Small Things Considered

¡Atención Hispanoparlantes!

Por primera vez, un articulo de este blog ha sido traducido al castellano (un idioma que Elio maneja). Vease http://weblogs.madrimasd.org/microbiologia/archive/2007/12/23/81281.aspx. Tomen la oportunidad de visitar este blog madrileño, que es de primera clase.

Varios de Uds. abrán notado que este blog otorga la opción de traducir un entero documento a varios idiomas. Como la traducción es hecha “a maquina”, el resultado es frecuentemente chistoso.

For our non-Spanish speakers:

Attention Spanish Speakers. For the first time, an article from this blog has been translated for posting on a Spanish microbiology blog. See http://weblogs.madrimasd.org/microbiologia/archive/2007/12/23/81281.aspx. This is a first class blog that comes to us from Madrid.

Some of you will have noticed the TRANSLATION button on our blog which quickly translates the entire document into any of several languages. Being that this is done by machine, the result can be hilarious.

Holidays 2007

We are taking a holiday break. We wish all our readers and their microbiomes a happy holiday season and a symbiotic new year.

Winter Solstice in Antarctica. Triple exposure, photo by Critter.
Source: www.banoncom.com

'tis the 30th of November...

...and today we celebrate the first anniversary of this blog. It’s been fun (and considerable work). We thank all who have contributed by writing articles, commenting, and visiting.

For your convenience, consider subscribing. In the left-hand column, click either the orange RSS button or the SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL link.

A Nice Bouquet

"I just came across your blog and wanted to thank you for contributing such a breadth of information regarding many different aspects of microbiology. I'm going to be teaching an advanced microbiology course this spring and I'm excited to be referencing your blog.

Thanks again for spending the time to do this."

Bethany D. Jenkins
University of Rhode Island

Calling All Teachers

As the school year begins, we would like to hear from you about uses that you may have for this blog in your classroom. We think that the material here lends itself particularly well to use as supplemental readings─providing intellectual enrichment to students who desire it. The blog has been mentioned in class syllabi, usually under "Further reading" or "Interesting material" or some such heading. And indeed, this accurately depicts one of its uses.

But we would like to encourage you to consider various other uses, as well. We know of several more active ways in which the blog has been utilized already.

Microblogology

Last May, a group of microbiologically-oriented bloggers were interviewed by Chris Condayan of the American Society for Microbiology's MicrobeWorld. This video ("Microblogology") features John Logsdon, Jonathan Badger, Yersinia, Larry Moran, Tara Smith, and myself. We talk about why we blog, what we think is the role of blogging in science, and our views of the greatest microbiological discoveries in the past decade.

A Friend Has a Birthday

One of the most steadfast friends of this blog, Robert Murray, will soon be honored on his 88th birthday by an honorary degree from McGill University.

A "Compte Rendu"

Some distinguished French journals, both old and contemporary, are called Comptes rendus..., a term that to me has the right sound for this entry. Loosely translated it means "accounts rendered."

I wish to render an account of this blog's first six month of existence.