Home Again

The ruby slippers have returned to the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., which re-opened last November 2, 2008 after a two year, $85 million renovation. This exhibit has become one of the most popular ones attracting thousands of visitors each year. One of only five pairs of shoes known to survive from the MGM 1939 Wizard of OZ film, were purchased at a 1970 auction for $15,000 by an anonymous buyer (not me), who then donated them to the Smithsonian in 1979. The whereabouts of the pair of ruby slippers stolen (not by me) from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005 remains an Ozian mystery. (Credit: Baum Bugle Winter 2008).

My Evening of Drugs and Television

The other evening, I decided to spend it watching some commercial television programs. To my surprise it turned out to be an evening beset with inducements to partake of various drugs; consisting of over 25 solicitations for drugs ranging from anti-depressants to remedies for erectile dysfunction. Considering the barrage of the drug commercials that our populace is subject to on a daily basis; not just via television but radio, magazines, newspapers, billboards, direct mail, etc., it is no wonder that there is such wide-spread drug dependency and addiction. I am bewildered by the government’s extensive efforts to control some drugs such as marijuana and steroids but is doing nothing with respect to curtailing or regulating some of these other advertised drugs that can be just as harmful, if not more so.

A sample of these drugs included: Crestar for plaque buildup, Flomax for urinary control, Calais and Viagra for erectile dysfunction, Omnaris, Claritin and Zyretec for allergies, Zantac for heart burn, Celebrex for arthritis pain, Alli for weight loss, Pamprin for period relief, Lunesta for insomnia, Excedrin, Aleve, and Tylenol for pain/headaches, Bayer aspirin for heart attack prevention, and (my favorite) Cymatia for depression – after watching that advertisement, it so depressed me that I could have gone for some. After praising all the benefits of the drugs (appeared that one would magically transport me to a Caribbean island complete with beautiful people and delicious foods and drinks), the possible side effects are mentioned very quickly and in a cheerful tone. What is with cheerfulness when side effects include: blurred vision, heart palpitations, fall in blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, uncontrollable bowel movements, headaches, heart attack, skin rash, trouble breathing, swelling of tongue, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, vomiting, seizures, suppression of immune system, erection lasting for hours (Mmm), fainting, dizziness, and death?

In fairness, I should mention there was one anti-drug advertisement but I found it bewildering in that it featured a young man who stated that his supplier was his parent’s medicine cabinet. Then there was the attorney ad that blared out that you should call them if you suffered any incurable side effects, became disabled or DIED (not sure how you do that) from taking any “prescription” drugs.

What is the purpose of this rant? Nothing more than to express my aggregation and annoyance at the profusion and irresponsibility of these commercials, dismay over all the money that is spent on promotion instead of lowering drug costs, the false message that it is okay, even acceptable, to ingest this or that drug to remedy whatever twitch, ailment, or mood is being experienced and the hypocrisies of it all. I am just saying ----.