Pills, celebrity doctors and artificial hearts

TWO YEARS AGO, Dr. Robert Jarvik began appearing in television ads promoting Pfizer's cholesterol-lowering drug, Lipitor. In one ad, he seems to effortlessly row a racing shell across a mountain lake while advising us that, When diet and exercise aren't enough, adding Lipitor significantly lowers cholesterol.

I must confess my envy of Dr. Jarvik. For one thing, he appears to be retired. In the commercials, he hangs out in nature, evinces Zen-like tranquility while rowing a one-man scull that glides across placid waters, all while I juggle too many jobs and projects. My envy was amplified when I read in the newspapers that he received at least $1.35 million to serve a two-year stint as Pfizer's outdoorsy pitchman for Lipitor. Hey, I yelled at my television set, I take generic Mevacor for high cholesterol.

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