The U.S. has come under fire for pressuring developing countries to give up their right to produce cheap, generic anti-AIDS medicines in return for bilateral trade agreements that strengthen protection of costlier, brand-name drugs.

Nobel economics laureate Joseph Stiglitz joined advocacy groups Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières recently in criticizing Washington for bowing to
industry pressure by pursuing a policy the groups say could prevent millions of AIDS patients in poor countries from getting the lifesaving antiretroviral drugs
and treatment they need.

Film Museum Awards to Honor
Contributions to New Mexico Filmmaking

Know anyone who lives and breathes the movie businesses; who can’t get
enough Hollywood Reporter, Variety, or Entertainment Tonight in their diet;
and who — most importantly — is fascinated by all things New Mexican?

For the first time ever, the New Mexico Film Museum Awards will honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to filmmaking in New
Mexico. The filmmaking community, arts groups, and all interested New
Mexicans are invited to toss the name of their favorite film buff into the hat.
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the 2004 Santa Fe Film Festival in early December, held in conjunction with the Governor’s Cup
Award announcements.

“Individuals from any facet of filmmaking who have made significant
contributions to New Mexico’s film industry will be considered,” said Ymelda DeVargas, director of the New Mexico Film Museum, “but so will individuals
and organizations not directly involved in the business that have helped the
industry grow and thrive.”

Added Jon Hendry, New Mexico Tourism Department marketing director,
“the award gives New Mexicans the opportunity to immortalize themselves
or their friends hand-in-hand with the exciting New Mexico Film Museum. Far from being a drab building filled with dusty displays of movie memorabilia, the museum will be a place to come back to, again and again; a place to honor the
past films of New Mexico filmmakers and to celebrate the films of today.”

Nominations must adhere to all requirements. Support materials will not be returned. Faxes are not accepted. For more information contact Ymelda DeVargas, 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501; (505) 827-7340
or (800) 545-2070; or www.nmfilmmuseum.com/news.

Ever Wonder?

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin? Why don’t you ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”? Why is “abbreviated” such a long word? Why
is it that doctors call what they do “practice”? Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? Why is the man
who invests all your money called a broker? Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections? Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together? If
con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? If flying is so
safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

The Man with the Iron Stomach

One night, my friends and I partied all night at a discotheque. Afterwards, we
went to a “bar of the king” that was open day and night. Such bars are known
for housing really bad thugs and pirate-like guys.

My friends and I, two guys and two girls, were sitting at a table drinking vodka
and beer when a big, mean-looking guy approached the table and started
“talking” to us. He was so intoxicated that the collection of syllables he
pronounced could hardly be classified as a language. The girls were annoyed
by his presence, and — typically — tried to get rid of him by calling him names.

In response, the man took an empty beer glass (in Belgium, a beer-glass is as
thick as a normal jar) and bit into it, breaking off a piece. This behavior is
common in men who have unresolved frustration and need to show their
courage, so we weren’t impressed. But then the man started chewing the piece, and quickly bit off another chunk from the glass, chewing and biting until only
the very bottom of the glass remained, which he put back on the table.

We goggled at the man as he was chewing the pieces, and heard the glass
cracking between his teeth. Some blood came out of his mouth. He then tried
to swallow the glass, but choked and spat the remaining blood-soaked pieces
on the table. Then he started gargling blood and fell to his knees.

We were too paralyzed by the event to move, but the bartender ran up to the
man to help. He tried to remove the remaining glass from the man’s mouth,
but the man bit the bartender’s finger so he pulled away. I called an ambulance
from my cell phone. The ambulance arrived quickly.

I don’t know if the man survived. And I really don’t know why he did it. But remember this: if you have an iron stomach, make sure your throat is, too. (www.darwinawards.com)

Poisoning Consumers With Teflon

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has filed a complaint against
DuPont for withholding evidence revealing negative health and environmental impacts from a chemical used to produce Teflon. The chemical, commonly
known as PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), has been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Due to Teflon’s popularity (those nifty non-stick frying pans, etc.), PFOA can now be detected in the bodies of 90% of Americans. The
EPA is investigating the possibility that DuPont may have learned of potential problems with the chemical more than two decades ago. On an international
level, the EPA’s announcement has prompted foreign governments to launch investigations into the toxicity of the chemical, and stores in China have begun pulling Teflon products from their shelves. (For more information visit: www.organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/teflon080904.cfm)