chrz@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Chrzanowski) (04/09/88)
1. Slick paper magazines cost a lot to produce: much more than
the cover price.
2. A skeptical approach to assertions is a part of scientific method.
3. Most advertising is not made to stand up to a rigorous analysis of
its factual content (Use new, improved Pepsodent ! It contains GL-86
(tm) ). (Ah'm a BIG MAN ! Ah drive a BIG TRUCK ! Mah truck is a rcw@qetzal.UUCP (Robert C. White) (04/11/88)
Is it my imagination, or has Omni deteriorated from a magazine with questionable scientific content to outright tripe? Is it my imagination, or has Scientific American deteriorated from a fine magazine with good information for laymen to a magazine with questionable scientific content? Inquiring minds want to know, Robert White ihnp4!upba!qetzal!rcw
mls@whutt.UUCP (SIEMON) (04/12/88)
In article <1590@qetzal.UUCP>, rcw@qetzal.UUCP (Robert C. White) writes: > > Is it my imagination, or has Scientific American deteriorated from > a fine magazine with good information for laymen to a magazine > with questionable scientific content? > Yes, under the new owners Sci.Am. is degenerating, particularly in the book reviews and "Science and the Citizen" columns. And of course there is no new Martin Gardner (or Hofstader, for that matter). Article content doesn't yet seem (IMHO) to be greatly affected, though I fear it will be eventually. Sigh! -- Michael L. Siemon contracted to AT&T Bell Laboratories ihnp4!mhuxu!mls standard disclaimer
gcf@actnyc.UUCP (Gordon Fitch) (04/13/88)
In article <1590@qetzal.UUCP> rcw@qetzal.UUCP (0000-Robert C. White) writes: } Is it my imagination, or has Omni deteriorated from a magazine with } questionable scientific content to outright tripe? } } Is it my imagination, or has Scientific American deteriorated from } a fine magazine with good information for laymen to a magazine } with questionable scientific content? The epigrammatic mode aside, what have you seen in SA whose content was "questionable"? I concede that the verb tenses and disclaimers in the article on superstrings were not all they should have been, and that black holes are spoken of with an unjustified complacency, but careful reading of the articles in question and others like them always shows that the authors know and admit that their conclusions are somewhat far-fetched. I assume that SA's editors are keeping watch. ....uunet!actnyc!gcf
peter@sugar.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (04/18/88)
Is it my imagination, or have Byte, Dr Dobbs, and Microsystems become effectively PC-World parts 2, 3, and 4? With an occasional tidbit for Mac users? Is there any connection? Is there some sort of general entropic function in the magazine business. Oh well, at least real SF magazines seem to be holding their own. -- -- Peter da Silva `-_-' ...!hoptoad!academ!uhnix1!sugar!peter -- "Have you hugged your U wolf today?" ...!bellcore!tness1!sugar!peter -- Disclaimer: These aren't mere opinions, these are *values*.