Free Republic

If you’re a layperson, this is the way you probably think of generics: They’re the exact same products in different packaging... In October the Food and Drug Administration took a highly unusual step: It declared that a generic drug it had previously approved — a version of the popular antidepressant Wellbutrin — was not in fact “bioequivalent” to the name-brand version. The FDA withdrew its approval. ...Generic drugs diverge from the originals far more than most of us believe. For starters, it’s not as if the maker of the original pharmaceutical hands over its manufacturing blueprint when its patent runs...

Forget the interview and the personal statement. The most important part of your application to grad school or any job is the part where it lists your alma mater. This is a truth that most employers won't admit. Dozens of recruiters whom we contacted declined to comment or repeated claims that they consider candidates from all schools. But a few recruiters said what they really think. "Close to half of our class in any given year is from Stanford and the California Schools," said Dr. Charles Prober, a senior associate dean of Stanford Medical School. Stanford recruiters know that Stanford...

Gucci and Prada for the under-13 crowd By Alana Semuels, Times Staff Writer November 24, 2006 Dressed in pink Uggs, Seven jeans and a matching pink sweater and cap, Elizabeth Cohen looks the epitome of hip as she winds her way through the holiday crowds at the Grove shopping center in Los Angeles. She is a discerning consumer — her Ugg boots are not knockoffs, and she names Prada and Dolce & Gabbana as her favorite brands. She's also 10 years old. "I ask her, 'What do you need these for?' " said her mother, Jane Cohen of Bel-Air, who...

Notre Dame is a top-10 team for the first time in three years, and Southern California has matched Miami for the longest stay at No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25. Southern California now has been No. 1 for 21 straight polls, a run that dates back to late in the 2003 season and matches the record set by Miami from 2001-2002. Charlie Weis' Fighting Irish are No. 10 in the AP media poll released Sunday, jumping 10 spots after upsetting Michigan 17-10 on Saturday to improve to 2-0. "I think too many times rankings are based off of...

Price: Dealers in unbranded gasoline are enjoying good business from motorists. Mark Krug leases his Rosedale service station from Exxon, buys his gasoline from Exxon and pays the oil giant to use its gold-plated brand name. At his Petro stations in Timonium and Ellicott City, Krug owns the property, buys generic gasoline from whoever gives him the lowest price and hopes consumers don't much care about a tiger in their tank as much as they do about shaving the price of a fill-up. Stations such as Petro may lack the market power of a well-known - and highly marketed -...