"Damn Right" W. Approved Waterboarding

CBS News reported:

In his book, titled "Decision Points," President George W. Bush recounts being asked by the CIA whether it could proceed with waterboarding Mohammed, who Bush said was suspected of knowing about still-pending terrorist plots against the United States. Bush writes that his reply was "Damn right" and states that he would make the same decision again to save lives. 

"I was a big supporter of waterboarding," Vice President Richard B. Cheney acknowledged in a television interview in February. . .

How will President Obama respond, given his 2009 stance?  The DailyMail reported:

America lost its ‘moral bearings’ over its torture of terrorist suspects, President Obama said last night.  He also left the door open for possible prosecutions of Bush administration lawyers who approved tough interrogation methods such as waterboarding.

Mr Obama conceded that an inquiry might be necessary, despite earlier assurances that those responsible for ordering and carrying out the torture techniques would not be punished. 

No inquiry is necessary.  Order the Justice Department to buy Bush's book and look at the Cheney tape.  The next loss of moral bearings will be Obama's free pass to W. and Shooter.

Update 2-7-11:  Human Rights Groups prepared a preliminary indictment  for President George W. Bush.  Bush canceled his trip to Switzerland to avoid indictment, preventing a Tony Blair like scene.

Inflammatory Election Ads Hit Record

Political television ads are expected to hit $3 billion. Most are intended to inflame the public, i.e. mobilize people to the polls for tomorrow's election.  Besides spending a record amount on mostly negative ads, a few election facts are worth noting.

One, there is no Federal Election Commission requirement that ads be true.  Candidates purposely fracture truth, one pillar of the American way.  Hyper-competition requires any end justifying the means. 

Two, there is no way for the public to know who is behind candidates.  For ads to hit $3 billion, it's obviously people or organizations with resources.  What do they expect in return for their sponsorship?  History shows earmarks, favorable rules and regulations, preferred tax status, even billions in government business. 

I don't see how things can change under our system, given hyper-competition, funding darkness and purposeful untruths.  I'll vote tomorrow, wishing all along that America's choices were different.

What if elections were true, fair, fostered goodwill and were beneficial to all involved?  That'd be Rotary nice.  It'd also provide us higher quality leadership.

Instead, America will be damaged by excessive inflammation.

Pfizer Recalls Lipitor Over Odor

Pfizer joined Johnson & Johnson in recalling medicine due to noxious chemical 2, 4, 6-tribromoanisole(TBP).  Pfizer recalled over 225,000 bottles in 2010 due to the odor problem.  Note the company's response:

"Research indicates that a major source of tribromoanisole (TBA) appears to be 2, 4, 6-tribromoanisole(TBP), a chemical used as a wood preservative," the company said. "Although TBP often is applied to pallets used to transport and store a variety of products, Pfizer prohibits the utilization of TBP-treated wood in the shipment of its medicines."

What were the other sources of TBA?  Were they in packaging not shipped on TBP treated wood?  Was TBA in any medicinal ingredients?

J & J's Tylenol problems went beyond improper wood pallet use.  They shuttered their Ft. Washington plant and are working to line up suppliers for its reopening.

Pfizer said the bottles were supplied by a third-party manufacturer.

By whom and from where?  China is a favored supplier for drug manufacturers.  Cheap labor and ingredients, while providing substantial cost savings, do not ensure quality.

It's J & J's and Pfizer's job.  While nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea aren't life threatening, medicines are supposed to relieve, not cause symptoms.

Dr. W. Edwards Deming said know your supplier, a difficult task when production is global.  Pfizer and J & J are in the midst of this lesson.

Unlikely Air Incidents & Terrorism

What are the odds that bombs would be found on planes the same day a flight decompressed from a several foot hole?  Two bombs were found on US bound flights.

“The cargo hold has always been of great concern in cargo planes because we’ve never really got our arms around the security of those planes.”

Not all packages fly in cargo planes, much less the cargo hold.  As a passenger, I've seen packages in the front of the plane, where flight personnel typically store their gear.  As for the plane that developed a two foot hole near the front left cabin door, it was going from Miami to Boston.

investigators say that they have yet to isolate the precise cause of the hole.

Officials say it is similar to cracks in the fuselage of a United 757, found last month.  A Southwest plane developed a gaping hole, pictured above.

Where had the plane been prior to landing at Miami International Airport?  Was it Dubai?  While inspection will ramp up on the packaging side of air travel, any inspection regime is hardly foolproof. (The British almost missed their package bomb, catching it only on a second lockdown.  That was after getting a printer cartridge description.)

What's greater, the error rate of an inspection effort or the chances of an exterior skin failure on the same day two bombs are found?   My guess, the error rate is the larger number.

John Browne's Misplaced Culture of Higher Education

Lord John Browne of Madingley released his report on British higher education.  He stated noble aims:

It is designed to make a system which lasts and increases quality and allows participation to go up.

It succeeds on the latter. University students will be charged £6,000 a year or more under Browne's plan. The reference to quality in the report, universities will "maintain minimum standards."  As for making the system last, Browne was mum on the details:

I don't know how much the government needs to take out of the higher education budget, but this system is designed to be sustainable for the future.

That sounds like the Lord John Browne giving deposition in fifteen deaths at BP's Texas City refinery.  For a Fortune 500 leader, Browne knew surprisingly little.

