Re: Guest Post - Outsourcing, racist, government-regulation-avoiding, patents-laden, corporate-scandal-with-cartoonish-villains

1

maybe because we don't care too much about adulterated ARVs going to HIV-positive Africans

This is probably true at a societal level, but I still don't see why it isn't more widely reported for the Lipitor connection. Everybody is on Lipitor or under 50 as far as I can tell. It should be as it was with The Jungle when everybody missed the point about the exploited workers and focused on the dead-guy bits in their lard.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:48 AM
horizontal rule
2

Ydnew!

This does seem like a perfect storm of why-the-media-is-broken: Corporate malfeasance, far away, most victims are Black Africans, vaguely complex background, drawn-out investigative process, FDA not all that interesting -- just a lot of reasons for why editors wouldn't assign it and reporters wouldn't clamor to cover it. But yeah, at the end of the day, the racism part would seem to be the sufficient condition here. (Although the Lipitor connection ought to trump that, but I guess racism is thicker than blood.)


Posted by: Natilo Paennim | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:56 AM
horizontal rule
3

I would be so nice to actually fund regulatory agencies that deal with scientific data. Science runs on trust most of the time, which is ok most of the time. But when there is this much money at stake, you need to change things.

I like the name Ydnew. I can pronounce it in my head "Id-new" and it seems perfectly right.

This is different than Nosflow, which I always want to pronounce nose-flow, but apparently should pronounce nos-flow.


Posted by: rob helpy-chalk | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:57 AM
horizontal rule
4

but I guess racism is thicker than blood.

At least for people takings warfarin.


Posted by: | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:00 AM
horizontal rule
5

That was me, but some other guy added the 's' to 'taking.'


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:01 AM
horizontal rule
6

I like the name Ydnew. I can pronounce it in my head "Id-new"

I also like Ydnew but had the mental pronunciation as "Eed-new".


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:06 AM
horizontal rule
7

But it's foreigners being racist, in a really horrific way. Couldn't that put a few ticks in the nationalism category and bring it back over to interesting-for-a-general-audience? Admittedly, we are finding out about this from CNN so it's not like the mainstream media is completely avoiding it.

The link seems broken--this worked for me.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:07 AM
horizontal rule
8

Huh. My mental pronunciation is Yid-new.


Posted by: politicalfootball | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:16 AM
horizontal rule
9

7 -- There's a constituency for 'people of color are the real racists' but maybe it's not the target demographic for most advertisers.

I don't know, does the media shy away from stories that make people scared to buy stuff? There was the Alar thing, but that was back before most of you were old enough to join a fencing team. Am I missing a more contemporary trend? (We did have 'be scared of terrorists, but for God's sake don't quit buying stuff')


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:16 AM
horizontal rule
10

8: Anti-semite.


Posted by: Kreskin | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:19 AM
horizontal rule
11

9: There was some stuff I saw about Taco Bell and what is in the meat. Also, if you stood near a baby in the past ten years, you've probably heard tons of stuff about BPA.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:20 AM
horizontal rule
12

9.last. Well, there was this.


Posted by: chris y | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:26 AM
horizontal rule
13

I have a friend taking generic antiretrovirals. I wonder if they are from Ranbaxy. I'm not sure what to do if they are, since the alternatives are way out of reach financially.

It occurs to me that if Ranbaxy's non-shelf stable antiretrovirals are widely used we could be in a situation where large numbers of people with HIV are taking compromised dosages, low enough to be ineffective but high enough to provide the kind of challenge to the HIV that allows it to develop resistance.


Posted by: togolosh | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:40 AM
horizontal rule
14

The FDA is the ultimate thankless organization to work for. Virtually every decision they make is either met with "How could you, this drug is killing people" or "How could you, being deprived of this drug is killing people".


Posted by: Cryptic ned | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:06 AM
horizontal rule
15

That article was kind of amazing.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:09 AM
horizontal rule
16

11: Didn't the horrible extra additive in Taco Bell "beef" turn out to be oats or something?


