Around the Web: On Science Blogs (Part I)

Happy Blogaversary to us!  One year ago today, this blog was born.  During the past year, I have really come to appreciate the way that writing a regular blog makes me think about my work in an entirely new way.  Of course, I also love to be able to communicate important and timely information to you.

I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate today with a few links on the phenomenon of science blogging.  Take a look, and see what other people are doing and saying about science blogs:

• The Changing Role of Blogs in Science Information Dissemination
• Why Science Blogs are Worth Your Time
• Using Blogs in Science Education
• The Hottest Thing in Science Blogging

There's actually a lot more where this came from, so stay tuned for Part II of this post.  I'll also editorialize a bit on the other positive elements of science blogging, especially in this age of digital scholarship and communication.  Until then...Happy Blogaversary to us!

Around the Web: Summer Reading 2011

It's been awhile since I featured an around the web piece, but I thought that might be a fun way to present summer reading ideas!

Regardless of whether or not we're going on an actual vacation this summer, summer is a great time to pick up light, fun, or even just different books for a few minutes or hours of mental relief.  Take a look at some of the links below for ideas on creating an awesome summer reading list, finding cheap e-books, or getting involved with an adult summer reading program:

• Lifehacker's tips for Creating an Awesome Summer Reading List
• Kindle books for $3.99 or less!
• Free Nook Books!
• Join the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Adult Summer Reading Program
• Check out a few pleasure reading books from Newman Library
• Use BiblioTravel to find a book that "takes you away"
• Use PaperBackSwap to recycle old books and find (cheap!) new ones
• Use GoodReads to connect with your friends and talk about books

What sort of summer reading plans do you have??

Around the Web: Online Identity Management

Last fall, I did an "around the web" post that focused on nutrition in the news.  I'd like to make this sort of post more of a regular feature on Notes from Newman.  On these features, I will link to blog posts from other blog authors (i.e., not me!) and other websites that addressed a particularly interesting or relevant topic.  I may add a few words of commentary, but for the most part, I'll simply be delivering a list of links that you may want to check out!  If you have any suggestions for posts that I can add or blogs that I can follow, just let me know!  Here's the first batch of "around the web" blog posts that you may want to check out.  The theme?

Managing identity, privacy, and personal branding in the digital environment:

Image from Lifehacker.com

• Managing Your Scholarly Identity, from The Undergraduate Science Librarian (1/12/2011)
• Virginia Tech Policy Safety Tip:  Facebook privacy (2/7/2011)
• A Guide to Protecting Your Online Identity, Mashable (4/21/2009)
• Personal Branding 101, Mashable (2/5/2009)
• Establish and Maintain your Online Identity, Lifehacker (5/10/2010)
• Six Steps for Checking your Facebook Privacy, Chronicle of Higher Education (2/7/2011)
• Your Digital Calling Card:  About.me, ProfHacker of The Chronicle (11/17/2010)
• Managing  Your Online Identity, Forbes.com (6/2/2009)
• Scholarly Reputation Management Online, Michael Habib (SlideShare)

Around the Web: Nutrition in the News

On my Google homepage, I have an RSS widget that delivers information from all of the blogs I follow and a News widget that delivers updated CNN headlines.  Over the past several days, I've noticed that nutrition-related topics seem to be dominating these feeds.  Food and eating are clearly topics that resonate with most of us, but the stories below are ones that I found particularly interesting, if not particularly scholarly.  You've probably around seen them, but if you haven't--enjoy!

• NPR Cookbooks & Recipes
• Twinkie Diet Helps Nutrition Professor Lose 27 Pounds
• Your Healthiest Fast Food Choices
• Dieting Gets You Nowhere
• Healthy Weight or Healthy Mind?
• The Weigh In
• Mushrooms:  Delicious or Deadly?
• Chefs' Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal
• Marilyn Monroe's Stuffing Recipe