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MyMeso.org launches, aims to raise awareness on deadly form of lung cancer

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It is the primary goal of MyMeso.org to raise awareness in the public about mesothelioma and related asbestos diseases, to provide a forum for those affected by mesothelioma, and to create a network of information and resources expanding hope for a cure. MyMeso.org is a public awareness and community outreach effort of Beasley, Allen, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer affecting the mesothelium, or the protective lining around our internal organs. It most commonly affects the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart. Unfortunately, many symptoms of mesothelioma (shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain) do not appear for 20 or more years, making it difficult to diagnose early. For this reason, the cancer is often diagnosed in the later stages, making it difficult for proper treatment and survival.

Mesothelioma is most strongly associated with exposure to asbestos. There are two main types – pleural, the more common form, which affects the lining of the chest; and peritoneal, affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity.

Originally posted on March 24, 2008 @ 9:04 am

PicApp launches, offers access to copyrighted news and images

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PicApp, a new service that gives bloggers and other online publishers access to copyrighted news and creative images free to use alongside their editorial content, has launched in public beta.

PicApp enables bloggers to choose from extensive collections of millions of copyrighted images being updated by the thousands each day that have been licensed from Getty Images, Corbis and other prestigious image agencies to visualize the content on their web sites. Each image is accompanied by a non-intrusive ad to drive royalties to the related content partners, instead of the traditional license fees.

Bloggers covering the day-to-day trials and tribulations of the U.S. presidential race, for instance, could find up-to-the-minute photos of the candidates on the campaign trail at PicApp.com.

Originally posted on March 21, 2008 @ 6:37 pm

OurWeddingDay.com launches new blog

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OurWeddingDay.com, an online wedding planning resource, has launched a new blog that includes a wealth of commentary on wedding planning, fashion and trends, real-life wedding tales, celebrity weddings, and photo journals.

“Our priority has always been to personalize the bride’s online experience. Our brides already devote a large amount of time each day on our site. The creation of this blog was a logical next step for us,” said Henry Chamberlain, CEO for LifeStageMedia, Inc., the parent company of OurWeddingDay.com.

Originally posted on March 18, 2008 @ 9:28 am

No more locker room access for Dallas Mavericks bloggers

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dallas-mavs.gifMark Cuban, an American billionaire entrepreneur and proud owner of NBA franchise Dallas Mavericks, is now the center of attention and hate remarks in the blogosphere for his controversial policy of banning bloggers from the team’s locker room. Here’s the actual rule:

The Dallas Mavericks will not allow ANY writer into the locker room areas pre-game and post-game whose primary purpose is to blog no matter what affiliation. They may still represent their respective publication at games but will not be granted locker room access.

Furthermore, if a blog writer is coming to cover a game, the publication must inform the Mavericks PR staff they are sending a blogger. In order to enforce this policy, we must know this information.

We have gone this route because we did not want to give preferential treatment to any blogger, whether they are an individual or from a large media outlet. We just do not have enough room in the locker room, nor enough media passes to fairly accommodate everyone.

[Read more…]

Originally posted on March 12, 2008 @ 4:12 am

More than half of Americans never read political blogs

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Are people really reading political blogs? The answer is no, as over half of Americans (56%) say they never read blogs that discuss politics. Just under one-quarter (23%) say that they read them several times a year and just 22 percent of Americans read blogs regularly (several times a month or more).

These are some of the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,302 U.S. adults surveyed online between January 15 and 22, 2008 by Harris Interactive.

While it could be said that blogs are just a younger person’s folly, in our study this is not the case. Just one in ten (19%) Echo Boomers (those aged 18-31) regularly read a political blog and only 17 percent of Gen Xers (those aged 32-43) say the same. Matures (those aged 63 and older) are actually the generation most likely to be political blog readers as just over one-quarter (26%) say they regularly do so followed by 23 percent of Baby Boomers (those aged 44-62). Also, one hears of the rabid blogs on both sides of the political aisle, but just 22 percent of Republicans and 20 percent of Democrats regularly read blogs. Independents are the ones slightly more likely to read these, as just over one-quarter (26%) say they regularly read political blogs.

Looking at those who regularly do read political blogs, over half (54%) read one or two at least once a week with an additional 22 percent reading 3-4 at least once a week. And, while they may read these, they do not comment on them. Over two-thirds (69%) of those who regularly read blogs did not comment on one in the previous week. Republicans are slightly more likely than Democrats to comment. One-third of Republicans (34%) commented in the previous week compared to 28 percent of Democrats.

One of the criticisms about blogs is their accuracy. Since anyone can write a blog or comment on one, there is no sense of fact checking. Well, only one in five (22%) regular blog readers say the information they read on blogs is less accurate when compared to the mainstream media while three in ten (30%) say it is more accurate and almost half (48%) say just as accurate. Besides accuracy, there is also a value issue. When compared to the mainstream media, one-third of regular blog readers (33%) say the information they read on blogs is more valuable, half (49%) say just as valuable and just 18 percent say it is less valuable. Republicans are more likely to find value (41%) and accuracy (37%) in the information they read on blogs than Democrats are (25% and 21% respectively).

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Originally posted on March 10, 2008 @ 10:09 am