Posted by: Benquo | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:12 AM
horizontal rule
17

Also: Ydnew!


Posted by: Benquo | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:17 AM
horizontal rule
18

Beyond amazing.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:19 AM
horizontal rule
19

The part of the story about lack of quality control on drugs which are being subsidized and distributed in poor counties makes me think about the depressing">http://m.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/11/15/101115fa_fact_specter">depressing story about tuberculosis in the NYer a coupr years ago.


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:42 AM
horizontal rule
20

||
Tired of corporations* providing things you could make yourself? DIY artisinal high-fructose corn syrup.

*Yes, this is the lame hook by which I'm justifying putting this comment on this thread.
|>


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:44 AM
horizontal rule
21

Apparently I shouldn't have tried to do a link on my phone. Here's the URL: http://m.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/11/15/101115fa_fact_specter


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:44 AM
horizontal rule
22

We can't add an "Ydnew" when we already have a "Sydnew".

But welcome!


Posted by: Mr. Blandings | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:58 AM
horizontal rule
23

It's funny because the whole thing sounds like a fever dream of a big pharma PR flack warning about the dangers of generics, particularly generics made in India.


Posted by: Robert Halford | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 7:59 AM
horizontal rule
24

Nosflow, which I always want to pronounce nose-flow, but apparently should pronounce nos-flow

I switch between these. But occasionally I pronounce it Nosferatu.


Posted by: md 20/400 | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:07 AM
horizontal rule
25

22: "M/tch me, Sydnew", as The Sifu Tweet of Success has it.


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:27 AM
horizontal rule
26

At least for people takings warfarin.

O du wilde weite Warfarin!
Wie ein Speer bei andern Dingen
lag ich mit den Meinen. Dein Erklingen
verdünnt mein Blut.


Posted by: nosflow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:35 AM
horizontal rule
27

We went over the pseud issue a bit at the con. IIRC Ydnew expressed an interest in having a nautical theme. "Seaman Staines" is available but perhaps a bit too crass. I'm sure the mineshaft can come up with something better.


Posted by: togolosh | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:36 AM
horizontal rule
28

Google translate did a much better job on 26 than I had any right to expect.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:39 AM
horizontal rule
29

27 - "Able Seaman Titty", a nod to one of England's most beloved children's books.


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:42 AM
horizontal rule
30

25 baffles but also pleases me.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:45 AM
horizontal rule
31

S&A Forever!


Posted by: md 20/400 | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 8:53 AM
horizontal rule
32

Hi all! Nice to meet you. To 1: the Lipitor problem was just contamination with glass, probably internal bleeding lowers blood pressure, right? Natilo, I can think of dozens of possible headlines. First, the cynical ones - Obama's FDA failing to keep us safe, or will Obamacare doom everyone to use low-quality generics? Second, guilt - one of the products recalled was a generic used to treat children's ear infections - maybe moms need one more thing to worry about! Finally, the non-cynical ones. Ranbaxy is defrauding the US government. PEPFAR occasionally makes headlines, particularly since it's one of the few Bush-era programs that has been met with praise from other countries. Another is that I have been staring at headlines about a Chinese company buying Smithfield on the front page of WaPo for two days now. The disaster where a compounding pharmacy gave people meningitis was front page news here, too, with commentary about how awful it was that the FDA basically was understaffed and stretched too thin. Remember how it was a big issue that the USDA might have to cut inspections on meat? The only place I have seen this is on a Fortune magazine blog (linked from a trade-specific blog), not as a story that is getting circulated.


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:17 AM
horizontal rule
33

I might also have thought the whistle-blowing angle would be catnip for writers looking for melodrama, but not so (yet).

Do you have any further guidance for the people proposing pseudonyms, ydnew? We can justify the digression by noting that pseudogenesis is another arena where "low-quality generics" can be a problem!


