Redirecting...

Every time I log on to create a new post, I get a message that says "Redirecting" before I'm connected to this blog. It gives me a few extra seconds to think about what exactly I'm going to write. Today, I'm not so sure. Every morning I get a newsletter from mediabistro.com, which is all about the magazine and media business. It contains the latest "news" on who's leaving this publication or station and who's starting at that publication or station, which publication or show is doing well and which is tanking. They also help keep up your skills through their online seminars or offline classes. Today, along with news that a man who killed three people in Greenwich Village in New York City yesterday used to be a Wall Street Journal reporter and editor, was an online article about blogging that caught my attention.

Did you know blogging is getting to be so popular that two are created each second? Blogging is huge! Advice in the article included trying to position blogs like the popular entertainment blogs. I took a look at some of them, and I don't think you'd all be interested in what books I'm reading now, what music I'm listening to, my commentary on last night's episode of "Lost" or the celebrities I've seen recently. (Although, a few days ago I saw comedian Jeff Foxworthy at my local grocery store buying cat food and Doritos, maybe planning to sit down with a snack and watch his new show on TV. And I saw Mets pitcher Tom Glavine at the opening day of the local youth baseball park two Saturdays ago. His two boys looked adorable in their own little Mets uniforms, as Tom bought them pizza at the concession stand after their first games of the season.)

I admit, the thought never crossed my mind to snap their pictures with my cell phone and plaster them on my blog. So maybe I'm not a true blogger? Maybe I'm just a writer. Is that so bad? I'm questioning blogging because we're all questioning blogging. Our aim was to bring up topics of discussion, mention new studies and create a community among people with arthritis. We've done that somewhat, but are we doing enough? Another tip in the article I read is that bloggers should add new posts three times a week. I'll give that a shot, but I'm still not promising candid celebrity shots or gab about TV shows (unless the FOX medical drama "House" has yet another patient with an arthritis-related condition!)

In the meantime, please let me know if you've read this. I'm curious. You don't have to post a comment, unless you want to. I just want to know how many people are reading it. I know you're out there. I know that 115 of you have read the blog and then subscribed to Arthritis Today -- that's awesome! But I want to give all of you what you want. If you have a minute, I'd love to know what you DO want out of this blog. Do you want a daily newsfeed about arthritis studies? Do you want tips on just taking care of yourself -- how to eat right, an exercise move to try, a handy new gadget that might make life easier, a way to ease stress? Let me know, because another bit of information I learned today is that this blog could become a mobblog; that is, a blog where several people have input and can add new posts. We can alter the blog, if you want, but then how will it be distinct from the Arthritis Today Web site (take a look there at www.arthritis.org/arthritistoday.

Blogs are new to everyone. Let's make this one what works best for all of you who are reading it and have fun doing it!

Take care,
Donna

Advocating is Working!

This year's advocates have been working hard, and their efforts are paying off. The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act that I mention in my previous blog post officially has been introduced in the House of Representatives! A total of 57 representatives were original cosponsors. Check out the list of them below. If your state representative is not included, please contact them and urge them to become a sponsor. This is an important act that will help improve the lives of many people with arthritis. Head to www.arthritis.org/advocacy to learn who your representatives are, learn how to contact them and find out what to say. Your help is deeply appreciated.

Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1]
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6]
Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2]
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5]
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1]
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23]
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10]
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11]
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14]
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28]
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7]
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4]
Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11]
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10]
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14]
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17]
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4]
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6]
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6]
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6]
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18]
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1]
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10]
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2]
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12]
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5]
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2]
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18]
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14]
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2]
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7]
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23]
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21]
Rep Miller, George [CA-7]
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3]
Rep Pickering, Charles W. "Chip" [MS-3]
Rep Platts, Todd [PA-19]
Rep Todd Russell [PA-19]
Rep Ramstad, Jim [MN-3]
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15]
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16]
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4]
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9]
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29]
Rep Schmidt, Jean [OH-2]
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13]
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16]
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32]
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10]
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6]
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10]
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8]
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33]
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30]
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10]
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 3/1/2007