Lord Brown has a history of misplaced emphasis. James A. Baker, III's investigative report on the refinery explosion blamed a "misplaced culture of safety."  It cited a focus on personal safety vs. process safety.

Dr. W. Edwards Deming, once the world's foremost quality expert,  noted the overwhelming impact of organizational systems vs. individual effort on outcomes.  He said the system comprised 94%, the individual only 6%.  BP CEO Lord John Browne focused on the 6%, when he zeroed in on personal safety, while slashing operating costs, 25% in one year's time. 

Dr. Deming said profound knowledge comes from the outside.  That means people, i.e students, don't know what they don't know.  Lord Browne's plan puts the individual student in charge of their education, especially financially.  He's back to focusing on the 6%.  How will these changes impact higher education systems, the other 94%?

Lord Browne carved out a profitable student-housing niche for his employer, The Carlyle Group. No means testing is required for student living loans.  Carlyle has huge plans for student housing in London.  Carlyle loves when government effectively guarantees payment for services.  Browne is maddeningly slippery.

Lord John Browne's misplaced culture surfaces again, this time with a PEU odor.  Apparently, leaders are used to the smell, as private equity underwriters are now mainstream..


Update 10-31-10:  Browne aims for a 40% cut in government operating funds for higher education.

Today's Recalls

A surprising number of recalls hit the wires today.  They include:

J & J Tylenol 8 hour capsules (50 count)-MarketWatch

Tylenol's quality implosion is chronicled in two posts on this blog (here and here).  Other recalls involved automobiles manufactured by Chrysler and Volvo.  ABC News reported:

Chrysler's recall affects about 26,000 cars and pickup trucks that have power steering hoses that can develop leaks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website that steering fluid hoses can separate at the crimped end and leak fluid on the engine, potentially causing a fire.

The recall affects some 2010 models of the Chrysler 300 and Sebring, the Dodge Avenger, Charger, Challenger and Journey, and some 2011 Dodge Ram pickups.

The Volvo recall affects nearly 10,000 vehicles to fix front air bag systems that may not deploy in a crash.

The recall includes certain S80 sedans and XC70 crossover vehicles from the 2010-2011 model year and model year 2010 V70 wagons.

Children's toys were not exempt from the recall list.  Virginia Pilot reported:

Dollar Tree Inc. has recalled about 275,000 children’s flashlights because they can overheat and potentially burn users, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Dollar Tree, based in Chesapeake, voluntarily pulled the projector flashlights that depict the characters Wolverine, Spider-Man and Iron Man 2. They are about 6.5 inches long and were sold at Dollar Tree stores and its sister chains Dollar Bills, Dollar Tree $1 Stop and Deals since August.

The flashlight batteries and/or bulb can overheat, causing a potential fire hazard or burns, according to the commission.

The hazardous flashlights were made in China.  Even infant strollers were recalled:

Graco is recalling about 2 million strollers after getting reports that four infants died in those strollers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says babies who aren't strapped in properly can slide through the opening between the stroller tray and bottom of the seat.

The reports are at least five years old, according to CNN Money:

The CPSC said the recall applies to Quattro and MetroLite strollers, which caused four infant deaths from strangulation. Deaths occurred between 2003 and 2005.

Food made the list:

The Pictsweet Company announced a voluntary recall of certain codes of store brand products containing frozen Green Peas after it learned some packages may contain glass fragments.

The Tennessee based company said in a statement on the FDA website, the product “may cause injury” if ingested.

Products distributed only to Kroger stores in the Southeast United States and Walmart stores throughout the United States were subject to the recall.

The company could not say how many packages are involved in the recall.

Also recalled, BMW motorcycles and luxury vehicles sold in China.  Even children's overalls and play toys were recalled.

Buyer beware is here and not going away anytime soon.  Leaders don't remember the name of the world's foremost quality guru, much less his teachings.

San Angelo's Health Department Decimation & ERRP Gift

Tight budgets over the last fifteen years caused the shedding of major health department services.  The Primary care clinic went first.  The city then shed its pharmacy and social services ($176,000 savings).  The 2010-2011 budget indicates what's left:

Immunizations
TB Clinic
Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic

Oddly, the city added an employee health clinic while cutting services to the public.  This may make financial sense for San Angelo, as it could save health insurance costs, where the City is self insured.

Health reform included a $5 billion Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) and the City was in the initial group approved for reimbursement.  Over a two year period the City expects $750,000 in ERRP funding.  The money is intended to keep health insurance affordable for early retirees.

Hewitt Associates generally projected a 25 to 35% savings within any retiree healthcare program.  That's $2,000 to $3,000 per early retiree. In this scenario, the City's expected funding translates to 150-175 early retirees

Veronica Sanchez with San Angelo Human Resources gave different numbers.  She cited a $200,000 savings on a $4 million program, savings more like 5%.  Had she used the $307,000 expected savings given by the City's benefit consultant (Holmes Murphy), the number would have been near 8%, but well below Hewitt's projection.

The City budget shows self insurance operating expenses of $6.7 million (page 36).  Veronica's $4 million in retiree health costs comprise 60% of the total.  Maybe 150 early retirees could cost more than 1,000 employees, but it seems out of whack.  Plus, if this were the case, wouldn't reinsurance, paying 80% of costs between $15,000 and $90,000 produce a much bigger check from Uncle Sam?

Is the city spreading ERRP savings over the whole self-insurance program?  There's more to this story.  The report from Holmes Murphy may have the answers.