Posted by: joyslinger | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:30 AM
horizontal rule
34

To 13, it seems like they don't have approval for the ARVs in the US. There's a list of what they do make, though. Prozac, Ativan, Imitrex, Valtrex, plus lots of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering/blood pressure drugs.
To 23, no joke. Maybe another kind of dream, honestly. Given their opposition to most Indian pharma (because they couldn't care less about IP), I would imagine they'd be trying to get this story lots of play. The people who realized the problems were recruited from big pharma. There's a line in this story or a related one saying "this is not how things are done is the US." Unfortunately, the line about 80% of name-brand active ingredients being sourced from overseas might make them think twice.


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:39 AM
horizontal rule
35

If we're going with nautical themes I think "BOAT" is available.


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:40 AM
horizontal rule
36

Joyslinger, read H-G's note carefully . . .

I don't so much mind using my actual name since it's common enough. I had a huge list of possibilities and prerequisites, but I guess it's easier this way. Besides, I can always change it later if I get pseud-envy, right? Nautical would be appropriate. Sailing, more specifically.


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:44 AM
horizontal rule
37

19/21 (& 13) NickS, no comment, too close to home. Suffice it to say, treating anything contagious with sub-therapeutic levels of drug is a public health disaster. Headline could read, "Indian pharmacy breeding drug-resistant AIDS." Too bad none of the public health officials or clinics would have the tools to figure it out.


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:55 AM
horizontal rule
38

This does sound like a very shitty company.

But there have definitely been domestic testing scandals-- Bio-Test is the name I remember. No mention of civil liability, does FDA approval indemnify the company from harm caused by bad lots of a drug? Fines for bad promotion are bigger, there have been several above $1B last year, GSK and Abbott at least. Basically I am wondering how much worse this is than test-passing shoddy practice.


Posted by: lw | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 9:57 AM
horizontal rule
39

I couldn't decide whether to give more weight to "AGAINST HER WILL" or to 27, which implied something a little less set-in-stone.

(And I probably wouldn't have interfered at all if not for the opportunity to pun ... which isn't my best habit, but is hardly my worst either.)


Posted by: joyslinger | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:03 AM
horizontal rule
40

Lee Ward? Spinnaker? Carrick Bend?


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:24 AM
horizontal rule
41

Barnacle Jill the Sailor.


Posted by: snarkout | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:38 AM
horizontal rule
42

23 was my main reaction, too. I actually met a guy once, while at a Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy seminar, who was involved with a big-pharma initiative that allowed one to check whether prescription drugs were counterfeit, or something like that. I wasn't entirely sure how much of it was legit versus a sort of "OMG BE VERY AFRAID OF POSSIBLY DANGEROUS GENERICS!" FUD campaign. Now I feel a bit bad.


Posted by: x.trapnel | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:38 AM
horizontal rule
43

36: Bug-Out Altoids Tin?

Suggestions:

Post Captain
Sharp Knife (and a clean conscience)
HMS Surprise
Yar
Crow's Nest
Monitor



Posted by: Natilo Paennim | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:43 AM
horizontal rule
44

I don't know that this song has any pseuds lurking in it, but I do like to bust out the refrain "Come down, you bunch of roses, come down" when nautical themes arise.


Posted by: k-sky | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:45 AM
horizontal rule
45

This story goes counter to my usual rant about how shameful the US was to force India to have patent protection on medicines and how the lack of patent protection on medicines in India allowed India to develop inexpensive generics for distribution in India and the rest of the third world. And, basically how great the India generic drug companies are. I still believe my rant though.


Posted by: lemmy caution | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 10:49 AM
horizontal rule
46

I really like "Lee Ward" as a pseud. (Pronounced correctly, of course.)


Posted by: md 20/400 | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 11:27 AM
horizontal rule
47

The nautical thing is so ripe with possibilities, that I think everyone should have an alternate nautical pseud to use when the need arises.

Mine's JP Stormpetrel.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 11:33 AM
horizontal rule
48

I can always change it later if I get pseud-envy, right?

