This is the reason so many U.S. consumers flock to Canadian pharmacies where they can get the same medications they would purchase in the U.S. at a fraction of the cost. Drug companies have spent millions lobbying congress to prevent the importation of drugs from Canada, not because of safety concerns but because of profit loss. Canada's government negotiates the price for medications sold nationally making them significantly cheaper than buying the same medications here.

The fear for many is that the dropping profit margins will result in less research and development funding, leading to less new drugs being developed. This is not only a concern for disease conditions that have few or no treatments, but a concern for more common conditions requiring antibiotics. Antibiotics that worked well in the past are beginning to lose effectiveness as bacteria and viruses mutate into forms that are resistant to current antibiotics.

Trying to keep calm in speed interviews

The notebook's left flap held copies of his resume. In the right flap was a piece of sheet music, written in Spanish. As a member of the college's Madrigal Singers, it's a piece he'll perform.And in a few hours, he'll use it in a tutoring session for a Spanish student at the school. He tutors every Monday and Tuesday night.Neeson was patient. He wasn't fidgeting with his hair or nervously tapping his feet on the floor. He was sitting up straight, calm and composed.The barrage of questions would soon come, almost immediately as the apologetic representatives from WABC, a certified public accountant firm, took their seats."What year are you?" asked Allan C. Sanders, a WABC principal."I'm a senior," Neeson answered with a smile."What made you want to go into this profession?" Sanders followed."What classes have you taken?" was the logical follow-up.

Ameren customers angered with rate increase proposal

Ameren officials are asking for $247 million more annually to help cover rising replacement costs for items such as utility grade wire, poles and plastic pipe. They claim the added revenue would not go toward offsetting the costs of rebates and refunds tied to this year's rate relief settlement.The Illinois Commerce Commission, which ultimately will decide to accept or reject Ameren's proposal, hosted the public hearing - the first of six statewide and the only hearing in the region.State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, who asked the ICC to make Marion one of its stops, was not impressed with Nelson's presentation. He said another rate increase for the utility is unconscionable given that Ameren only had to pay back $150 million in rebates to its customers as part of the $1 billion agreement forged with the legislature last year."They say they're suffering, but they ought to see the suffering put on the people of Southern Illinois," Bradley said.

Victorian house as smart as it is spacious

HACKENSACK, N.J. — A traditional Victorian house in forested Vernon Township, N.J., holds a secret: It's really a technophile's dream.

They found the basic plans for the house 20 years ago in a magazine and kept them until they were able to buy a nearly two-acre lot eight years later and begin building.

Chinese cars attractive at Cairo Int'l Motor Show

Shining shape, fine quality, good price and satisfactory performance of Chinese cars attracted many visitors at the 15th Cairo International Motor Show yesterday, the first day open to the public.

At the entrance of Hall 4 of the Motor show held at the Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Center, a large brand of "Geely" and its auto model picture drew the attention of the visitors.

"We trust Geely, not only its price but also the quality and performance, that's why we chose to be an Egyptian agent of the car," Ali El Dosoky, sales manager of an Egyptian Motors company, told Xinhua.

Dosoky said although his company has recently begun marketing the Geely cars, which entered the Egyptian market three years ago,he has confidence on the prospect of Geely cars' sale.

Also on display is another model of Chinese car with the brand of UFO and the Egyptian name "Grand XPlosion."

After test-driving inside a "Grand XPlosion", Zena, a Lebanese lady who is working at an accounting company in Cairo, told Xinhua that she has been thinking of buying a Chinese car.

2007 Subaru WRX TR Sedan Review

The Subaru WRX, the original rally car for the road, got the first major changes of its American-market career, for the 2006 model year. If the new-look nose restyling was the most apparent change, the most significant revisions were under the aluminum hood. The original 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled boxer four was replaced by the detuned version of the 2.5-liter STi engine used in the Forester XT. With 230 horsepower it would seem little different from the 2.0-liter engine's 227, but there was a significant increase in torque, from 217 to 235 lb-ft. To complement the improved power output, plus-one tires, 17- instead of 16-inch, wider and lower in profile, were fitted, and suspension, brake and airbag systems were upgraded.

And the WRX lineup grew, with the introduction of two additional trim levels, the TR, for the sedan body style only, and the Limited for both the sedan and wagon.