Effect Measure

Announcing a summer schedule

Posted by revere on April 27, 2008
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The Reveres caucused this weekend and finally decided that with summer coming on and the academic and flu seasons ending this would be a good time to lighten up on our twice a day posting. There may even be days with no posts at all.

In truth we have found the posting schedule wearing. This blog hasn’t gone dark a single day since the end of 2004 and the strain is beginning to take a toll on us. We still have extremely active professional lives and many responsibilities in “meat space.” The inartful nature of our blogging may not look like it, but this activity takes many hours daily and we frankly need the time, both for family and personal matters and to pursue our scientific work. We aren’t so foolish as to think much depends upon us blogging here, although many of you have been extremely kind about how much you look forward to one or another of the things we do. But the situation is different than when we started. With two exceptions (our wiki partners DemFromCT at DailyKos/The Next Hurrah and Melanie at Just a Bump in the Beltway) no one in the blogosphere was talking about flu in November of 2004. Now there are many good sources of information about pandemic flu and I commend them to you. You can find a bunch on the blog roll.

At the moment we aren’t planning to shut the blog, only turn down the intensity. Who knows? Maybe this will improve it. Plenty of room for that.

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Comments

  1. #1 PhysioProf
    April 27, 2008

    Bets wishes to all teh Reveres for a fruitful recharging period! Creative work sometimes flows much better with rhythmic effort than with a constant slog.

  2. #2 revere
    April 27, 2008

    Thanks, PP.

  3. #3 M. Randolph Kruger
    April 27, 2008

    Yes Revere, I have oft wondered how you did it myself even with the other Revere’s. You have gotten it off to a really good start out there. The area of information on BF has increased geometrically from 2004……and on other subjects too. I agreed, disagreed, downright got ticky but you still stick to your guns (if you had them) for what you believe in.

    It is indeed an honor to cross swords, assist frequently and sometime beat you back to the center. It is the plurality of this blog that is attractive to so many. Even starting to see right wingers in there besides me. It is indeed an honor.

    As for EM I look at it this way…How many people do you know that can state that they very likely saved someones life (Tripoli Six), or the likely future panflu patients and survivors?

    You have earned a very well deserved rest and its time to be a Grandpa for a while. Enjoy the summer. I know you’ll be in there like white on rice if H5 starts to take a turn for the worse.

    EOL…..

  4. #4 revere
    April 27, 2008

    Randy: Thanks. Truly appreciated.

  5. #5 Twocrow
    April 27, 2008

    Have a nice break and a lovely summer.
    A nice quiet season on the bird flu front would be just the thing. I started reading your blog for bf info, of course, but read it now for many reasons. If I were an optimist I would hope that BF just fade away into a vaguely remembered threat, and the next “overdue” pandemic is merely a sneeze.

  6. #6 caia
    April 27, 2008

    Thank you for all your hard work, Reveres. I have learned a great deal from you, not just about bird flu, but a variety of topics. You are excellent teachers we have all been lucky to have, and continue to have, on whatever basis.

    Your posting schedule has been impressive, but far more impressive are your expertise, insight, steadiness, thoughtfulness, patience, and compassion. Changing the former won’t change the latter in the slightest.

    I hope your research goes well, and that your summer is productive and happy.

  7. #7 Mathematician
    April 27, 2008

    Very understandable, and thanks.

    Maybe over the summer you might try to talk some colleagues into being Reveres also, and spread the load?

  8. #8 Patch
    April 27, 2008

    This will remain my primary source of BF information. Even at half the content, this is THE place to get real BF updates and a straight interpretation on the latest news.

    You deserve a rest. You have performed a VALUABLE public service these many years.

    Best wishes for a wonderful summer.

  9. #9 SaddleTramp
    April 27, 2008

    Dear Reveres,

    I have learned so much from you the past couple of years – I will miss you terribly. You start and end my days online. But if anyone deserves a vacation (to do more work?), you all do. I hope you have a great summer.

  10. #10 MSFV
    April 28, 2008

    Dear Reveres,

    Thanck’s a lot of all your quite valuable work.
    I wish you the best for the future, and particularly during the summertime.
    See you as well soon.

