mccool@dgp.toronto.edu (Michael McCool) (11/01/90)
moorthy@spica.ucsc.edu writes: >This might sound a bit strange. Is it possible to stop the mailing of >"Spectrum"? I know that subscription to Spectrum is included in the >membership fee; I just don't want to receive Spectrum, that's all. >Two reasons, if any one cares: 1. I don't have time to read the >magazine (I do agree that it does have some interesting articles). >2. It can not be recycled because of the glossy paper (this is my main >reason). I wrote to the editors, but did not get any response. >I do want to continue being an IEEE member. This doesn't sound strange at all. Being a non-US resident, I find most of the articles (which often seem to focus on the needs of the military/industrial complex in the States) to be of limited interest, except for entertainment value (comedy AND horror rolled into one!). It is the only IEEE publication I don't keep in my library. It is occasionally interesting, but we DO have a public technical library in the university here, and I can read it there. I, personally, would also like to cancel my "Perspectives" student magazine. In Canada we started receiving this last year, although I don't recall any referendum or other consultation with us, the Canadian student membership (I'm sure someone will flame me if I am wrong). I guess somebody decided it would be a good idea. As most of the articles seem to concern how to get into grad school, where to get jobs, how to pass courses, etc. I find it of limited interest. I AM a graduate student, as well as having worked in industry a fair deal. As well, it deals with the U.S. educational system, which is substantially different than Canada's. Graduate students are much better supported financially here, and there is less of a tier system as in the states. All universities are publically supported (Socialism? Did I say Socialism? !-) Even for undergraduates, it is of limited use because of the differences. We have our own national university engineering/comp sci student magazines, which are in both French and English, and which actually mention things happening at OUR universities. This topic is discussed periodically in the Institute: should the IEEE be "primarily a U.S. institution or an international one?". In the absence of policy, a defacto division has been set up: The journals and higher-level magazines are international in scope, while the low-level magazines, primary Spectrum, look at things from a U.S. perspective. Perhaps the IEEE should consider allowing international members to drop subscription to the Spectrum. I'm sure the cultural chasm is even wider for non-NA types. We have our own broad technology sources of information that relate better to our local culture. In this way the IEEE can serve both the US and the international technical community. As an aside, I have heard that the recycling of glossy magazines is not impossible, and is in fact the major source of fiber in Europe. Why we North Americans can't seem to get our act together on this mystifies me. Alternatively, we could encourage the printing of IEEE magazines/journals on non-glossy, recycled and recyclable stock, some of which is of VERY high quality. Is anyone out there listening????? Hmm... Maybe I'll have to write a letter on REAL paper to the... Spectrum? Michael McCool@dgp.toronto.edu ///Dynamic Graphics Project///