Chronic Bits 

Our fave health blog carnival, Grand Rounds, is fresh over at Monash Medical Student, and we're proud to be featured. Good reading, Babes!

The American Medical Association has a terrific program for Babes without insurance: Voice for the Uninsured. You can get involved in the fight to gain insurance for all, and learn how the program is advocating on behalf of the millions of uninsured.

From the Arthritis Foundation: the U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a vote today on the House floor on HR 1283, the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act. Please call your rep today to fight for this important legislation; this tool helps you find the right person to call and their phone number. Participate, Babes—it's our right and obligation!

ChronicPal Sherril Johnson at the Invisible Chronic Illness Experience reports that the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2008 (PDF) has passed in the House of Representatives. Hurrah! Now it's on the senate. She's got great resources to help you participate in getting the bill passed and made law.

Could this be the oldest blog carnival around? Possibly. We adore Grand Rounds and think you will too.

Babes, this story in the Wall Street Journal today is alarming. They report that consumers are cutting basic health care spending so they can stay afloat financially. This is a bitch of a situation, but please promise me—and yourselves—that you won't follow this trend. Cancel the cable TV, eat in instead of going out, do what you have to do—just take good care of yourselves. And we'll work on rounding up some resources to help you save money on health care costs without sacrificing your health! Send us your suggestions.

Our fave nursing blog carnival, Change of Shift - always enlightening, funny, entertaining - is pirate-themed today, hosted by CRZEGirl. Why? Because it's annual "talk like a pirate" day. Arrrrrrrrgh!

One of our fave feminist magazines, Bitch, is in financial straits. Please read their plea for help, check out the entertaining wiener dog graphic, and help out if you can. We need independent press, Babes!

Nurse Ratched's got a new look for her new web site, and a savvy approach to Grand Rounds, our fave medical blog carnival. Enjoy!

Babe Shannon always sends me the best news. Today she clued me in to this MSNBC article that talks about disposal of old medicines, plus the FDA guidelines on which drugs to flush and which to throw in the trash. Thanks for the tips, Babe—keep sending 'em and we'll publish as much as we can!

Today, the Ocala Star-Banner profiled Editrix Jenni Prokopy, plus our pals Kerri Morrone and Paula Kamen, in an article about hip sites that support sick chicks. Huzzah!

Editrix Jenni is excited to be featured on Barking Dog Shoes tonight, wearing her fave shoes: the Naot Matai in luscious orange. With chronic foot pain, she is always hunting for beautiful AND comfortable shoes, so she's a big fan of the shoe-tastic site.

Over at BlogTalkRadio, there's an entire archive of all the presentations from Invisible Illness week...so if you're not able to listen live, we implore you to spend a little time browsing the archived show offerings. There are some terrific speakers here, Babes!

Hey Babes! Editrix Jenni just wrapped up her presentation on "Overcoming Self-Defeating Behaviors When You Are Chronically Ill" as part of National Invisible Illness Awareness Week 2008 - and it's ARCHIVED for easy listening anytime, anyplace. Enjoy!

We got the inside scoop: a pal showed us his preview copy of I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun and we're totally hooked. For Babes with invisible illness—the kind that sidelines us on the couch with pain or fatigue—this hilarious book is just the pick-me-up we need. Pre-order it for delivery in early October.

Melinda Beck write today in the Wall Street Journal about "High Technology for Low Vision"—a new batch of cool inventions that help folks with bad eyesight (but not blindness) see better. We dig!

Who is AppleQuack? You'll have to check out the site to find out. While you're there, get a dose of Grand Rounds. Tasty!

ChronicPal Laurie Edwards hosts a kick-ass edition of Grand Rounds this week, educating us about health and bringing us "the best of the medical blogosphere."

Editrix Jenni Prokopy will be live on the air Tuesday, September 2 from 4-7pm CST talking about being a ChronicBabe and pertinent issues. (Our guess: she'll be talking about storm-related health care issues post-Gustav and in advance of Hanna.) To hear her live (and call in with questions: 312.893.2993) visit Vocalo.org: user-created internet radio. (And while you're at it, you can create your own radio show, too!)