Thorax: the Cappuccino years.

We are now about half way through our term of office (unless we are prematurely fired for terminal misbehaviour); here we review where we are, and where we are going, and have the first instalment of the showcase of some of our best articles from last year. We have maintained our second position with an improved impact factor (6.84) over 2011, we continue to attract very high quality manuscripts, and handling times have come down (all good news). We owe these achievements to our associate editors and editorial board, the reviewers, and especially those who have submitted such great manuscripts. An especially large bouquet to the editorial staff, in particular Renuka Patel for her work on Hot Topics and marketing, Bryony Skinner, who has stepped magnificently into the breach, Allison Lang and our unsung heroine Sarah Szatkowski, who keeps us sane when ScholarOne is driving us to Prozac or haloperidol or both. Don’t leave us! We acknowledge we need to speed up further, and get the impact factor higher —both are a work in progress. However, average time from submission to first decision for all manuscripts is less than 30 days, and accepted manuscripts appear on-line in an average of 25 days. We have had out first randomised controlled trial protocol to review for consideration for fast-track publication when the study is completed—an offer which does not depend on the result being positive— investigators please note. Hot off the Breath continues to generate controversy —totally drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) and the roaring PANTHER being cases in point. We have had two themed issues (North American, to coincide with American Thoracic Society and cystic fibrosis (CF), to coincide with the US CF Foundation annual meeting). In 2013, we will have a Tuberculosis themed issue for World TB day (March 24th) and plan a Pneumonia themed issue for World Pneumonia day (November 12th). We are continuing to use Podcasts and are keen to explore better use of electronic media —suggestions (and help for the terminally e-illiterate) are welcome. We would also welcome ideas for further themed issues. We have been fortunate in publishing some great manuscripts in 2012. We have chosen four areas to highlight, and, in the Olympic Year, we have awarded gold, silver and bronze in each category. There is no overall winner; can you compare Michelangelo’s David with Beethoven’s ninth symphony? Apologies if your manuscript is missed or you think you should have won the prize; the rules were that the editors’ own manuscripts were automatically disqualified, and the umpires’ verdict is both final and arbitrary. Better luck next year, keep the great manuscripts coming. This month we showcase Paediatric and Adult Thoracic Medicine; next month, epidemiology and basic science.