embo journals get it right

the publishing process needs to be faster and more transparent. also, thoughtful comments from thoughtful reviewers should be made public. i'm impressed by the new rules for the EMBO journals (link here) - now the rest of the industry needs to move in this direction. i get the feeling something is happening that is eventful, see the schekman screed and the starting of eLife. if even the 1% are having trouble, the changes are about to happen.

best abstract read today by far

there is something nice about Current Biology

why physicists don't necessarily make great parents

hat tip to rafa silverman

i thought of ending our course on the scientific method with this video

any comments?

[a postdoc] it should be the best time... not filled with anxiety

Petsko has several sensible things to say.  'Doubling all the stipends' is the most interesting though as it would lead people to hire more technicians and fewer students and postdocs.