NO YOU MAY NOT!!!!!!!!!!1!!


Posted by: OPINIONATED LIZARDBREATH | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 11:36 AM
horizontal rule
49

48: Mine's Kraken Eggz


Posted by: togolosh | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:02 PM
horizontal rule
50

Always already nautical.

Tight pants, short jacket...


Posted by: clew | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:07 PM
horizontal rule
51

Stanley and J,Robot can fight it out over who gets to be the Spinnaker Pole.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:07 PM
horizontal rule
52

And Teraz, of course.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:07 PM
horizontal rule
53

The nautical terms game is very free-associational.

Whisker Boom
Boom Vang
Goose Wing
Wing & Wing
&c.


Posted by: md 20/400 | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:44 PM
horizontal rule
54

"Poop Deck", though nautical, would make a shitty pseud.


Posted by: MAE | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:48 PM
horizontal rule
55

"Deck Poop" might work, if using hipster slang wasn't so horrible.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 12:50 PM
horizontal rule
56

"Gybe Ho" has a certain something about it.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:03 PM
horizontal rule
57

"Seine Twine" would be a fantastic pseudonym (I'm sure it has non-nautical uses, but I associate it with boats).


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:06 PM
horizontal rule
58

I feel like there's got to be a way to work "Sextant" into a great one, but I'm coming up empty so far.


Posted by: x.trapnel | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:10 PM
horizontal rule
59

59: I feel the same way about "Hornpipe".


Posted by: joyslinger | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:15 PM
horizontal rule
60

"Sea cock" would be appropriate by itself.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:16 PM
horizontal rule
61

With stuff to work with like studsail, jackstaff and spanker surely we can do better? I'll ask my local chandler for some good nautical pseud ideas next time I'm in.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:18 PM
horizontal rule
62

59: Sextant Box sounds good.


Posted by: togolosh | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:25 PM
horizontal rule
63

Compass Rose sounds like she sings in a dockside cabaret.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:27 PM
horizontal rule
64

Gash Fanny is maybe a bit much.


Posted by: Jesus McQueen | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:30 PM
horizontal rule
65

Scurvy Doo?


Posted by: Awl | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:33 PM
horizontal rule
66

Seine Twine
Meine Twine
Unter dem Tisch

I initially read 64 as referring to a "dorkside cabaret". Still works! "Dorkside" by analogy to "darkside" which I guess is like darkwave?


Posted by: nosflow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:39 PM
horizontal rule
67

Dorkseid Captain Of The Universe


Posted by: Beefo Meaty | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:40 PM
horizontal rule
68

Spike could add a simple "Marlin" before his name.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 1:50 PM
horizontal rule
69

Mr. Landings


Posted by: Mr. Blandings | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 2:02 PM
horizontal rule
70

Or perhaps a simple "Cap'n Blandings" would work.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 2:04 PM
horizontal rule
71

"Simple" is apparently the word of the day.


Posted by: LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 2:04 PM
horizontal rule
72

Reading the thread backwards, I thought everybody wanted to change their pseud, and I mentally began writing a post where I throw a tantrum.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 2:34 PM
horizontal rule
73

I am kicking myself for not going with Filmore Kraken.


Posted by: togolosh | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 2:40 PM
horizontal rule
74

I thought the same thing for a second. Don't do it people! The Roberto Tigre experiment led to God cursing all Los Angeles sports teams for at least a year.


Posted by: Robert Halford | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 3:20 PM
horizontal rule
75

Stormy Port


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 3:30 PM
horizontal rule
76

As a rare three-word pseudonym I think Line Crossing Ceremony has a certain ring to it.

For example: "Line Crossing Ceremony comments on Because It's Been So Long Since We've All Seen Each Other"


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 3:45 PM
horizontal rule
77

John B. Sloop

Cat A. Moran

Fowled Angkor


Posted by: Natilo Paennim | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 3:59 PM
horizontal rule
78

Those are all good.