    MSFV (Belgium)

  11. #11 gilmore
    April 28, 2008

    Effect Measure has been a gift. Every day I stop by and see what treasure I have been given. Your thoughtful stories have helped me understand things that were way “outside of my box”.

    One topic a day is still a wonderful present that we will all cherish. Relax. . . Enjoy the summer, your family and your lives. Know that you have touched us all in a very positive way and that whatever you share with us is greatly appreciated.

    PLU (Peace, Love & Understanding),
    Gilmore

  12. #12 Lea
    April 28, 2008

    Is summer over yet?

  13. #13 slovenia
    April 28, 2008

    Hear! Hear! to all the above. Srechno pot (happy road), Reveres.

  14. #14 slovenia
    April 28, 2008

    Lea: LOL.

  15. #15 revere
    April 28, 2008

    Lea: It is where I am. Cold and raining. But one post a day (or less) is like vacation.

    Thanks to all for the kind words.

  16. #16 Lea
    April 28, 2008

    Relieved you took my comment in the correct way revere/Revere.

    Forgive me for hijacking this thread for a moment revere.

    slovenia: in your quest for better health have you ever had the pH level of acid in your stomach tested?
    Have wanted to ask you this as I know you are battling a physical condition.
    There is a book that may interest you: Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You, Jonathan V. Wright M.D. and Lane Lenard, Ph.D.

  17. #17 Lea
    April 28, 2008

    Just one more thing revere, sincere apologies.

    A suggestion: If you only want to post one topic for a week please do a good one on legalizing cannabis.
    It’ll keep us busy and really get MRK’s goat! (and I mean that fondly MRK, you are a friend afterall).

  18. #18 wenchacha
    April 28, 2008

    Hey, all you reveres:

    You have done great work here, and done it like clockwork! I look forward to each day’s new posts, and I’ll miss you when you aren’t shiny and new every day. Still, it’s important for everyone to rest and recharge from time to time.

    Get out and enjoy the fresh air (when it isn’t raining,) walk, garden, play with grandchildren, drink good legal beverages. Check the days off the calendar in anticipation of the END of Our Long National Nightmare! Take naps, too!

    Enjoy spring!
    wenchacha

  19. #19 JJackson
    April 28, 2008

    As someone who visits often but posts rather less often – unless of course I think Randy is in need of a prodding – I would like to add my thanks to all those others before me. I dread to think of the time that you have collectively contributed to this blog but please be assured it has not been a waste or unappreciated. I especially like those most time sapping of your posts – the series – RBS, Westphalian States, Tamiflu resistance and most recently TLR4 (that spring to mind – I am sure there are others I have forgotten). Have a nice rest but don’t go getting too comfortable with all that free time we want you back.

  20. #20 M. Randolph Kruger
    April 28, 2008

    Lea, he cant do that as I would simply post up the number of cocaine/pot related busts for just Memphis, or excerpts from the kid who got his mom killed because he owed his dealer money. His own admission on the stand in what was likely the most horrific murder in Memphis history. Stabbed so many times that dozens of them would have been fatal in their own right…They did it to prove a point…

    His testimony? “I started with pot… then pot mixed with coke. Then when there was no coke, it was always the pot.” Straight A student to visiting a shrink once a week. So, instead of the newly legalized pot they would go to the freshly invigorated cocaine as the drug of choice. Its not like lighting up a Mulie anymore. Paraquat was one of my favorite euthanization drugs.

  21. #21 Racter
    April 28, 2008

    >>Get out and enjoy the fresh air (when it isn’t raining,) walk, garden, play with grandchildren, drink good legal beverages.

    You mean… go outside???

  22. #22 Ron
    April 29, 2008

    By all means take the R&R needed. But I want to add my voice by saying that you will be sorely missed. I read EM daily and it has become a vital tool in my own work. So I hope you’ll be back online soon. Thank you so much for your efforts-

  23. #23 Ana
    May 1, 2008

    Thank you so much for all your excellent work. I am really grateful.

  24. #24 MyFrom
    May 5, 2008

    thank you