DECEMBER 1999 VOLUME 12, NUMBER 12 © Copyright 1999 by the American Chemical Society
Editorial Y2K, the Millennium, and “Lucky” Number 13 Hello everyone. The Editors are once again letting me indulge myself by writing this Editorial (besides, they really do not like it when my lower lip starts to quiver). You may be wondering why I chose such an odd title and what Y2K, the Millennium, and the number 13 have in common. Well, if you too would indulge me and read on, I’ll explain everything. Over the past couple of years (especially this one), there has been a lot of concern about potential Y2K problems when the new year is rung in at midnight, December 31, 1999. We’ve been hearing that financial institutions will lose debt and mortgage information (if they do, I hope it’s mine); bank accounts could disappear or funds be deposited in wrong accounts (I really would not mind if a few of Bill Gates’ billions showed up in my checking account, would you?); and the list goes on and on (I have made no travel plans for December 31 that involve flying). Well, with all this going on, I can tell you a couple of things you will not have to worry about. First, your manuscripts will be safe with all ACS staff and journals. We do not anticipate losing any of them (unless they fall under a desksjust kidding). The ACS computer people thought way ahead and know that everything is Y2K compatible (whatever that means; oh, by the way, if your VCR is not Y2K compatible, rumor has it that you can set it for the year 1973 and it will have the same date sequence as the year 2000). Second, authors will no longer have to worry about paying page charges for publishing in Chemical Research in Toxicology. That’s right! Beginning January 1, 2000, Chemical Research in Toxicology will do away with page charges. We realize that page charges were just instituted in 1999 and we’re doing a complete 180 by eliminating them. Well, this is where the Millennium comes in. On January 1, we begin a new age, a new Millennium. With this, it is time to start looking forward for ways to improve, grow, and become better than ever. The Editors decided that page charges are unnecessary and received
permission from the ACS to eliminate page charges beginning January 1. Additionally, the Editors are planning on expanding the scope of Chemical Research in Toxicology by publishing papers dealing with more biological aspects of molecular toxicology [see the editorial in Chem. Res. Toxicol. (1999) 12 (9), 747-748]. We are also updating our database and expertise codes to better serve you (yep! you’ll be getting a questionnaire in the mail shortly after the first of the year; please be kind enough to fill it out). In these ways, we hope to catapult Chemical Research in Toxicology into the Millennium ahead of the competition (I’m still waiting to be able to say “Beam me up Scotty” when stuck in traffic, but I believe the Journal will continue to be light years ahead of other toxicology journals). Now, how does this tie in with the number 13, and how can it be lucky? If you hang with me just a little bit longer, all will be revealed. January 1, 2000, starts a new Millennium and the beginning of Volume 13 of Chemical Research in Toxicology. Yes, that is correct, the Journal has become (yikes! For those of you who either have or had them) a TEENAGER! I have been with Chemical Research in Toxicology since its birth, helped nurse it along through childhood, and am now going to see it through the teenage years. This is a time in which to further finetune and “tweak” the edges so we can introduce an exceptionally strong “adult” into the world. I guess you could say that Chemical Research in Toxicology has reached the formative years that will further define the direction we will take. Now for the “Lucky” part. I’ve always believed that the number 13 has been given a bad rap. To me, it’s just a number (although I do take extra precautions on Friday the 13th). Well, I believe that Volume 13 will be the luckiest volume of Chemical Research in Toxicology. We have had a tremendous twelve years, and this was made possible by the excellent support from the staff of the ACS in both Columbus and Washington, DC; the tremendous help we have received
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from our Editorial Board Members (both past and present); and last, but not least, the support we have received from our readers, authors, and reviewers. Without all of you, the Editors could not have accomplished all that they havesproduced a fine product that is well accepted by the toxicology and scientific community which has consistently had the highest Impact Factor of all primary toxicology journals. Now, I’m not saying that we no longer need your help. Far from it! The Editors always encourage authors and readers to submit suggestions on ways to make the Journal better. If there is an area you feel we should be covering, an idea for an Invited Review or Forum topic, or if you feel we could be doing something better, fax (615-343-7534), e-mail (
[email protected]), or mail your sugges-
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tion(s). Also, if you have a manuscript that you are not sure is within the scope of the Journal, fax us a letter describing the work along with an abstract. The Editors will look it over and get back to you. On behalf of the Editors, I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a terrific New Year (I hope I can stay up past nine o’clock). Don’t worry about a thing when the Millennium kicks in; everything will be just fine (I’ll make sure I place an extra clove of garlic on my computer to ward off evil spirits and give my rabbit’s foot an extra rub). Celeste M. Riley Editorial Assistant TX990477S