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:20 PM
horizontal rule
79

77: Along that same, uh, line, "Son of Neptune" stands out too.


Posted by: joyslinger | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:20 PM
horizontal rule
80

I'm going with Safe Anchorage for teo. (Temporarily changed to Unsafe Anchorage when the situation warrants.)


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:24 PM
horizontal rule
81

Unsafe Anchorage


Posted by: Cryptic ned | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:26 PM
horizontal rule
82

77: Along that same, uh, line, . . .

Golden Shellback
Equatorial Baptism
Neptunus Rex


Posted by: NickS | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:28 PM
horizontal rule
83

Fresh Salt


Posted by: Mr. Blandings | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:42 PM
horizontal rule
84

ydnew was very nice.


Posted by: will | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:43 PM
horizontal rule
85

||

I don't want to derail this thread, but ...

A corporate recruiter at a rapidly expanding non-profit e-mailed me telling me that a new job was going to be posted on their website Monday morning that he thought might be a good fit for me. The job title: Project Coordinator. Without more context I have no idea what this means. I did a google search for the title in healthcare jobs, and in some cases it's a really analytical job and in others it's organizing meetings.

|>


Posted by: Bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:47 PM
horizontal rule
86

maybe I should change mine too.


Posted by: lliw | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:48 PM
horizontal rule
87

||

And wondering what it is and not being able to find out until Monday is driving me crazy.

|>


Posted by: Bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 4:54 PM
horizontal rule
88

Sailor's Delight

Broad Reach

Dead Downwind

The Green Flash


Posted by: fake accent | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:04 PM
horizontal rule
89

84: Let Blandings be the first to suggest.


Posted by: JP Stormcrow | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:19 PM
horizontal rule
90

86: It has no necessary connection to cannibalism, if that's what your worried about.

For us, it's a position where you run the day to day operations of a research project (or more multiple projects). I don't know exactly what they make, because I'm not nosy, but more than one of them I know is supporting themselves and a kid or two on the salary.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 5:50 PM
horizontal rule
91

For us, it's a position where you run the day to day operations of a research project

I've never read that deep into the kama sutra.


Posted by: Turgid Jacobian | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:23 PM
horizontal rule
92

That would be a fun game: what pseud would look best in the sidebar?


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:36 PM
horizontal rule
93

This pseud looks good.


Posted by: Insightful | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:37 PM
horizontal rule
94

Or this.


Posted by: 95 | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:38 PM
horizontal rule
95

 


Posted by: this magic | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:39 PM
horizontal rule
96

.


Posted by: comments on and on and | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:41 PM
horizontal rule
97

comments


Posted by: Free hot sex available to anyone who | Link to this comment | 05-31-13 6:45 PM
horizontal rule
98

more, wittier


Posted by: Nworb Werdna | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 1:17 AM
horizontal rule
99

Natilo Paennim


Posted by: Only a running dog lackey of the capitalist-imperialist warmongers | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 4:19 AM
horizontal rule
100

If will changes pseuds, it should be to Aweigh.

Flying Dutchman would be a good one for many of us. Those who don't like the gender association (which, to be accurate, isn't as it seems -- one would say 'last time I saw Flying Dutchman, she was heeling hard alee') could go with Fata Morgana.


Posted by: CharleyCarp | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 6:22 AM
horizontal rule
101

Lee Ward IS totally brilliant. Naming oneself is hard. (Hi will! Your daughter gives good hugs!)


Posted by: ydnew | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 7:12 AM
horizontal rule
102

86: I think you're right that the meaning varies a lot; I don't think we can help you much here.

I do think it's likely to have at least a little substance, or to be turnable in that direction. In my organization, a job title like that would not be lumped in with "support" like an administrative assistant or office manager.


Posted by: Minivet | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 9:12 AM
horizontal rule
103

I do a lot of thinking.


Posted by: Minivet | Link to this comment | 06- 1-13 9:12 AM
horizontal rule