Synchronization — Five Metronomes Walk Into a Bar . . .
Conformity through synchronization as demonstrated by metronomes.
Do We Need a Consumer Reports of Journals, Written by the Authors?
A proposal for a community site to review author experiences at various journals suggests the need for a new player in the trust economy of journals.
Predators and Prey — The Plot Thickens
Strange comments emerge after a post about Beall’s list of “predatory” publishers appears, many of which attribute sentiments to people falsely.
Impact Crater — Does DORA Need to Attack the Impact Factor to Reform How It Is Used in Academia?
A new declaration to improve research assessment practices shoots wide of the mark and reveals some misunderstandings on behalf of many of those involved.
Are We In a Rut? Explaining the Increasing Homogenization of Scholarly and Scientific Publishing
The Internet promised a revolution, but we may have only deepened our rut as a number of factors have combined to constrain innovation and change our customer focus.
Signal Distortion — Why the Scholarly Communication Economy Is So Weird
Incomplete signals in the scholarly publishing marketplace create problems for every participant. What is the path forward?
PLoS, Stakeholders, and Shareholders
PLoS has announced the departure of both its CEO and CFO, but has provided no explanation of what led to the management change. PLoS should explain the situation to all its shareholders.
The Limits of Crowdsourcing in the Scientific Disciplines
Social networking and crowdsourcing have attributes that may make them both incompatible with the goals and process of science. Can we accept that?
Businessman Closes Product, Community Enraged! The Death of Tools of Change
When a popular and iconic product is ended, the outrage doesn’t match the pragmatism and agility we all espouse. TOC’s end is one such example.
Book Review: "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business"
A few months ago, I assigned a book to my senior managers — Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit.” They smiled wanly as they accepted the books, prepared to slog through a business book with little bearing on their real […]
OSTP Public Access Memo Deadlines Loom Over Us
The OSTP access memorandum has led to hearings this month. Be sure to contribute and observe.
Leo and Moshimo in Love? A Mother Describes The Matrix
When a mother watches a famous mind-bending sci-fi movie and then has to retell it, the results are lovable and hilarious.
Convenience versus Community — Is a Deeper Question Hiding Behind the Façade of the Access Debates?
While the access debates have dominated, another debate has been emerging, one that perhaps has greater significance in the long run.
The Law of Unintended Consequences Pays a Visit to the OSTP
The recent policy promulgated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy is likely to have the unintended consequence of putting further budgetary pressure on libraries.
Three Years of the Sun in Three Minutes — No Sunscreen Required
A stable satellite monitoring the sun reveals three years of images, a comet, a transit of Venus, two partial eclipses, and more as the sun approaches its solar maximum.