"Health & Medical News"

We have blogged about the power of online social networks before as have many other bloggers. The Wall Street Journal has a brief review on online social networks and cause marketing that you can see below. For those of us in the public health space, we should be taking notes on how to leverage these ideas and what’s around the corner for reaching out to people (for education, involvement, philanthropy, documenting disease trends, etc.). This may not be directly related to global health yet or promoting a favorite cause, but check out the growing popularity of PatientsLikeMe (a social networking site of sorts where patients can discuss how they managed their conditions… and perhaps they can add a feature down the line for raising funds for a particular disease?).

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Rhode Island’s social-host law, designed to prevent underage drinking parties, has been hobbled by language that limits its application to the host’s “residence,” thus excluding drinking in backyards or other locations on private property.

East Bay Newspapers reported Sept. 25 that lawmakers are trying to revise the bill to close the loophole. “This is supposed to be about the host who is holding the party and making alcohol available to underage kids,” said Rep. Jan Malik, the cosponsor of the original legislation who is also working on the revision. Now, says Malik, “if you hear the police are coming over, you just run into the backyard.”

Popularity: 4% [?]