Redesigned PubMed Interface

Medical copyeditors and writers, have you seen the preview of the streamlined new PubMed interface? The details about the redesign are here.



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The Copyeditors' Knowledge Base

I'm so pleased!

The Copyeditors' Knowledge Base (accessed through the first 7 links on this page of my web site) got a nice little write-up on the MediaJobsDaily blog:

Have a knack for grammar and know AP, CMS, and/or MLA style inside and out? Maybe you want to try copyediting.

We mention this because not only does mediabistro have a bazillion copyediting courses coming up, but we just discovered a fantastically thorough and free resource for copyeditors and copyeditor wannabes at Katharine O'Moore-Klopf's web site.

The Copyeditors' Knowledge Base is chock-full of reading material and examples, and it is free, free, free. Learn where to get formal training and/or certification, see sample letters to clients (a project estimate, a sample contract), learn about reference books to buy, and so on. ...

Please do spend some time perusing the information accessed through the Copyeditors' Knowledge Base. Whether you want to get into editing or are already an experienced editor, there's plenty of information you can use on industry basics, education and certification, business tools, editing tools, networking, finding work, and profession-related reading.

It's my theory that there really is enough work out there for all freelance editorial professionals, if only we know where to look for it. And doesn't it make work life just that much easier and more pleasant if we help one another?


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New MTA Tax for Freelancers in NYC Metro Area

I just found out about an obscure new tax that applies to self-employed individuals living in and businesses located in New York City and several surrounding counties: the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax (MCTMT).

The first estimated payment for it is due on November 2. I've seen no publicity about this tax, so it does seem to have been sneaked into place; it was enacted May 9, 2009. Here is what a colleague posted about it to one of the editing-related e-mail lists that I subscribe to:

[Here] is the Web site [with] information for the self-employed: [The MCTMT] applies to the five counties of the City of New York plus Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester counties, for net earnings with $10,000 as the threshold point. (Below that figure, you don't have to worry about this.) The tax rate is .34% (.0034) of total net earnings within the geographic area listed above. That's $34 on $10,000. We are supposed to calculate this and make estimated tax payments starting on November 2, 2009. See the Web site above for all the details.

Please check with your accountant.


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National Punctuation Day 2009

Today, September 24, is National Punctuation Day, a celebration dear to this copyeditor.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate, including participating in the National Punctuation Day Baking Contest. Just think: You could prepare and enjoy the Official Meat Loaf of National Punctuation Day. I can imagine people in households everywhere eating colon cakes, comma con carne, and semicolon sweetmeats. Can't you?

Another way to celebrate is to play Grammar Ninja, to which I am now seriously addicted, thanks to an editor colleague. Play it if you dare!


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