Thicket...

Lawmakers are considering a bill to address what President Trump called a top priority in his State of the Union speech: lowering prescription drug prices.

Critics say some drug companies hold onto their exclusive sales of a brand-name drug – and  their profits – are playing games to stave off generic competitors, leaving patients out in the cold.

In one form, a brand company will pay a generic to delay entering the market,"  "In another form it will switch from one version of a drug to another, just trivially different, just to keep generics off the market…. They call it life-cycle management. I call it anti-competitive conduct."
 
Often, the games involve patents, the government protection that gives companies the exclusive right to sell their drug for 20 years. But drug makers have found ways to extend those protections much longer.

For example, rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira last year generated $18 billion for manufacturer AbbVie. But its original patent was expiring in 2016. So to protect it, Carrier says AbbVie built what's called a "patent thicket" of more than 100 additional patents.
 

Saturday...

End...

U.S. stocks lost nearly $1 trillion in this week's sell-off, according to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices.


The S&P 500 fell 3.85 percent in its worst week since the ugly beginning to 2016, before Brexit and before President Donald Trump's election. The last week's decline erased $945 billion from the index's market value, with $511 billion lost on Friday alone, Silverblatt said.
Stocks plunged as investors worried about interest rates rising too quickly. The decline in market value followed an unprecedented month of inflows into equities in January.

The main question is if this week is an adjustment or the start of a correction, or the end of the bull run (started on March 9, 2009, and now up 308%)," Silverblatt said in a note late Friday.

See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Look...

Applaud...

Dog...*

The kind of dog you have tells a lot about your personality. A study in England found a very clear correlation between people’s personalities and type of dogs they owned.

People who owned toy dogs tend to be more intelligent, while owners of utility dogs like Dalmatians and bulldogs were the most conscientious.

Dog owners in general are more outgoing and friendly than cat owners. Dogs take on their owners' personality traits, so if you fly off the handle, it might explain why your dog is so aggressive.

People who interact with a pet while working have lower stress levels throughout the day, while people who do not bring a pet see their stress levels increase over time. 

People trust others who have dogs more. Even if you live alone, having a dog has the same emotional benefit as that of a human friendship.

Just the act of petting a dog lowers heart rate and blood pressure.  People who own dogs get better sleep at night and are sick less often, have slightly lower cholesterol and are more likely to survive a heart attack.

Dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than non-pet owners.   Since taking care of a dog requires a routine and forces you to stay at least a little active, it is harder to stay inside feeling down all the time. The interaction with and love received from a dog can also help people stay positive.

People with dogs seem to get ill less frequently and less severely than people with cats or no pets.
So feel good. Just a thought.

Mo Money...

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Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to push for a tax on wealthy New Yorkers to pay for improvements needed to address the crisis engulfing New York City’s subway.

The proposal is the latest move in the battle between Mr. de Blasio and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over who bears responsibility for repairing the deteriorating transit system.  

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has unveiled its congestion pricing plan to unclog Manhattan streets and raise money for mass transit.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson[Democrats] is fast becoming the most outspoken local politician in favor of congestion pricing,  He called for immediate action on congestion pricing in Albany.

Mood...*

"Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning," Harvard researcher.

The Mayo Clinic summarizes the benefits  of exercises as follows
Controls weight, Combats health conditions and diseases, Improves mood,
boosts energy, puts the spark back into your sex life, and it can be fun.

Exercises is the first step in the process to lose weight.  Other steps are more crucial than exercises.

You can exercise anywhere. No Gym membership is required. What is needed is the knowledge that this will benefit you greatly.

Walk slow, walk, or walk fast can be very beneficiary to the individual. Choose what is convenient for you depending on your physical conditions. (Consult with your Doctor)

Strength building is an important part of the exercises. Make it a habit. Exercise daily and you will be amazed at yourself. No cost here. It is free.

Lose...*

Flu...