| Multimillion-dollar bond for Curlin co-owners
.icoVid{background:url(http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iVideo.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoVid:hover,.icoVid:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoSli{background:url(http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iSlides.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoSli:hover,.icoSli:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoDis{background:url(http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/iDiscuss.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:14px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoDis:hover,.icoDis:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoNew{background:url(http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/flag_new.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:23px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoNew:hover,.icoNew:visited:hover{text-decoration:none} .icoUpd{background:url(http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/Icons/flag_updated.gif) no-repeat center;padding-left:40px;text-decoration:none;position:static;} .icoUpd:hover,.icoUpd:visited:hover{text-decoration:none;} Skip navigation .
EDITORIAL: Can trinkets decide the pills you take?
Pharmaceutical firms go all-out as they peddle their products. ONE WONDERS WHAT the television networks would do if it weren't for the companies that produce the pills to cure all ills.Commercials claim remedies for forgetfulness, impotence, aches of all sorts, insomnia, depression, acne and hair loss. The ads tend to take up most of the increasing amount of time TV producers devote to bringing in revenue, rather than informing or entertaining viewers.Interestingly, the effectiveness of all these pitches for miracle pills, is diminished by the warnings about possible side effects of taking this or that nostrum. Many of us are turned off when we're told that if we take something to make us sleep better or ease our arthritis, we could find ourselves with loose bowels, heartburn, shortened breath or some other ailment, worse than the one we sought to cure.
Valley Briefing
The training will begin Feb. 4 and continue through March 12, meeting on Monday and Wednesday evenings and two Saturdays, and take place at Mutual Ground, 418 Oak Ave. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and have reliable transportation. Spanish-speaking bilingual individuals are especially needed. Hospital Advocates provide support, information and options for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence at the three area hospitals. Contact Tina Amaya at (630) 897-0084, ext. 120. Fox Valley Register for Bowl For Kids' Sake Registration is now open for the Bowl For Kids' Sake community-wide bowling events in February and March. Bowling parties will take place at Feb. 27 at AMF Valley Lanes, 310 South Lincolnway, North Aurora; Feb. 29 and March 2 at Parkside Lanes, 34W185 Montgomery Road, Aurora; March 1 at HomeTown Lanes, 209 W.
More than 20 Years in the Making
Lenders have about $160 billion of leveraged loans on their books and about $70 billion of junk bonds still must be sold, analyst Clemens Mueller...wrote... 'With highly volatile secondary markets and high-yield spreads having widened to levels not seen since 2003,' sales of bonds and loans are 'very challenging,' Mueller wrote. Debt financing leveraged buyouts 'represents the lion's share of calendar volume.'"' January 25 - Bloomberg (Jody Shenn): "The extra yield over benchmark Treasuries that investors demand to own top-rated commercial mortgage-backed securities rose this week by the most ever, according to a Morgan Stanley index. The average spread over similar-maturity Treasuries for AAA rated 10-year securities jumped 32% to 244 basis points... The extra yield over 10-year swap rates, a more commonly used benchmark, rose 48% to a record 185 bps, the biggest increase since October 1998 amid the collapse of Long Term Capital Management LP and Russia's debt default." January 23 - Bloomberg (Neil Unmack): "American International Group Inc., the world's biggest insurer by assets, will bail out its Nightingale Finance structured investment vehicle, according to Moody's...
Pills That Could Thrill in 2008
THE HEYDAY OF BLOCKBUSTER DRUG discoveries may be over, but drug makers still have breakthroughs in store in the next year, or so. To be sure, the drug industry is less productive than a decade ago. In 2007, drug companies launched 18 new drugs, the fewest since 1983, according to the market research firm IMS Health. And this year, regulators could approve 24 to 29 compounds, almost half the number approved in 1997. Still, there are bright spots. Experts helped Barron's Online identify five drugs expected to hit the market in 2008. All the drugs would improve treatment of serious medical conditions and eventually pay off. The list includes Merck & Co.'s cholesterol drug, Cordaptive and Cardiome Pharma's heart drug, Kynapid. Schering-Plough has the anesthesia medication sugammadex, and Roche Holding has Actemra for rheumatoid arthritis.
Advantage to Weir in first round
MOBILE, Ala. -- Colt Brennan has much to prove to NFL teams no matter how remarkable his college numbers. Besides the normal quarterback indicators like accuracy, arm strength and decision-making, Brennan also must show he can operate a prostyle offense and master the often overlooked task of collecting snaps under center. The record-setting Hawaii quarterback will help lead the South team in today's Senior Bowl, capping a weeklong audition for NFL coaches, scouts and executives. The high-pressure circumstances would seem likely to make Brennan jittery. Instead, he was the guy often seen in the players' hotel, chatting on a cell phone or talking with reporters. Typically with a smile on his face. "This is a great experience for me, because I'm kind of the big question mark as far as the quarterbacks in the draft," Brennan said.
Mary-Kate Olsen's minder's saw Heath Ledger first: witness
Heath is unconscious. I don't know what to do!" Ms Wolozin screamed in her first call to Olsen, police reportedly said. Olsen, who has an apartment around the corner from Ledger's - but who was in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival at the time - replied: "I'm sending my private security there." When Ms Wolozin then found Ledger had turned cold she called Olsen again, saying: "I think he may be dead." Rather than suggest she call 911, Olsen said: "I already have people coming over." A police source reportedly said later: "So, why wasn't the first call to 911? People who work for the stars are consumed with how things appear." It has been suggested the bodyguards may have "cleared" the scene. No illegal drugs were found in the apartment. Results of toxicology tests from a post-mortem are not expected for a week.
|
