Scribbler

Do you wish for different "news"?

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:29:02 -0600

Like many people, I often feel like "the news" belongs to someone else. Thanks to blogs and a budding, web-based consumer movement, I still have good sources of information. The Columbia Journalism Review and Consumer Reports are now cosponsoring a forum on consumer journalism and the MSM. Check it out!

What really happened and how do we really fix it?

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:56:35 -0600

You may think that the mortgage crisis was caused by people getting loans they didn't deserve, shouldn't have gotten, and couldn't afford--with government help.

$700 billion dollar bailout

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:01:30 -0600

Treasury Secretary Paulson says this bailout is the only way to prevent real economic harm to our nation. But this is a lot of money. How much? Here are some other things that cost $700 billion.

Maxed Out movie nights to spread the word!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:50:39 -0600

More than 400 people volunteered to host Maxed Out movie nights to spread the word about credit card reform and get more comments to the Federal Reserve Board before the deadline. Thanks!

Debit holds make pain at the pump worse

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:36:51 -0600

With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, you don�t need more of your hard-earned money being kept from you. But when you pay at the pump with a debit card, that�s exactly what�s happening.

When I use a word...

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:07:54 -0600

Bank of America has given new meaning to "A little knowledge can be a powerful thing." For fun, let's parse its new ad campaign, designed to save us all money by some how avoiding all the high fees that Bank of America itself charges.

Oprah to profile preventable auto tragedies

Thu, 31 May 2007 18:54:07 -0600

When family members or friends back over a child, or a child is killed in the family car's power window, imagine the horror. Oprah today profiles one such family tragedy, in order to draw attention to the problem and support for a Congressional solution.

More fuel efficient cars on the way!

Sun, 06 May 2007 16:45:33 -0600

With widespread support from Americans tired of forking over $30, $40, $50 dollars each time they pull up to a gas station, lawmakers last week reached a deal to increase fuel efficiency standards.

Drug companies that manage the studies can manage the message

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:08:23 -0600

Merck released a portion of the study on the drug Arcoxia. It's a reminder of the power drug companies have to manage the news when they pay for the clinical trials.

Good News on Mad Cow is rare, but this one�s well done

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 14:47:58 -0600

On the mad cow front, it looks like the Department of Agriculture (USDA) had an unusual attack of common sense yesterday. This is not typical for USDA. Earlier in the week, USDA had announced that they were going to reduce testing for mad cow disease (also called BSE) by 90% (a "don't look, don't find" approach).

Congress is blocking your voice

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:05:35 -0600

Lawmakers across the country launched a tool last month to block emails sent through campaign websites. They are treating your emails like spam. How could this possibly be good for democracy?

Canada's seventh mad cow

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:18:48 -0600

Still the Canadian authorities assure the public that this proves that their feed ban, instituted five years before this cow was born, is effective (!!!!!).

NY Times examines drug company ties to tax-exempt charities

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:47:26 -0600

The NY Times raises more questions about the role of drug company money making its way into tax-exempt charities typically set up to promote patient education or research.

Great summary of the past couple years of prescription drug disasters

Wed, 24 May 2006 09:43:47 -0600

Dr. Marcia Angell, who wrote "The Truth About Drug Companies," has written an essay in the NY Review of Books that looks at the major books that have appeared over the last couple of years examining the failure of the prescription drug marketplace.

Vioxx -- CV problems after 4 months, or 18?

Mon, 22 May 2006 13:35:30 -0600

Last week, experts announced that new data from Vioxx' maker, Merck, indicated that increases in possible stroke and heart attacks may occur as early as four weeks on the drug, instead of 18 months as previous studies have shown.