Re: population growth & physics ed

["Paul Camp" <pjcamp@coastal.edu>]

> How many reviewers are
> there usually?  I expect under 5 of them for almost everything.  Doesn't it
> make a _huge_ difference which 5 people are chosen by the editor as to how
> the review process comes out?  
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr.                   

It also makes a difference whether they actually _read_ it -- which, 
based on my experience, is a serious question. 

On the other hand, David Mermin writes philosophically:

"Relations between authors and referees are, of ocurse, almost always 
strained. Authors are convinced that the malicious stupidity of the 
referee is alone preventing them from laying their discoveries before 
an admiring world. Referees are convinced that authors are too 
arrogant and obtuse to recognize blatant fallacies in their own 
reasoning, even when these have been called to their attention with 
crystalling lucidity. All physicists know this, because all 
physicists are both authors and referees, but it does no good. The 
ability of one person to hold both views is an example of what Bohr 
called complementarity." (Boojums All The Way Through, pg 20).

Paul J. Camp                   "The Beauty of the Universe
Assistant Professor of Physics  consists not only of unity
Coastal Carolina University     in variety but also of 
Conway, SC   29526              variety in unity.
pjcamp@csd1.coastal.edu             --Umberto Eco
pjcamp@worldnet.att.org               The Name of the Rose
(803)349-2227                         
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