated US Dollar
New Orleans Saints- New Orleans Fish Bowl
New England Patriots- New England Dead Bill of Rights
Cleveland Browns- Cleveland Brown Nosing Lobbyists
Green Bay Packers- Green Bay Overseas Shippers of American Jobs
Oakland Raiders- Oakland Raid on Immigrants
New York Giants- NY Giant Elitists
Dallas Cowboys- Dallas National Rifle Association

posted by Alex_USA @ 5:07 PM Comments: 0

Monday, May 15, 2006

posted by Alex_USA @ 8:13 PM Comments: 0

Wednesday, May 10, 2006


Walgreen’s and CVS-Lying to Consumers


Walgreen’s and CVS are typical of the American business world. They are massive drug stores that have exploded everywhere while diminishing small businesses and competition. We frequently hear about high pharmaceutical costs and how we pay more for drugs than people in most countries do. What we don’t hear enough of is the fault of the drugs stores and their accountability for being part of the problem. Not only do many massively mark up prices but they also lie about their expiration dates.

I have priced various drugs without insurance and found Walgreen’s to usually be the most expensive, sometimes charging as much as $20 more than their competitor’s for the same exact prescription! Talk about a markup! Many Americans including myself don’t have health insurance and I’m sure many don’t realize that prescription drug prices can vary substantially depending on where you go (I didn't know until recently). If you don’t have health insurance I highly suggest picking up the phone and calling different pharmacies to price your prescriptions. It doesn't take long and it can save you a good $20 sometimes.

On top of charging such high prices, Walgreen’s, CVS and others are also lying to their customers about the expiry dates of their drugs. This may not be as important as the initial cost but it plays an overall factor in consumer cost. If consumers discard a drug they believe to be expired when it isn’t and can still be used, this is ultimately an additional cost on top of an already high cost. Here is an email I wrote to CVS regarding this and their response:

Alex

To Whom it May Concern,

I was wondering why you set the expiry date for all your prescriptions for 1 year from when they are filled? I always wondered about this because most over the counter drugs are good for at least 2 years from when they are purchased. I recently started going to Albertson's pharmacy and they set the expiry date 2 years from when the prescription is filled. Don't you think you should put accurate expiry dates on your drugs? There is no way all your prescriptions expire 1 year from purchase. People like myself who don't have health insurance can pay a lot of money for prescription drugs and I really think it's only fair that you put accurate dates so people don't throw away drugs pre-maturely as I have done in the past. I would appreciate a response.

Thank you.

CVS

Dear Alex ----------:

Thank you for your email regarding the expiration date on your prescriptions at your local CVS/pharmacy.
We appreciate the time that you have taken to express your thoughts on our company. At CVS, customer input plays an important role in influencing how we run our business. Therefore, I have advised our Pharmacy Operations Team of your concerns.
Again, Alex, we appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to inform us of your concerns and have given us the opportunity to address them. CVS has a commitment to service. Each customer is valued, and we thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Sincerely,
Jenny Calcano
Customer Relations Representative


I was expecting a garbage response and that’s exactly what I got. It’s nice and politically correct with no substance to it whatsoever. I'm sure their going to look into it ASAP! Yeah right! I had more personal beef with Walgreen’s however. I had to write them a letter because you cannot complain to them via email. What is this? 1996! Anyways, This is what I wrote in my letter:



Alex

To Whom It May Concern,

This letter is regarding the expiry dates you set on your prescription drugs. I was wondering why you always set the expiry date for 1 year from when they are filled when this is not accurate? I always wondered this because most over the counter drugs you purchase are good for at least two years. However, the concrete evidence I saw and which really upset me was on a box of Lidoderm patches that a Walgreen’s filled for my Dad. As usual, you set the expiry date for 1 year which was 10/13/05. Many people would discard the remainder of the box thinking they are bad when they are not. On the box the real expiry date is printed which is 12/2006. They are good for more than 1 year after you say they are. This bothers me because in the past I have discarded drugs I could have used. Most memorably was Malaria tablets I purchased two years ago from a Walgreen’s. I did not use them in Thailand and just over a year later I was in Vietnam but I discarded them because it was past the 1 year standard expiry date you set. I really think you should stop misleading people and print more accurate dates because you are cheating consumers. This is particularly bothersome when your slogan is “The Pharmacy America Trusts.” I recently started getting my prescriptions from Albertson’s and they set their expiry date for a generic two years which is much better than what you and CVS do. I believe you should practice the same policy they do, especially considering you charge an overall higher price than some of your competitors. I know this because I don’t have insurance and price my prescription drugs. Many Americans wouldn’t even think you guys charge varying prices so the least you can do is be more honest about the expiry dates. A response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Walgreen's



Of course what they wrote back was garbage as well but at least it was more substantial than CVS's response. It is hard to see the letter because I don't have a scanner so I took a digital picture of it.

There is a loophole in the system that allows them to get away with misleading consumers regarding expiry dates. They wrote that a standard was set by the US Pharmacopeial Convention, this is verbatim from them:

“In the absence of stability data, a beyond-use date shall be not later (a) the expiration date on the manufacturer container or (b) one year from the date the drug is dispensed, whichever is earlier.”

Walgreen's wrote “In other words, the stability of a prescription medication can only be guaranteed while the product is in the controlled conditions of the pharmacy. Once dispensed to a patient, the product may lose stability and potency if, for example the patient leaves the medication in an overheated automobile or the medication falls into a wet bathroom sink.” Wow! That last bit is actually funny! Wouldn’t you know your medication wasn’t good that long if it fell into a wet bathroom sink? And they tell you on every medication out there not to leave it in the heat. So their argument of setting a standard one year expiration date is simply unacceptable.
They even lie in the letter calling it a “use before” date. Their prescriptions do not say that, they say “discard after.” So they are “The Pharmacy America Trusts” huh? They have some nerve to claim that.

So if you have some leftover prescription cough medicine or malaria tablets (in my case) or back pain patches (such as my Dad's case) or whatever and it sits in your medicine cabinet for more than one year, and it doesn’t fall in a wet bathroom sink, keep it around a bit longer using good reason. I know some people do this anyways, but I know lots of people don’t. If you don’t your allowing corporate America to take more money from your wallet. Please don’t do that.

posted by Alex_USA @ 4:50 PM Comments: 0

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Stephen Colbert Speaks to President Bush


As seen on Break.com

posted by Alex_USA @ 8:57 PM Comments: 0