Effect Measure

Today is the third blogiversary of Effect Measure. We started it on blogger as a whim in 2004 while Mrs. R. was making a Thanksgiving dinner. Since then there have been posts under the Effect Measure name by the Reveres every day, 365 days a year for three years, some 2300 in all. Since our move to Scienceblogs in early June of 2006 we have averaged a bit over 1100 unique visits a day. In the process we have accumulated an interesting, engaged and idiosyncratic community of commenters: contributors, arguers, polemicists, the outraged, sometimes the appreciative, the hyperverbose, the laconic. 15,300 comments in all. This is a left leaning blog for sure, but we are glad it isn’t a political echo chamber, as even a cursory perusal of the comment threads will demonstrate. Everyone is welcome here as long as they stay within our fairly loose definition of civility. Muscular argument is encouraged. Name calling or vile sentiments are not. We get to decide the boundaries. A blog isn’t a democracy.

The year has has seen some notable blog events. We finished strong with what we believe to be the only insider account of the critical flu virus sharing summit just concluded in Geneva (see here and links therein). It wasn’t live blogging but it came close, with daily dispatches from a participant. The major news outlets covered the opening but were either frozen out thereafter or decided not to follow it in detail. Effect Measure was (and is) the only place you could get the information on what was happening behind closed doors.

As the year started we were still engaged in the tragic case of the Tripoli 6. Effect Measure was the gateway to the vigorous blogosphere response, a response I am proud to say was taken up by many Sciencebloggers. The initial push spread quickly to the political left and right of the blogosphere and the reaction played a part in the eventual liberation of those unhappy health colleagues unjustly imprisoned and facing death sentences in Libya.

Between those events was a long year of following developments on the pandemic flu front, including several series to explain emerging or particularly relevant aspects of flu science. One was a gargantuan paragraph by paragraph, section by section, equation by equation and figure by figure explication of a mathematical modeling paper on the dynamics of antiviral resistance spread, running 17 long posts. Lots more flu science here. Plus a ton of other stuff.

Daily blogging is hard work and no wages. There is no guarantee Effect Measure will survive to see a fourth year. Meanwhile, though, we’re still around. See you tomorrow.

Comments

#1 M. Randolph Kruger
November 25, 2007

Happy Anniversary to all the Revere’s Doc!
#2 Coturnix
November 25, 2007

Happy blogiversary! There is great stuff here every day and especially kudos for your persistence in the Tripoli 6 case which was an inspiration for all of us.
#3 Dylan
November 25, 2007

Congratulations, Revere. I think all who post comments here (and the many who don’t) are fully aware of just how indebted we are to you. You’ve done an extraordinary job with “Effect Measure;” I certainly hope that you will continue to provide this valuable “community,” which you have constructed, with your proven expertise, wisdom, and welcome humor. I think that many of us have come to feel very much at home, here.

Great job!

“the hyperverbose” (If I guess correctly, do I win a prize?)
#4 Fla_Medic
November 25, 2007

Congratulations and Happy Blogiversary!

Effect Measure is always at the top of my list to visit each day. Your efforts are appreciated.
#5 Laelaps
November 25, 2007

Happy blogiversary!
#6 Orac
November 25, 2007

Congrats! May you continue on.

Time flies, as I’ve discovered given that my third blogiversary is approaching…
#7 Jeb, FCD
November 25, 2007

Congrats!
#8 Abel Pharmboy
November 25, 2007

Heartiest congratulations on your third year – always an enjoyable and informative read. Public health never gets the credit it deserves because no one sees the lives saved and fewer people are old enough to remember the devastation of infectious diseases before vaccines and judicious use of antibiotics.

Your promotion of the Tripoli 6 case was a great service to all of the scientific community. I’m honored to call you a colleague and am fortunate to count myself among your readers.
#9 DemFromCT
November 25, 2007

Happy ‘versery, reveres!!
#10 epifreek
November 25, 2007

Congratulations Reveres! As a front line public health worker, this is the one blog I read and I find that it is incredibly helpful in keeping me up to date on the issues. Thank you so much!
#11 Sandra Porter
November 25, 2007

Congratulations Revere!

May you survive another year and certainly as many as you wish. I always enjoy reading what you have to say.
#12 Crawford Kilian
November 25, 2007

You guys were already on the case when I wandered in searching for an education, and thank you for providing it.

If you think you’re “left-leaning,” though, you need to get out more. Outside the palaeolithic US, you’re smack-dab in the center.

Abrazos,

Crof
#13 gilmore
November 25, 2007

Consider me amongst the appreciative. . . Congrats on 3 years and I hope we celebrate four. . . REALLY hope ! ! !
#14 Blake Stacey
November 25, 2007

Whatever you do, don’t stop now!
#15 bar
November 25, 2007

Thanks for a topical blog.
#16 karen
November 26, 2007

Happy blogiversary! and keep up the good work……..
#17 Ana
November 26, 2007

Congratulations. Thanks for the great work.
#18 slovenia
November 26, 2007

Looking for info on bird flu I first stumbled over you then found Crof. Effect Measure and H5N1 are my first stops (except during baseball season). What I learn I pass on. Thank you very much.
#19 Marissa
November 26, 2007

Congrats! I know how much work it takes to keep a stimulating blog going.
#20 Liz
November 26, 2007

Congratulations! I’ve learned a lot from this blog, and am amazed that you’re able to keep to such a high standard day in and day out.
#21 maryn
November 26, 2007

Congratulations, Reveres!
#22 Nick
November 26, 2007

Thanks so much…hard to believe its been 3 year. Your work is quite appreciated.
#23 MoM
November 26, 2007

metoo, metoo. A day late and a dollar short, but I certainly appreciate what y’all do. This is one of only a few internet sites I dare to frequent at work. I figure I can justify it, even to the internet police.
#24 Max S.
November 26, 2007

Given that it took me five minutes to compose this bit of text… I can only imagine how much time you have put into this first rate blog.

Thanks and congratulations for another great year of informed insight!
#25 Peter McGrath
November 26, 2007

Congrats Revere, good stuff it is, and long may it continue.
#26 joe pyke
November 27, 2007

Yes, bravo! From one of your many lurkers. My Sunday mornings wouldn’t be the same without your Sermonettes. It prepare’s me for what’s to come, cause I usually go golfing after, and any linguring doubts are quickly dispelled!

JP.
#27 wenchacha
November 27, 2007

My congratulations to all you reveres. And many thanks. Your insight and rationality are always welcome in the land of blogs.

Keep banging the drums for the issue of public health. It’s one of those funny things you never miss until you need it and it’s nowhere to be found.
#28 Tara C. Smith
November 28, 2007

I’m late to the party, but happy blogiversary anyway. Regardless of pay, do know that your work is very much enjoyed and appreciated.
#29 paiwan
November 29, 2007

I come across via H5N1 to this blog, and I have experienced a kind of openness while reading the messages, for my own self-relection particularly. It has restored the hope that we are in a global village, and the creative minority indeed exists so called the class of world citizens.